Page 84 of Every Reason to Stay

“It’s amazing,” she said.

Etched in massive Nordic-looking letters: Valhalla Bed and Breakfast. More important than the name was the ‘Family Owned and Operated’ underneath it. I had thought it cheesy, but with Evie squealing, it made all the difference. This had become a family operation… family by blood and by choice.

“You did it,” I said.

“You’re just saying that, so I’ll say, ‘No, we did it, little brother.’” She gave me an elbow to the ribs. “I suppose you helped.”

“We need pictures!” Amanda shoved a hand into her overalls, producing her phone. “Olsen siblings.” She said it to make me smile. She and Jason knew how much this meant to me. “Get in front of the sign, we need?—”

“Wait!”

Everybody turned to see Tyler in a slow trot down the sidewalk. He held something large and rectangular covered in brown wrapping paper. I had wondered where my favorite resident had been hiding. I assumed he had been teaching a literacy class, reading to kids, or updating his card catalog. That was something librarians did, right?

“Sorry, Tyler,” Amanda said, holding up her phone. “This photo is for the owners.”

“Simmer down,” he said. I snickered at the statement. He had been spending too much time with Mabel. My boyfriend had developed a sassy streak. When Amanda pouted, I didn’t hide the smile.

“This is important.” He crossed the grass. Half the town stopped their chores and gathered to see Tyler’s delivery. Bobby had taken a chair on the porch, and when I spotted his grin, I knew something was amiss.

“They’re all in on it,” I whispered to Evie.

“How do you?—”

“It’s Firefly.”

“Point made.”

There was no way Tyler presented us with a gift without informing the whisper network. Evie had trouble believing that gossip traveled faster than the speed of light. They had proven me right time and time again. Even the helping hands today had showed up without us asking. Somebody had sent a message out, and every able-body… and some not-so-able-bodies came out to help. I loved them all for their zest.

Tyler walked across the grass, proudly presenting the present, complete with a Christmas bow. “Sorry, I’m late. I had a book emergency.” That’s what he said whenever he had to turn a casual browser into a reading fanatic. “I thought this might be… I don’t know… a reminder of what started Valhalla.”

“Tyler, you didn’t have to,” Evie said.

The awkward thrust forward would be something I’d do. Maybe he spent too much time with me and needed to attend more of Mabel’s swagger classes. The pride on his face, the absolute joy, melted my heart. Tyler didn’t need a swagger… my boyfriend had more heart than any one person should be allowed.

“Thanks,” I took the present. “Evie, want to do the honor?”

The curiosity didn’t last long as she tore at the paper. At this point, everybody had gathered on the lawn. The knowing glances gave them away. Firefly knew everything about everybody. Boundaries here were more like loose suggestions. However, they knew how to keep a secret for a big reveal.

“Oh. My. God.” When she tore off the last of the wrapping paper, I realized I held a frame. Her jaw dropped, and it was as if she won the lottery.

I spun it around and gasped. Tyler had framed my sketch of Mimi. She sat in her favorite chair, knitting needles in hand, making a pair of mittens. He had stolen the page from my sketchbook without me knowing. The abundance in my life forced tears into my eyes. My heart had never been this full, and sharing it with Evie and our friends was too much.

“Family owned and operated,” Tyler said.

Evie reached around my chest, squeezing me. “We did it, Jonny.”

Glancing at Tyler, I could see him wiping his eyes. He mouthed “radical love” while stepping backward. I hadsaid it a hundred times as I dropped pages around town. Having it repeated to me made it feel as if those words were having an impact. It was indeed radical, love without boundaries or conditions. Seeing the people in my life gathered for no reason other than supporting their own…thiswas radical love.

“Stop your crying, and let me take a photo.”

Evie gave me a gentle shove in front of the sign. We stood tall while I held the portrait of Mimi. With her head on my shoulder, I could feel the looming potential in my bones. Turning Mimi’s house into a bed-and-breakfast might sound like an adventure… but it was the jumping-off point.

“Smile.” Amanda snapped a photo, changing the angle and grabbing a few extra.

“Evie, could we?—”

“Enough of that,” Evie said. “We need a photo of the people who started this. Marigold, can you get a photo for us?”

She waved Amanda and Jason over. These were the people who started our story twenty years ago. I loved that Evie acknowledged our origin. Mimi. Jason. Amanda. Me. Evie. We were?—

“Tyler. Get your butt over here.” Evie waved him over. “You’ve been part of this since the beginning.” When he stepped up, she pulled his arm, shoving him between me and her. This might have been the family at the start of our story, but it continued to grow. Every person here had become an honorary Olsen.

Tyler wrapped an arm around me and Evie, squeezing us together. While Marigold took photos, I wondered how much longer before me and my sexy boyfriend would be more thanjustboyfriends. For the first time in years, I couldn’t wait to see what the future held for us. I kissed Tyler as Marigold snapped a photo. Who knew, maybe this would be the last photo with my boyfriend? The next might be with my fiancé?

This is where the real adventure began.Ouradventure.

“Hugs are over. Back to work!” Amanda shouted.

---