Page 138 of The Coppersmith Farmhouse (Jamison Valley 1)
Dr. Seavers had also come in that night and checked on Maisy. An ultrasound showed that no harm had come to Maisy’s baby from Everett’s kidnapping, but Maisy was an emotional wreck. Her ex-boyfriend and the father of her unborn child had intended to murder her baby and likely her.
It hurt my heart to think of what she was going through. I’d tried calling her every day, but her mother, who had moved in with her until she was feeling better, would always answer and tell me that Maisy didn’t want to talk yet. I didn’t press too hard. I knew she’d come around in time, and right now she just needed some space. I could give her that.
For a little while.
Jess had done his best to spend as much time with me after the incident as possible. But it was a busy time for the sheriff. Not only had he closed Wes’s murder but the arson case as well.
During Benson’s confession, he’d spilled that Wes had been the one to start the fire at the janitor’s house. Wes had intended to go after Everett but had been given the wrong address. He’d needlessly destroyed a man’s possessions because he hadn’t bothered to confirm the house number.
While Jess worked, I stayed close to the farmhouse.
For the first week after that horrible Friday night, I didn’t leave the house. My face needed time to heal, and I wanted to keep Rowen close to my side. She didn’t feel the need to stray far away from her mother either, so we had spent a lot of time cuddling together on the couch, having a Disney princess movie marathon.
But after a week, I knew I couldn’t hide out any longer. I had to get back into town and out of the house. Eventually, I would need to go back to the hospital and face my fears.
But not just yet.
My first trip into town was going to be for dinner at the café.
“Hi, Daddy!” Rowen yelled through Jess’s office door.
“Hey, little bit,” he said, standing from his chair and picking her up.
For the last week, Rowen had only called Jess “Daddy.” I wasn’t sure if they had talked about it or what, but I didn’t care. I was effing loving it. Every time she said it, I smiled and looked to Jess, who was always smiling back.
“We were thinking of eating at the café tonight. Is that okay with you, Sheriff?” I asked.
“Anything for my girls,” he said, shifting Rowen to one side and leaning in to give me a light kiss.
“Can you get away now or should we go kill some time?”
“Let’s go,” he said and grabbed my hand, pulling me behind him and out the station’s front door.
He put Rowen in her seat and then opened my door for me. But before I could step in, he put a hand at my belly and pushed me back, sliding in front of me.
And then he kissed me.
A kiss so long and deep, I forgot all about the bad stuff in life and just remembered the good. Because we had a lot. And we were going to live it good together.
“Stop kissing! You’re always kissing. I’m sick of it. Let’s go! I’m hungry f
or french fries!” Rowen shouted.
Jess pulled his lips away but didn’t make another move. He just stood there, holding my eyes with his, ice blue shining down at me with more love than I had ever expected to find in my life.
“You okay, baby?”
“I am now,” I said. Because I absolutely was. As long as he was with me, I would always be okay.
“Love you, Georgia.”
“Love you, Jess.”
One year and eight months later . . .
“Gigi?” Maisy called.
“Dining room!”
