Liza sniffled again as she shook her head, looking up to meet his eyes, "No, no...don't apologize. You had school, that's important." She assured him, not wanting Wes to feel guilty for doing things for himself. Liza was so proud of him for being in school and she absolutely didn't want him to think he shouldn't.

"But our family is more important than anything else." Wes countered. Yes, school was important to him, but he wasn't going to let it get in the way of being there for Liza and the kids. "Besides, I can always come back to it." Wes didn't want to drop out of school even if it was for a little while, but he would do it if it was necessary.

"I'd say you're not alone in that, given just how many people come into the store looking for those books. I've only recently learned about the whole sprayed edges thing that are sought after." Emerson told him with a soft laugh before she grinned, "All books are good books! In fact, if you'd like a suggestion, I think she might enjoy the Corduroy books. I loved them as a child, and I got the whole collection for my niece a few years ago as well."

"Oh for sure, I didn't think I would get into romantasy the way I did, but Liza and I enjoy those books. Yeah? Sprayed edges I feel have become extra popular lately. They're cool but its still going to sit on my bookshelf with the spine facing outward."

"Wouldn't complain over a little change, even down in hot Louisiana we had a dry cooler season and a rainy season. Wasn't much, but those evenin' thunderheads were lifesavers. Th'air here just gets stagnant feelin'."

"Yeah, its way hotter here than where I used to live. I miss those crisp falls and freezing winters. Here everything just feels the same. It kind of sucks, honestly."

"but you and liza are also like... soulmates. a one in a million kinda deal." lucy viewed their relationship as the blueprint. it wasn't always perfect, but it was full of love and determination. they worked for their future together. like it was always destined to be. "it's rare. a lot of people would wish to be as lucky as you two."

"That's very sweet of you to say, but you have to remember that Liza and I didn't find each other without heartbreak. We didn't meet until we were twenty-four years old, and there was a lot of hurt that happened before then. I was with people that hurt me, she was with people that hurt her. My point is to not give up and think you'll never find someone who treats you the way you deserve to be treated."

"Just calling it like I see it, frère." Amelia replied teasingly, but her expression softened as Wes spoke again and she hummed, nodding again, "It seems hard just from the outside, so yeah, I get it. I don't envy you one bit." And okay sure she did actually envy him having all this love and happiness and his happily ever after already, but everything it's taken and still taking? She wasn't sure she could handle it. "You better not drop out of school, dude." was all she said.

“Thanks, that’s encouraging.” Wes rolled his eyes at Amelia’s lack of envy for his insane life. He didn’t blame her though. The Evans had grown up in house full of anger and hatred, and it had taken a lot for Wes to end up where he was now. Emotionally, mentally, financially.. but it still wasn’t perfect. He was haunted by pieces of his past that still affected him greatly, and it was a huge adjustment to finally have freedom from that past only to be given a huge responsibility of another human life. But Wes couldn’t lie, Elise had changed him. Liza had changed him. Wes was terrified of becoming a father but now he couldn’t imagine not being one, and he adored his wife and kids beyond words could express. Sure it was hard, and sure life’s a daily struggle, but it’s all worth it. He did hope that Amelia was able to find peace like he had, even if life wasn’t complete bliss.

Liza let out a long breath, trying to hide how it shook even as she nodded, "I'm okay." She tried to assure him, keeping her little attempted smile on her lips- but it only lasted a few seconds as Wes cameo to her, kneeling before her and grabbing her hand and her expression crumpled a bit as she shook her head, "It's stupid." She told him, letting out a watery laugh as she sniffed, "It's just--wedding stuff and Ellie's sick and been screaming nonstop, and because of that Teddy's couldn't nap so he was crying on top of running around all over and I just...got really overwhelmed." Liza sniffled again, squeezing his hand as she again shook her head, "But I'm okay. Really. How, um. How was your day?"

The scene was an all too familiar one as Wes recalled when he and Liza were brand-new parents and he'd walked in on Liza crying over how hard her day was. He was hit was a pang of guilt as he realized she'd been going through all of this while he was in school.

Open

"No, dude, I never thought I'd miss snow as much as I do living in Aurora Bay. I miss having seasons."

Wes' description of Salem, didn't bring her any comfort for her trip to Finn's hometown. She'd already been nervous about these rumors of witchcraft circulating the area, even if this gossip had been from another century. Maybe she could use him to pry. "What's like, the deal with all the witches and stuff?" She asked. "Do they still exist?"

"I mean, people still practice, I guess. There's all kind of witch memorabilia about witches and the trials literally everywhere you turn. There's a crystal shop I met Finn in. But, yeah, it's not like someone's going to curse you for stepping into town... or burn you at the stake."

lucy hadn't thought too much about what she may or may not deserve, apart from not being called 'dark and twisty' on her own door step because of someone else's jealousy. but she appreciates the sentiment. "i've always liked the idea of love, but from an outsiders perspective. romance and all looked very.... messy."

"Yeah, when I was younger I thought it was a bunch of crap. It wasn't until I met Liza that I realized its not so bad." He gave her a small smile. "It'll be alright though. Promise."