Page 90 of Beauty and the Beard

He removes the blank page from the folder’s front cover and flips it over. Recognizing the cabin and my processing building,I sit up straighter. He finally turns to me and holds out the Duotang.

“This is a business plan. I made it with Roman’s help and some research on the maple syrup industry. So it could very well be inaccurate. But… the first two parts are what I’d really like to do for you.” He swallows. “And Connor.”

Flipping open the cover, the title page blazes at me in bright orange, just like the Duotang.

Connor’s Cabin

Quickly scanning the multi-page document, my breathing picks up and the pages blur. His soft hands wipe the wetness from my cheeks without a word as I try to process the words I’m reading.

“You want to renovate my cabin and restart my maple syrup production?” I finally meet his soft gaze. “And name it after Connor?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

He caresses my cheek, his thumb still wiping at the stray tears I can’t contain.

“Because without him, there’s no you. And without you, there’s no me. In a twisted way, Connor brought us together, and he means everything to you. Just because he’s gone doesn’t mean he’s forgotten. And I want you to know that it never makes me uncomfortable for you to talk about him.”

Never did I think I’d fall in love the first time it happened. Connor was so persistent and he was just easy to love. Maybe that’s what made his death so hard. Because it wasn’t easy accepting my love was gone forever. I have seven years of proof.

Now I have Sasha. A second love. Another chance to share my heart with someone. And he doesn’t want me to forget my first love.

“My mom left me a trust and I know she would’ve wanted me to use it for my future. That’s you, Leaf. You’re my future and I want us to do this together in the same spirit you had when you first dreamed of your own sugar shack. It’s important to me that we include Connor somehow.”

“I don’t know what to say. This is…”

Swallowing hard, I gather him in my arms and hold on tight. He clutches at me just as tight and whispers how grateful he is to have found me.

In the quiet of the night, a single loon calls, the sound drifting to us, even inside.

That’s my sign.

And a peace I’ve not felt in years settles over me.

Epilogue

18 months later

Leaf

“Do you have enough photos yet, Sasha? I’m dying here.”

He peers over his camera at me and that look will never fail to make my heart speed up.

“I was done a while ago. I just like looking at you through the camera and imagining you naked.”

Walking over to me, he snaps at my suspender with a playful grin.

“I’m going to ask Roman to design something with suspenders and not much else.”

“You’re a bit rotten, you know.”

He laughs as I set the axe down safely and scoop him into my arms.

“You may have mentioned it once or twice.”

“Can you believe we’re finally here to open this to the public? I’m so excited I’m shaking.”

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