Page 81 of When It Rains He Pours

“We were in the neighborhood and wanted to stop in and say hello.”

Grabbing little Holden, I swept him off his feet and spun him high in the air. His giggle came out loud and high pitched as he threw his arms out like he was flying.

“I'm so glad you did.” Rubbing the tip of my nose against my little guy's, I kissed his cheek and set him back down.

“If you're busy, we can come back after.”

Waving him off, I smiled. “It's fine, just give me a few minutes to finish up here, then I'm all yours.”

Liam leaned in and gave me a quick kiss. “Whoa, whoa, don't touch that.” Jolting forward, he ran at Holden, trying to catch him before he broke something.

“You have a beautiful family,” the woman said, giving me a soft smile. “I miss my kids being that little.”

Looking over at my son, my heart began to warm and my skin bristled with love. Liam was chasing him around the gallery and Holden was laughing hysterically.

“I'm sure I'll miss it too one day. For now I just enjoy each moment as it happens.”

The woman's eyes twinkled as she watched my child innocently enjoy a game of chase. “That's the best way to live.”

After having her fill out the contact form and give a deposit, I walked her out and shut the door behind her when she left.

Liam was sitting on the floor in the back room, the changing pad rolled out, and Holden on his back getting a new diaper.

“Well, that's it, I'm all done for today.”

Glancing back at me, his smirk held secrecy. “No, there's one more thing you need to do.”

“Oh yeah and what's that?” Crouching down, I passed him the wipes as he searched the bag.

“You need to go by the old lot.”

“The old lot?” Scrunching my brows, I tried to figure out why he was still asking me to do that. He knew my answer. He always knew my answer.

I hadn't been by there in over two years. It was too much, it brought back too many horrible memories. I avoided that area like the plague. There was more than one way to get to my new gallery, and I took every way except the one that brought me right past my old building.

Liam had done what he set out to do. He turned the old mill into luxury apartments, utilizing the ground level for small businesses, giving me a new home for my art. It was amazing.

It took about a year to finish all of it. The grand opening of the building was in the local paper and on the news. He was right from the start, I haven't had a slow day since. People flooded the gallery in the beginning, now I had a steady stream of new and old customers.

Everything had come to together in the end.

“It's been long enough. I think you need to face your fear, Glory. I'll come with you—we'll come with you. You won't be alone, and I think it will really close that chapter for you. Once you get over your fear, you'll feel a lot better.”

Will I? I don't see how.

For me, avoiding it all together was the best route. The memories could stay dormant, the pain could stay chained inside, and I could focus on what really mattered; my son and family.

“Well, what do you say?” Standing up, Liam wrapped his arm around my neck and pulled my head against his stomach. “Will you do it for me?”

Pursing my lips tightly, I furrowed my brows. “Does it mean that much to you? You've been asking me for a long time to do this, and I always tell you the same thing.”

“You always say no. I guess I keep hoping one of these times you'll say yes.”

“Why? Why can't you just let it be?”

“Because this is our home, all of it. Do you want to explain to our son when he gets older why that street is off limits? Do you want him to see you not facing your fear when you tell him he needs to be strong?”

“Liam—”

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