The Love Clause

Just them-Julia and Liam-two people standing on the other side of a ninety-d

l l

ing softer, more true. The sunroom no longer looked like a museum. Liam had painted one wall a warm ochre, and Julia had filled the she

s bea

as h

lso unfamili

ll. They were simply together-and that, as Julia qui

-

r laptop. Her inbox, once a source of control, now made her stomach ache. There were messages from the London office, still hoping

e her pause was from

No Hard

er it, jaw tig

Ju

-just business. Uncle Robert built something I admired, and I

may be a way for us to work together. I have ideas for the

me k

N

ng in her throat. Liam's story? Like

ed the la

rubbing sleep from

she said, fo

against the counter, and

ed. "Nathan

O

foundation projects. Use your name. Your 'story.'"

a breath. "He'

But he's smart. A

me to ta

since that's illegal..." She

emple. "Then we ignore him. Or better,

dn't vanish easily. The Hartman legacy had always been a game of long

-

the week, Juli

a new commission. She was happy for him-proud, even-but she cou

e'd said no to London and walked away from a career bui

t was more

who she was without her briefcase

furniture, the art, the fabric of a life that didn't quite fit yet. She paused

te pen sat untouched on the desk. A leather-

icked

-not about the business, b

created the clause to break her rhythm-to shake her loose from t

oat tig

the page, a l

only contract worth brea

t down in the chair, tears pr

the house. He'd left her herself-i

-

st work was being installed. The space was raw, with exposed bric

s stopped

room-but not as it was. As i

o figures in the light. A woman curled in a ch

as t

Liam's voice was

t," she w

ed After t

med a painting afte

er our real beg

there, surrounded by

e in a long time, she

Julia hadn't yet met. She mingled as best she could, clutching a glass of white wine and avoiding conv

le said it with amusement, or worse, admiration-like

e her as she stood near the back wall, gazi

y emotion. Dark streaks of navy and ash, wi

said, but her vo

his head.

r wine. "I don't know how

vers

. The one who's... not defined by c

r ear. "Maybe that's the point. Mayb

. "And what if I do

. "Then we work

lightly. She wasn't used to being allowed uncertainty. But

utside was quiet, a hush settling over the city as

to walk?"

Just fo

nd of silence that only happens between two

sed. "Do you ever wonder what would've ha

hen I remember how I felt the day I signed i

irked. "

t like you. But I thought you wer

w

eren't. You were jus

o you think we're still

"No. I think we stopped pretending the

membering. "The m

mpany w

she leaned into his side,

contracts. But they were boun

-

ith a notebook open in her lap. Not a legal pad. Not

ut something about the blank page mad

ted with

ot what

ano

t to do somethin

ness plan. Not a career pivot. Just ide

aring pajama pants and a paint-streaked tee

ere allergic to

ng someth

"Good. You

the rim of her m

nking. About the extra space in the

abou

tudio. For young artists. People who

ed. "That's

st of names. People wh

nd squeezed his ha

get

" she said.

they weren't just reacting to the life they wer

-

is never

tter arrived

nd a law firm's return address. Julia opened it

sked, watching her f

suit. Claims I unduly influenced Uncle Robert before his

rkened. "That'

t truth. It's

cing. "What

trol over the foundation. And if he can'

ounter, jaw tight. "

id. "But this time,

ked up

again. Turned to a blank

even but not quite deep enough for true sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Nathaniel's s

Liam had mad

ghtstand, kissed her shoulde

impersonal. Liam walked through the doors wearing

arles Devlin," he t

ave an ap

it's Liam Hartman.

th polished glass walls and expensive chairs. Charles Devlin wa

n't give

etter you sent to Jul

n. I assume you're referring to the

ag Julia's name through the mud, I'll take every painting I've ever made, ever

a brow. "Is

my life. But I won't do it now. Not when the woman I love is being

h to respond, but Liam

erage. And if he wants a war,

king with adrenaline. He wasn't used to confron

-

ulia was pacing the livi

ked, relief and irritati

n's of

ia

y," he said. "I just let him know w

s. "You can't just walk into a

n't that wha

r eyes. "You're

ot standing by while someone tri

a little. "You're supp

e one with the fire," he said

smiling despite hersel

. But I l

p at him. "S

ove

ss wasn't sweet or shy-it was a declaration. A middle finger to every c

-

forgotten how to win a battle. With Liam's help, she drafted a public statement-a soft, dignified announcement

. "That's what he wants. But we will remind the wor

"So no pres

l bring in a communications consu

d. "And the com

ly," she replied. "Give them som

o the

al artists, teachers, students, and neighbors. They named the space Clause

owed up i

curated supplies, the rows of blank canvases waiting to be filled. Liam gave short tours, wh

uriously on a pad. She reminded Julia of herself at that age-not bec

ere?" Julia as

tartled, then nodded.

ed. "That'

-

d Liam collapsed on the floor of

," Julia said, her vo

ch p

of

didn't think I could ever be part of

ust because of your name. Or yo

. "And you make them be

the laughter of lingering guests still echoed. But in that moment, i

tainty that love

e entire

a's bare shoulders. Liam woke first, watching her sleep for a while. There was something alm

at peace, at

s on his phone. As expected, the studio launch had generated a buzz. Photos of the open house we

as somethin

age: "Exclusive: Hartman Heir Escalates Leg

do

e, but because it carried with it the shadow of death and

padded with quotes from unnamed sources and former board

s a temporary performance, not a legitimate union. An anonymou

he air leav

para

it on the nightstand. Julia stirred

d, her voice still

oed, sitting on t

is expression

d her th

the article. But when she reached the q

eone from the old board. Proba

k they reall

at him. "Doe

nt us to start questioning what's real jus

d. "I don't questio

ng more personal," he said. "I don't want our

cars, pedestrians, early birds sipping coffee on stoops

ontrolling narratives," she sai

n't respond

with press releases. We show them. Wit

-

t. The community studio flourished. A few local donors even offered to expand the space. Liam hosted a rotating showcase of young a

aniel wa

er, Julia recei

d access to her private emails and correspondence during the year of the claus

ers in her hand, h

ed every damn fil

anything wron

e we never put in writing. This won't prove anything. It's

nched. "Then l

old

conference. I mean us. Our stor

ed at hi

Or a short series. Artistic

nt to f

ity. For closure. Let's

haled. "We'll do it toge

s," he

-

filming in

sleep after their open house. She spoke candidly about her uncle, the cla

era. "Every day. But love isn't a

udio. Surrounded by color, his wor

said. "She still does sometimes. B

lls and letters. Julia read aloud one of Liam's first notes

. But I want to. That has

eenings for the foundation board, friends, and a fe

se? Dropped

oved quietl

and Liam?

r obli

or le

where a clause had once l

-

f kids splash paint on a giant canvas meant for a neighborhood mural. O

really have to get mar

ughed. "

it

r. "It worked better

from the door. "We'

t ki

d. "The m

at the mural-in-progres

g way to go. But thi

le

logi

last

could ever com

m a lawyer, not from Nathaniel, but from a young woman named Clara Whittaker. The name

when it had been managed by Julia's uncle. She was now a practicing attorney,

e to walk away from a law firm that no longer aligned with my values.

it into Liam's studio, where he was leaning ove

his," s

As he reached the bottom, he looked up.

d to be," Julia said. "Smart, driven. T

d n

ready to rewr

-

artists from the neighborhood, and even a former lobbyist who specialized in nonprofit reform.

d that had once boxed them in. Now, it was an acronym: Comm

purposeful. No press. No red carpet.

glass of prosecco, watching her once-political l

led up b

ng," he murmured, brushin

kle lights," she

you. Owning

ining. "I didn't think I'd

"I was just thinki

watched the sun dip below the rooftops, the cit

-

ce didn

er letter. Not from Nathaniel this time, but f

hostile-ju

cture, and mission. While these changes were legal, they raised questions about whe

tter before she'd eve

ow?" Liam asked, cat

iginal intent of the foundation," she snapped.

. "This isn't about the foundation. It's about cont

I'm not

a moment. "Maybe it's

d an eyebro

be something new. Something s

egacy-out of duty, respect, guilt. But what if legacy didn't

think we c

we alre

-

ing that follo

tional history. Others, inspired by the docuseries and the s

and Liam, who'd agreed to attend as an "observer" but

tatic," Julia told the room. "It was des

ours, the vot

or of complete stru

n archives, in credits, in memo

oulders sagged with exhaustion. Liam

it," he w

di

-

cing each other, the sheets tangled, the

nk I'd have to give something up to be w

inger down her

ad to give up s

ha

that I was

swallowed emotion. "You'r

ard, kissed him

e all at once-urgent, reverent, grateful. When it was over

eth

-

ath of cool wind, and w

a café when she got

ee this," Clara said

oward panic. The headline read: "Nathaniel Hartman Joins E

Paris, posing beside a sculpture, smiling lik

d the art

on of legal battles. Only vague referenc

losed h

as g

like

who picked up o

ut," sh

pause. Then:

hink

n't sou

feel more triumphant. Ins

always loud," Liam said. "So

eyes, grateful no one at the

'll make you tea. Or pai

ughed.

way

-

, free art classes, and legal support for young creatives. Liam began mentoring

lked into the studio with take

e the fireplace, w

t, intimate-a portrait of Julia, eyes half-lidded

d me?" she

aid. "To remember w

he canvas, move

tly, "we've finally ste

side her, sliding an

he said. "And made