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  Exhausted and pleased, the two cuddled into one another with a sheet loosely covering their lower halves. The room was lit only by a dim light and the starlight coming in from the window right above them. Taryn sighed blissfully as she played with her lover’s hair, and Alex nuzzled her nose against Taryn’s cheek as their fervent session came to an end.

  “You’re so amazing,” cooed Taryn. “Thank you.”

  “I know I am,” Alex teased. Taryn laughed and sweetly kissed her.

  “I want to feel your sexy body against me every night,” said Taryn. “How can we make that happen?”

  “Either I come to your place, or you come to mine,” replied Alex. “We’re only a few steps away from each other.”

  “Maybe one day we could have what Penny and Dev have,” said Taryn. “Two of these shipping containers combined.”

  “That could be nice,” agreed Alex. She grinned and latched on to Taryn, sighing as she snuggled.

  “Well, whatever,” Taryn concluded. “I’m just happy to be with you right now, right here. It’s perfect. You’ve brought so much love into my life in such a short time, and I could never show you how grateful I am for that, even if I tried.”

  “I feel it,” said Alex. “I feel your gratitude. And I feel the same way. This is perfect, and it’s all I’ve ever wanted. I love you, Taryn.”

  “I love you,” Taryn answered back without hesitation. They could both feel the love in their mutual embrace. It felt safe, and it felt eternal.

  And the both had so much more love to give.

  Epilogue

  “You said you wanted to do it,” said Alex, sitting in the driver seat of the delivery van. The back of the van was filled with flower arrangements, and sitting in the passenger seat was Taryn. Taryn had her arms folded and was wearing an expression of uncertainty.

  “I know,” said Taryn. “But now I’m having second thoughts.”

  “I think you’re worried over nothing,” said Alex. “C’mon, unbuckle and let’s go.” She patted Taryn on the thigh a few times and then Alex opened up her door and hopped out of the van.

  It took Taryn a moment, mulling it all over in her head, before she decided to take the plunge. She unbuckled her seatbelt, and she slowly pulled herself out of the van.

  The two of them stood next to one another in the elevator, a rolling cart with a large flower arrangement in front of them. They were silent. Taryn was trying to reconcile her feelings, while Alex was giving her the space to do so. After a few moments, Alex looked to Taryn and she smiled softly.

  “We’re almost there,” she said.

  “I know,” replied Taryn. It felt strange to her, taking this elevator ride, wearing jeans and a hoodie. It felt unnatural. She felt as though she was somebody else. And in a very real way, she was.

  The elevator stopped and sounded off with a ding, and then the doors began to part. Taryn could feel her heart speeding up as Alex took hold of the cart and she began pushing it out into the hallway and toward the glass door.

  “Open up for me, will you?” said Alex.

  Taryn complied. She opened up the doors to the office and she stood to the side, allowing Alex to walk in first. Once Alex was inside, Taryn soon followed. Her eyes darted around, scanning for a familiar face.

  “All right,” said Alex. “Grab the current vase and let’s switch these out.”

  “Okay,” said Taryn. Again, she followed the instructions. She stepped up and took the vase already sitting on the table, its flowers looking wilted and sad, and lifted it up. At the same time, Alex had taken hold of the new vase, filled with the vibrancy of life, and she walked it over to replace the old one. It was a quick exchange, and even when Alex had completed her task, she looked over and saw that Taryn was still holding the dead flowers.

  “Babe,” said Alex. “Put it on the cart.”

  “Right,” said Taryn.

  “Are you still worried that someone is going to see you?” asked Alex, putting her hands on her hips. “You think they’re going to think less of you or something?”

  “I don’t know what I think,” Taryn replied. “Just mixed feelings, I guess.”

  “Remember what I told you,” Alex said, lifting an eyebrow.

  “I know,” said Taryn.

  Just then, from one side of the hallway, a group of three people walked by and passed through the lobby. Taryn recognized them all, and leading the conversation they were having was her old boss Jens. Alex’s eyes darted towards Taryn to watch her reaction, all while Taryn froze where she was, her hands stuck on the vase full of old flowers sitting on the cart. It only lasted a split second, but Jens’ eyes darted into the lobby and met with Taryn and Alex. But then his eyes returned forward, his conversation continued, and the three professionals walking by had disappeared down the other side of the hall.

  Taryn sighed deeply, and she looked at Alex.

  “I told you,” said Alex. “These kind of people look right through service people like us. They don’t even see us. We’re simply hired help.”

  “There’s no way he didn’t recognize me,” said Taryn. “I guess my hair is back in a ponytail, and I’m dressed down. But we worked so close together for so long.”

  “It’s not about that,” said Alex. “It’s a quick mental decision. They see us, file us away, and move on. There’s no reason to talk to or acknowledge us. That’s someone else’s job.”

  “It’s just so strange,” mused Taryn.

  “I never told you this,” said Alex. “But you looked right through me a dozen times.”

  “What?” said Taryn. “Really?”

  “Really,” confirmed Alex. “I saw you many times before that day you actually talked to me. You’d come racing in through these doors and you wouldn’t even give me a glance. I don’t hold it against you, obviously. I’m used to it. To a lot of people, we’re invisible. That’s just how it goes.”

  “I don’t want to be like that,” said Taryn. “Not ever again.”

  “You’re not,” Alex said with a warm smile. She caressed her palm up and down Taryn’s arm. “You broke out of that, and I know you’re so much happier for it.”

  “I was so unhappy in that life,” Taryn admitted. “I just didn’t know it for so long. I couldn’t consciously figure it out, though my subconscious was screaming at me non-stop.”

  “I know, babe,” Alex said, still smiling. “C’mon. Let’s get out of here and keep making our deliveries. We’ve got a few more hours of work yet.”

  “All right,” replied Taryn. Her own subtle smile grew. She was undeniably happy with her new life, with her relationship with Alex, and with her new family out on the farm. Seeing her past life here at her old office, Taryn was happy to be rid of it. It no longer represented who she was as a person. It was important for her to remember her past and face it, but her future felt so much brighter and more joyful.

  After the ladies made the rest of their deliveries in Ann Arbor, they hopped back on the freeway to drive back to the farm. Alex drove with a contented smile on her face, listening to soft music coming from the radio. Taryn’s eyes were affixed outside, watching the scenery pass as they drove, lost in silent contemplation.

  “What are you thinking about?” Alex asked upon noticing Taryn’s wistful expression.

  “I just feel lucky, I guess,” said Taryn. “I was thinking about how fortunate I am that things have unfolded like they did. I just as easily could still be trapped in that office, being miserable, hating myself, and going crazy. Sometimes, life feels so random.”

  “We all find our way eventually,” said Alex. “You just have to be open to it. If you’re closed off to the possibility of a different path, even though the one you’re on is making you unhappy, well… things might feel pretty hard. I think, though, we’re all capable of finding our personal happiness and I think you’re living proof.”

  “Being back at that office, I could feel the dread reentering my body,” said Taryn. “It was so wild. Getting in that
elevator, taking the ride I took so many times, and walking into that lobby. Alex, it was like muscle memory of fear and unhappiness.”

  “You don’t have to worry about it anymore,” Alex assured her. “And you don’t have to go back there with me if you don’t want to. I completely understand.”

  “Maybe eventually,” said Taryn. “But the wounds I feel are still healing.”

  “Absolutely,” Alex said. Turning her head from the road for a moment, she smiled adoringly at Taryn. And when Taryn caught her, she smiled back.

  “I’m just so happy now, though,” said Taryn. “Like honestly happy. It feels so good to be able to do things like buy that adjoining land and give it to the cooperative. It feels good to work outside, to do a bit of physical labor, and contribute to something that actually feels worthwhile. It feels good to be a part of a collective of good people who care about each other and build each other up. Now we get to raise a child together in that environment—it’s so cool and exciting.”

  “I know, right?” said Alex. “That is cool.”

  “And it just feels so good to have found you,” Taryn said, reaching over and taking Alex’s hand. “I never thought that I would have this. I was starting to lose hope. But you’ve restored that hope. I really feel blessed because of what my life has become.” A tear rolled from Taryn’s eye.

  “I’m happy that we found each other,” said Alex. “It means a lot to me, too. I think you’re such a wonderful person, and I’m excited for you that you were able to let that wonder out and let it flourish.”

  “I love you,” Taryn said. Still holding Alex’s hand, Taryn brought it up to her lips and kissed it.

  “I love you, too,” replied Alex happily. Her eyes darted back and forth, from the road to Taryn, before finally settling back on the road as they came to their freeway exit.

  They drove through Chelsea, as they so often did, moving through the downtown and passing the Jiffy factory. And then they found themselves out in the farmland, the houses getting further apart, thick and dense stands of trees bordering the fields and landscapes. The trees had begun to turn colors as fall was upon them, and beauty was all around. Taryn watched in awe as they drove through the orange, brown, and red shades of the ensuing autumnal metamorphosis.

  This whole experience had been a metamorphosis for Taryn, as well. She had changed, evolved, burst from her chrysalis, and emerged as someone she was truly happy to be.

  The van pulled into the driveway of the homestead, and Alex drove it up as far as she could and put it in park. Together, she and Taryn stepped out of the car and walked around to the back to begin unloading. It was a process they’d done plenty of times before, and their deft movements communicated their familiarity. Then, Lucas and Astrid emerged to help them. Lucas pulled the cart down, he placed a few empty vases on it, and then he wheeled it off. Astrid hopped inside of the van with a broom, and swept out any fallen plant detritus. It was a joint effort, every one doing their part.

  And then Penny and Dev came walking together from the farmhouse. There was a lavender colored fabric sling wrapped around Penny’s body, and sleeping in this sling was little Darla. When they approached Taryn and Alex, everyone said their hellos and Taryn leaned in to kiss Darla on the head. Never did she think there would be a baby in her life, but here one was. And she was beautiful.

  Eventually, Justine and Scotty came up to the driveway from the barn and they helped, too. Before long, the delivery truck was empty and cleaned, looking pristine after a day of work. Alex tossed the keys to Scotty, who insisted it needed to be washed outside as well. And soon, just as quickly as the group had assembled, they went their separate ways. There was more to accomplish yet today, and everybody was eager to do their part.

  Taking a break from work, Taryn and Alex sat on top of a picnic table, feet on the seat, legs touching, each with a glass of iced tea. There was a slight chill in the air, but it felt nice, a gentle breeze rolling over the fields and tickling their faces. Taryn pushed a tress of hair back behind her ear, and she smiled at Alex. Alex returned the smile joyously and in earnest. The two of them were happy together, and excited about their journey. They had a lot to look forward to, joining forces in this cosmic adventure we all share.

  That’s all they could ask for, really. A lover, a partner, someone who understands. They were drawn together by destiny or coincidence, or whatever it might be that controls the universe. But it wasn’t an accident that they were together. It was the exact thing they both needed. It was the exact thing they both deserved.

  “Let’s get to work,” Alex said, taking the last sip of her tea. “You ready?”

  “I am,” said Taryn. “Let’s do it.”

  They kissed tenderly. And then, as though they were moving as one, they stood up from the picnic table and they got back to it. There was still plenty to do on the farm that day, and they were happy to do it. Side by side, together, and with love.

  Thank You!

  A Note From Nicolette Dane

  I just want to thank you so much for your readership. I write these novels for you, and I sincerely do hope you enjoy them. If you did enjoy this story, I would really appreciate it if you left a review of the book. Reviews are very important to the success of a book, and your review could help me reach more readers. Even if you’re not the wordy type, leaving a review saying “I really enjoyed this book!” is still incredibly helpful.

  I have so much more for you to read. Keep going through this book to see some of my personal recommendations. If you enjoyed this story, I am positive you’ll love my other stories as well.

  Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  Love,

  Nico

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