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The clatter of cutlery and the hum of conversation around them seemed distant as Olivia contemplated the chance he was giving her, the possibility of a future she had never dared to imagine. Tomorrow, she would tell him her choice.
As Liv considered his proposition, a mischievous glint hinted at a playful spark beneath her composed exterior. “You know, Jackson,” she began, her tone teasing, “I've never been one to make snap decisions, especially when it comes to life-altering offers from handsome strangers.”
Jackson chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that sent a shiver down Liv's spine. “Well, Liv,” he countered with a wink, “consider me your not-so-handsome fairy godfather, here to grant your wishes.”
A coy smile tugged at Liv's lips as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “And what if my deepest desire involves more than just professional growth?” Her gaze locked with his, daring him to rise to the challenge.
Jackson's eyes sparked with a mixture of amusement and something darker, more primal. “Oh, Liv,” he replied, his voice low and husky, “I'm all about fulfilling desires.”
* * *
As Jackson and Liv ate, the familiar buzz of the diner filled the air around them. More customers began to trickle in, some stopping by to chat with Jackson in his role as fire captain, while others greeted Liv with friendly smiles and nods of recognition.
“Morning, Jackson!” called out Joe, a local mechanic, as he passed by their booth. “Heard you had quite the fire to deal with last night. Everything alright?”
Jackson nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. “Yeah, Joe, we managed to contain it pretty quickly. No injuries, thank goodness.”
Meanwhile, a group of elderly ladies sitting at a nearby table waved enthusiastically at Liv as she caught their eye. “Morning, Olivia,” called out Mrs. Jenkins, the town's resident gossip and the bakery owner. “How's your mama doing? Heard she's been under the weather.”
Liv nodded in response. “She's doing better; thank you for asking, Mrs. Jenkins. Just taking it one day at a time.” She leaned into Jackson and whispered, “She had the sniffles. Bought some cold medicine at the pharmacy, where I assume they bumped into each other.”
As the morning wore on, more familiar faces stopped by their table, each exchange filled with the easy camaraderie that came with living in a small town where everyone knew each other. Some shared news and updates, while others simply offered a friendly nod or wave as they passed by.
“In Waverly Junction, where everyone knows our names,” Jackson hummed the Cheers theme. He didn’t want the breakfast to end. There was something about Liv Everhart.
* * *
Olivia parked her car in the familiar driveway of the old Victorian home in Waverly Junction where she grew up. The house, with its towering gables and intricate woodwork, had always been a place of comfort, but today, it was a place to have a serious conversation.
She found her mother, Charlotte, in the back garden, hands covered in paint and eyes sparkling with determination. The retired deputy police chief had found a new project in her plan of refurbishing their family home.
“Mom,” Olivia began, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach. “I've been offered a chance to go through the fire academy.”
Charlotte's brush stilled mid-stroke. She turned to face her daughter, her expression a mix of pride and concern. “The fire department is very physical, Liv. It's not like your regular workouts.”
“I know, Mom.” Olivia met her mother's gaze head-on. “I'm not worried. I can handle it.” Her workouts were just as challenging as the workouts of the group of firefighters who worked out at the gym she went to.
A silence fell between them, heavy with fears and memories. Finally, Olivia broke it. “Is this because Dad died in a fire?”
Charlotte sighed, setting down her paintbrush. Her voice was barely above a whisper when she spoke. “I can't lose a child that way, Liv. I learned to relax when you joined the police department.”
Olivia maintained, “Mom, it’s the academy. It will build credibility for me.”
Her mother’s brows furrowed. “Is someone giving you a hard time?”
She swished her jaw. “No, not at the moment, but you know how people can get. Competitive. I’m a woman. Pick an excuse.”
Charlotte wrapped an arm around her oldest child. “I understand, Liv. Now tell me how this all came about?” Her eyebrow rose.
Olivia hesitated, then confessed, “I had breakfast with Jackson Reynolds. We bumped into each other at the scene of the shipping company fire. We were talking, and he asked if I wanted to give the academy a shot.”
Charlotte's eyes narrowed slightly, detecting the slight blush on Olivia's cheeks. “I had a feeling after the burn center dedication, you might seek him out. I figured you’d want more information.” A knowing smile played on her lips.
Olivia shifted uncomfortably, trying to hide her growing attraction to Jackson. “It's nothing like that, Mom.”
“Honey, you were only ten,” Charlotte replied gently, her voice full of regret. “It didn't seem right to burden you with that information. Jackson was at least twenty-one when they died. He was in a different position.”
Silence filled the room as Olivia grappled with her mom’s point of view, her mind whirling with unanswered questions and feelings. “Mom, what aren’t you telling me?”
