Built to Last

by Aurora Rey

  For all of Olivia’s newfound handiness, she had never actually used a saw. She wasn’t about to let that stop her. “Gimme,” she said, holding out her hand for the saw.

  Wiggling under the tree was easy, as was getting the saw blade into the nice groove Joss created for her. Placing both hands firmly on the handle, she began working the blade back and forth. Flecks of sawdust went flying and the scent of pine filled her nostrils. It was exhilarating. It was exhausting. Her neck cramped and her biceps began to burn. She continued at it until she gauged she was more than halfway through the trunk.

  “Is it okay if I stop now?”

  “Of course.” Joss chuckled. “Excellent effort. Also, your ass looks amazing when you do that.”

  Olivia wiggled out from under the tree, adding an extra shimmy or two for Joss’s benefit. She handed back the saw and Joss made quick work of finishing the job. Olivia stuck her hand into the tree, holding it steady so it didn’t fall on Joss’s head. When Joss told her to let go and push it away from her, the tree landed in the snow with a satisfying thwack.

  “Timber!” She said it about ten seconds too late, but with great enthusiasm.

  They each took an end and carried the tree back to the parking lot. They hoisted it into the back of Joss’s truck and Olivia tapped on the door of the trailer. She handed the woman three twenties and picked up a pair of rustic evergreen wreaths for the front and back doors. She laid them in the back with the tree and climbed into the truck to join Joss.

  “I always want to do this with you.”

  Joss smiled. “I want to do this with you always, too.”

  *

  After getting the tree in the house, in the stand, and watered, they stopped for leftover turkey sandwiches. Olivia pulled out her bins of Christmas decorations. Joss shuffled around the tree behind her, holding the lights while Olivia tucked them between the branches. Olivia refused to put on any ornaments until Joss could bring hers over and they could all be put on together.

  The snow started up again and it got dark outside early, even for November. Olivia poured wine and they sat on the sofa with only the light from the tree and the fire illuminating the room. Ethel snored on her bed. On one level, Olivia couldn’t imagine being more content. On another, she worried about how quickly Joss agreed to move in with her. Given everything that had happened, the last thing she wanted was for Joss to feel like she was trying to control everything, or have things her way.

  Olivia took a deep breath, let it out. “Are you sure you’re okay letting go of your place? It’s such a great house.”

  Joss kissed the top of her head. “I’m sure. It was a great project and a good investment, but it’s small and doesn’t have much land. I never intended it to be the home I raise a family in.”

  It made sense. And she desperately wanted to believe it. Olivia leaned back and looked at her. “And this place?”

  Joss smiled. “This place is absolutely perfect. And we made it that way, together.”

  “We did.” Olivia thought back to the first time she’d seen the house. Even in a state of disrepair, it stirred something in her. It was as though her soul knew something the rest of her still had to figure out. It was the same with Joss, really. Despite getting off on the wrong foot, Olivia persisted. What she thought was a physical attraction was the spark that started a much bigger fire.

  Joss leaned back and looked into Olivia’s eyes. “Things mean so much more when you work for them. Don’t you agree?”

  Olivia smiled. “Are you referring to the house? Or us?”

  Joss offered a playful shrug. “Both.”

  Olivia thought about the last few months. There’d been plenty of sweat, some tears. She’d even shed a little blood in her battle with the carpet staples. She’d never poured more of herself into a project, or a relationship. She’d never felt such a deep connection, either. “In that case, I couldn’t agree more.”

  About the Author

  Aurora Rey grew up in a small town in south Louisiana, daydreaming about New England. She keeps a special place in her heart for the South, especially the food and the ways women are raised to be strong, even if they’re taught not to show it. After a brief dalliance with biochemistry, she completed both a B.A. and an M.A. in English.

  When she’s not writing or at her day job in higher education, she loves to cook and putter around the house. She’s slightly addicted to Pinterest, has big plans for the garden, and would love to get some goats. She lives in Ithaca, New York, with her partner and two dogs.

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