Jake clasps my shoulder briefly, warmth in the gesture. “You’ve done good, Sadie. You’ve given this town something to be proud of.”
And I feel it, for the first time in so long. Pride.
I nod, my throat tight. “Thank you. I—I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about a project.”
Because truthfully, I can’t. My art used to be an escape, then it became a burden, then it became nothing at all. The murals I did in other towns were survival—commissions to pay bills, to prove I could still function. But this… this feels different. This feels alive.
Julian pockets his phone, already moving toward the next step. “We’ll be in touch with details. Congratulations, Sadie.”
He shakes my hand again before striding off, efficient as ever, probably headed to another meeting that could shape the town’s future.
Jake lingers, softer. “You okay?”
I let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah. Just… nervous, I guess.”
“That’s normal,” he says. “But you’ll do great. Trust me. Driftwood Cove needed this. We needed you.”
His words echo after he leaves, the weight of them settling over me.
Needed me.
I stand there for a long moment, sunlight warming the steps, my tote bag heavy against my side, before finally turning toward home. My chest is tight, but it’s not fear this time. It’s anticipation.
I can’t wait to see the mural unveiled. I can’t wait to see the town’s reaction.
I can’t wait to see myself in that moment—someone who made something that mattered.
I’m not just surviving. I’m building.
CHAPTER 23
Shepard
The station is quieter than it has been in days, just the hum of the vending machine and the faint chatter of dispatch over the radio. I’m leaning on the counter with a mug of coffee, watching Gabe move paperwork from one pile to another like he’s trying to convince himself it matters.
“You’re really not going to the unveiling?” I ask, because the silence has been needling at me all morning.
He doesn’t look up. “No.”
“That’s it?” I push, because I can’t leave it there. “No? That’s all I get? Sadie’s been killing herself over that wall for weeks and you’re just… staying here?”
His jaw ticks, but his eyes stay on the paperwork. “Yeah.”
I wait, because Gabe doesn’t do anything without a reason, and I’ve known him long enough to know when he’s holding back. Sure enough, after a moment, he sighs and tosses his pen down.
“Shep, if I go down there, it’s just going to make everything worse. For me. For Boone. For her.”
I frown, not satisfied. “She’d like you to be there.”
“Would she?” His laugh is humorless. “I acted like an ass at dinner. I made her uncomfortable. You think showing up todayis going to fix that? No. Better that Boone has his clean shot. Better that I stay out of the way.”
I study him. He looks exhausted, shoulders slumped, dark circles under his eyes that didn’t come from one bad night’s sleep. He’s carrying something heavy, and maybe it isn’t my place to dig it out of him.
But damn it, I hate the way this feels—like he’s already written himself out of the story before it’s even played out.
“You’re really just going to sit here and push papers while the whole damn town gathers for this?” I press one more time.
He drags a hand over his face. “Yeah. Someone’s got to hold down the fort. Let Boone have this one.”
