Page 59 of The One Who Changed Everything

I shook my head with a half-laugh. "Evan, if I trip and break something, you're paying for the medical bills."

"Noted," he said, the grin in his voice unmistakable. "Just trust me."

Trust. That word carried more weight than it used to. I gave Sophia’s hand a reassuring squeeze as she giggled beside me.

“This is weird,” she said, her excitement barely contained. “I feel like I’m about to be led to my doom.”

Evan chuckled. “You’re about to be led to something amazing, actually. Just a few more steps.”

I let him guide me, his large hands steady against my shoulders. The scent of fresh paint and newly sanded wood filled the air, mingling with the familiar smell of books. We were in the library, I was sure of it, but whatever he had planned was beyond me.

I sighed, squeezing the small hand that clutched mine. “I don’t mind surprises, I just prefer to see where I’m going. Andit’s not like I haven’t seen most of the renovation. I do work here, you know.”

Evan chuckled, his warm hand resting against my lower back. “Trust me, Sam. You’re going to love this.”

I exhaled slowly, trying to let go of my unease. Over the past few months, I had learned to trust him again. To let him into our lives in ways I never thought possible. And still, there were moments when the past whispered in my ear, reminding me of all the reasons I had built my walls so high.

But this was Evan. And he had never let me fall before.

“Okay, okay,” he said finally. “Stop right here.”

Sophia bounced excitedly next to me, tugging at my arm. “Can I take it off now?”

Evan’s laughter rumbled behind me. “Go for it, kiddo.”

I barely had time to process before Sophia’s hands tugged the blindfold from my face, and I blinked against the sudden flood of light. When my vision cleared, I sucked in a sharp breath.

The children’s area of the library had been completely transformed. The old, scuffed-up bookshelves had been replaced with new ones in dark wood, each lined with colorful, inviting books. A reading nook sat in the far corner, filled with oversized bean bags and a plush rug patterned with stars. The worn-out play tables had been replaced with sturdy wooden ones, complete with craft supplies neatly arranged in small bins. But the most breathtaking feature was the mural stretching across the entire back wall—a depiction of a whimsical storybook landscape, where rolling hills met a sky filled with floating lanterns, and a castle stood tall in the distance. I definitely hadn’t seen that.

I pressed a hand to my mouth. “Evan…you did this?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking sheepish. “Had some help. But yeah. What do you think?”

I turned in a slow circle, my chest tightening with emotion. “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s perfect,” Sophia added, already racing toward the bean bags. She threw herself onto one and grinned. “Mom, I’m never leaving this spot.”

Evan’s gaze never left me, as if he were waiting for something. For permission. For acceptance.

I stepped closer, pressing my palm against his chest. “Thank you.”

His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me into his warmth. “It’s for the kids, but… I guess a little bit for you too.” His voice softened. “You deserve everything good, Sam.”

Tears burned at the back of my eyes, but before I could say anything, he cleared his throat. “And speaking of deserving good things… we need to talk.”

I tensed at his shift in tone, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. “About what?”

Evan’s jaw tightened. “Sophia’s ICD.”

I immediately turned toward my daughter, who was flipping through a book as if she wasn’t eavesdropping. “Sophia Rose—”

“I didn’t tell him on purpose!” she rushed to say, lifting her hands in surrender. “It just kinda… came out.”

Evan crossed his arms, leveling me with a look. “Sam, why didn’t you tell me she needed it?”

I turned back to him, guilt gnawing at my insides. “Because it’s expensive. Because we’ve made it this long without one. Because she’s careful, and I’ve done everything to make sure she’s safe. I’ll find a way to pay for it.”

Evan exhaled heavily, his hands finding my shoulders. “You shouldn’t have to do it alone.” His voice was gentle, but there was steel beneath it. “And you don’t have to.”

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