Chapter 80

Chapter 80
MADDIE

Saturday morning came with a cool, gentle breeze that carried the scent of wet pine and fresh earth. After the whirlwind of events over the past few days, Oakridge felt peaceful again, but my mind was far from settled.

When I tried to take a quick shower that morning, the faucet groaned before sputtering out into a dry trickle. The old pipe under the sink had finally loosened, leaving me with a leaking bathroom and half-soaped hair.

Wiping my face with a towel, I threw on a warm flannel shirt and walked down the street toward Julian’s small hardware and repair shop near the town square.

The brass bell above the door chimed softly as I stepped inside. The shop smelled of cedar sawdust, copper fittings, and machine oil. Julian was standing behind the wooden counter, meticulously cleaning a pair of brass pliers.

When he looked up and met my eyes, his movements stilled. A heavy, awkward silence fell over the small room. He looked distant—aloof in a way he had never been with me before. The warm, effortless smile that usually greeted me was nowhere to be found, replaced by a quiet, guarded expression born from yesterday's jealousy and pain.

"Hey," I said gently, leaning against the counter. "Good morning."

"Morning, Sofia," Julian replied, his voice flat, almost clipped. He didn't look away, but his dark eyes were guarded. "Something wrong with the house?"

"My bathroom shower pipe gave out," I admitted, giving him an apologetic smile. "It's leaking everywhere, and the shut-off valve is stuck. I was hoping... well, if you aren't too busy, could you take a look at it?"

Julian stared at me for a long moment, his jaw tightening slightly. For a second, I thought he was going to say no—to tell me to call someone else or handle it on my own. But he let out a slow, heavy breath, placed his tools on the counter, and grabbed his heavy leather toolbox from under the table.

"Let's go," he muttered quietly, stepping out from behind the counter and holding the door open for me.

The walk back to my place was quiet. The tension between us felt thicker than the morning fog, but as soon as we stepped into my small bathroom, Julian immediately got to work. He knelt on the cold floor tiles, pulling out a wrench and inspecting the rusted copper pipe beneath the wall.

I stood by the doorway, watching his focused expression as he worked.

"Julian," I started softly, unable to bear the cold distance between us any longer. "I'm sorry about yesterday. I know how much you care about this town, and I know how much you hate Hades... but I didn't want any of that food or those gifts to cause a rift between us."

The metallic clatter of his wrench against the pipe stopped. Julian remained on his knees for a few seconds before slowly sitting back, wiping his grease-stained hands on a rag. He didn't look up immediately.

"It wasn't just about the food, Sofia," Julian said softly, his voice thick with unexpressed emotion. He finally looked up at me, his dark eyes vulnerable and clear. "It was seeing how easily he can still reach into your life. It made me realize that no matter how much I want to protect you... he will always have a hold over you that I can't compete with."

My heart ached for him. "Julian..."

"Let me finish," he said gently, raising a hand. He stood up, wiping his hands clean before looking down at me with a sad, accepting smile. "I love you, Sofia. I think I've loved you since the day you walked into Oakridge with that tired, brave look in your eyes. And for a long time, I hoped that maybe... just maybe, you'd see me as more than just a friend."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. "Julian, you mean the world to me. You gave me a home when I had nowhere to go."

"I know," he whispered softly, stepping closer and placing a warm, gentle hand on my shoulder. "And I get it now. I see the way your eyes change when his name is spoken. I see the history, the depth, and the unfinished story between you two. I'm not going to force something that isn't there, Sofia. I accept it."

I looked up at him, feeling a wave of immense gratitude and relief wash over me. "Thank you, Julian."

"But," Julian added, his tone turning firm, though his eyes remained warm, "don't ask me to stop caring. Don't ask me to stop looking out for you. Hades Grant might be trying to play the changed man, but until I know for sure that he won't break your heart again, I'm going to be right here, watching your back. Deal?"

A small, tearful laugh escaped my lips. "Deal."

Julian smiled—a real, genuine smile this time—and patted my shoulder before kneeling back down by the pipes. "Good. Now let me fix this shower before your floor caves in."

Within twenty minutes, the clinking of tools stopped, and the smooth hum of running water restored echoed through the pipes. Just as Julian was packing his tools back into his box, his phone rang loudly on the sink counter.

He wiped his hands and picked it up, putting it on speaker. "Hey, Annie."

"Julian! Sofia!" Annie’s voice burst through the speaker, breathless and excited. "Is Sofia with you? Never mind, I know she is! You two need to get down to the daycare right now!"

Julian frowned, exchanging a quick look with me. "What's going on, Annie? Is everything okay?"

"Everything's great, but Mr. and Mrs. Smith just called an emergency town meeting at the daycare pavilion," Annie explained quickly. "The town’s annual Foundation Day is coming up next weekend! Since the utility bans were lifted and the town is officially off the chopping block, everyone wants to make this year's festival the biggest one yet. Mrs. Smith needs us for the planning committee!"

Julian looked at me, the last traces of awkwardness completely melting away into excitement.

"We're on our way," Julian said into the phone.

The walk to the daycare pavilion was light and comforting. The cool morning air felt refreshing on my skin, and having Julian walk beside me without the heavy cloud of tension was a relief I didn't realize I needed so badly.

As we approached the daycare center, the lawn was already buzzing with activity. Colorful wooden benches were arranged in a wide semicircle, and the townsfolk were chatting lively over cups of hot tea and fresh bread. Mrs. Higgins was handing out sweet cinnamon rolls, while Mr. and Mrs. Smith stood by a large wooden easel with a hand-painted map of the park.

"Ah, Sofia! Julian!" Mrs. Smith called out warmly, waving her apron-clad hand. "Come, come! We were just about to discuss the booths!"

Annie hurried over to us, clutching a thick clipboard overflowing with colorful sticky notes and sketched festival layouts. "Finally! Okay, here's the plan. Since Oakridge survived the threat of being shut down, Mayor Clinton's office approved a three-day celebration for Foundation Day starting this Saturday!"

"Three days?" Julian grinned, crossing his arms. "That's bigger than last year's."

"We owe it to everyone who stood ground when the city threatened us," Mr. Smith added, stepping forward with his usual gentle authority. "We want game booths for the kids, a stage for the night performances, a local food market, and of course, a charity drive for the daycare's winter supplies."

"Sofia, dear," Mrs. Smith said, taking both of my hands in hers with a loving smile. "The children at the daycare adore you. Would you and Annie take charge of designing the children's pavilion and managing the booth games?"

"I would love to, Mrs. Smith," I replied smoothly, a genuine warmth blooming in my chest. "We can set up craft tables, storybook readings, and outdoor games."

"I'll handle the main stage setup and sound equipment," Julian volunteered, looking at Mr. Smith. "I have extra lumber and wiring at the shop."

"Wonderful! That solves our biggest headache!" Annie cheered, tapping her pen against her clipboard.

As everyone split into smaller groups to coordinate tasks, the sound of laughter and eager chatter filled the pavilion. For the first time in months, I felt completely at home—surrounded by people who genuinely cared for one another.

My sweater pocket vibrated softly with a quiet double-buzz.

I stepped slightly away from the crowd, taking shelter under the shade of a large oak tree before pulling out my phone. A message notification from an unknown, private number flashed on the screen.

When I tapped it open, my breath hitched in my throat.

Good morning, Sofia.

I heard the town is celebrating its Foundation Day this coming week. I've instructed Marcus to discreetly transfer the necessary funds to Mr. Smith's community account so you won't have to worry about festival supplies or logistics.

Don't overwork yourself today. Have a peaceful weekend.

— Hades

I stared at the screen, my thumb hovering over the glass as my heart gave an uncomfortable, erratic flutter. He wasn't demanding anything. He wasn't asking to see me, nor was he intruding in person. He was simply watching over the town—and over me—from afar, using his power not to destroy, but to support.

"Sofia?" Annie’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts as she trotted over, holding up two rolls of decorative ribbons. "Which color for the daycare booth banner—sunshine yellow or pastel pink?"

I quickly locked my phone screen, sliding it back into my pocket, and forced a soft, reassuring smile.

"Sunshine yellow," I said, walking back toward her and Julian under the warm morning sun. "Definitely yellow."