Page 45 of Down Memory Lane
“Are you kidding?” She leapt into his arms and kissed his cheek. “I can’t imagine not working near you.” After kissing Felix as soundly as she dared in front of her parents, Autumn made the rounds to give grateful hugs to both of them. “Thank you so much. This is amazing.”
“Just promise me one thing,” her mom said. Autumn looked at her, waiting for some condition to zap the happy feeling in her chest. “Put me down as the buyer for the first piece you create in your new space.”
Autumn beamed at her mom, squeezing the hand Felix had slipped into hers. “Promise.”
The rest of the evening passed in a flurry of celebrations of the prospect of new beginnings for her and Felix. The idea of starting over was a little intimidating, but as long as Felix was there facing the challenges with her, Autumn knew she could face whatever life threw at them.
Epilogue
Felix
Two Months Later
Felix stood and gazed around his old apartment. The furniture stayed, but the last of the moving boxes containing his and Autumn’s personal items had been taken down to his SUV, ready to be moved to their new place above Branch and Brew. Felix had done exactly what he’d proposed to Autumn. After speaking with Aiden and talking to some of his financial investors, Felix was now the proud owner of the apartment above the brewery and the space next to it. He would be expanding his business and Autumn would be moving hers downtown as well.
After the visit to Phoenix saw Autumn’s parents agreeing that what she wanted was ultimately what was best for her and providing a little financial help, Autumn connected with other artists in the area and opened a space with the group that served as both a studio and a store front. She had a place to work on her pottery alongside a woman who painted watercolors and an older man who sculpted. Much like his expansion, it was still in its early stages and most of their selling was still done online, but it was nice to have her studio so near to him as it always had been.
With a sigh, Felix nodded at the place he’d called home for so long and turned to leave, nearly smacking into Travis. “Sorry, man. Didn’t see you there.”
“S-okay,” he grumbled. “Came up to help.”
Felix slapped his older brother on the shoulder and shook his head. “Thanks, but we’re good. You’ve taken care of all the heavy lifting already. All there is left to do is turn the keys over to Mom.” He dangled the keyring in front of his brother’s face. “Unless you’ve changed your mind about moving in here yourself.”
Travis rolled his eyes and huffed. “Nope.” He walked toward the stairs and started down. “Like where I am just fine. Don’t need change.”
Felix thought back to not too long ago when his brother had followed him to work one day. “What happened to all that talk about getting out more, meeting new people?”
Travis scratched at his beard and shrugged. “Didn’t take.”
Felix barked a laugh and tossed his arm over his brother’s shoulder. “Never change, Trav.”
Travis furrowed his brow. “Don’t plan to.”
Felix smiled at the gruff older man and passed over the keys to the apartment. “Give these to Mom, will you? I’m excited to go meet my girlfriend at our new place.”
Travis rolled his eyes again but nodded. “Like saying that a little too much, huh?” Felix shrugged and hopped into his car, ready to get home to the woman he loved as quickly as he could. He did like calling Autumn his girlfriend, but there were other words he longed to call her more. Words like fiancée or better yet, wife. Smiling at the thought of asking her to marry him soon, Felix drove towards the apartment they would now call home.
