Chapter 26: Nails and Vows
The morning after the blackout was golden.
Sunlight spilled through the window panes like syrup, slow and warm. Bea stood barefoot in a tank top and worn jeans, her hair in a messy bun, hammer in hand.
Nova leaned against the doorway of the unfinished room. "You're holding that like a promise."
Bea grinned without turning. "Maybe I am."
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The Foundation They Built
After weeks of hesitation, the two had finally agreed—this house wouldn't just be a shelter. It would be their creation. Every wall would remember their laughter. Every screw would echo their arguments, their makeup kisses, the quiet ways they healed.
Bea was sanding down a wooden plank when Nova joined her, holding a bucket of nails.
"Is this how we make vows now?" Nova teased.
"No churches. No crowds. Just you, me, and drywall."
Nova's smile softened. "That sounds like forever to me."
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Painting the Past Away
Later that afternoon, they painted the walls—a soft cream for peace, a rich olive green for growth. Every brushstroke was part of a ritual neither of them fully understood but both felt in their bones.
Bea's hand brushed Nova's waist, smudging her shirt with paint. Nova gasped. "Did you just—"
Before she could finish, Bea dipped her fingers into the tray and smeared a heart on Nova's cheek.
"You started it," Bea said with a grin.
Nova grabbed a roller and chased her around the room.
They collapsed onto the floor in fits of laughter, shirts stained, hearts light.
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The First Nail
That evening, as the sun began to set, they stood before the last wall. Nova held a single gold nail.
"Do it together," Bea whispered.
They held the hammer as one, hands wrapped around the wooden handle, and drove the nail into the wall.
It was more than a fastener—it was a vow:
To stay.
To build.
To love, even when it's hard.
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A Room of Their Own
That room, empty as it was, already felt full.
Of history. Of beginnings. Of the invisible thread tying them to the people they used to be—and the women they were becoming.
As the sky deepened to purple, Bea rested her head on Nova's shoulder.
"What are we naming this room?" she asked.
Nova smiled. "Hope."
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End of Chapter 26