Page 109 of The Coppersmith Farmhouse (Jamison Valley 1)
Jess
“Thanks for taking Ma home,” I told my sister as we stood together on the farmhouse porch.
We were waiting outside while Ma collected her things and said good-bye to Georgia and Rowen.
Georgia had cooked us an amazing Christmas dinner, the first homemade Christmas I’d ever had since Ma and I normally went to a local steakhouse. After our meal, we’d sat and visited. We’d given Ma her gifts and Georgia had even found the time to get something for Lissy too.
I was glad that Lissy had dropped her bitchy attitude and been so nice to Georgia and Rowen tonight. My sister came across badly at times, but she had a good heart. I wasn’t sure why she put up such a front. Maybe it was because of Dad. Or Wes. She’d never talked to me about it, so I had no clue.
“No problem. Thank you for having us over. It was nice. Really nice,” Felicity said.
“Best Christmas I’ve ever had.”
“You love her?” she asked.
“With all my heart.”
“I’m happy for you, Jess. I like her. And the kid.”
“You still working from home?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Uh . . . yes. Why?”
“You could work from Prescott. Got a house in town that’s yours if you want it,” I said.
The only thing that could make my day better would be to convince Lissy to move home. I hadn’t realized just how much I missed her these last fourteen years. But having her back, especially now that I’d found Georgia and Rowen, it would be like having all the pieces of my heart close by. My family.
“It’s been strange, being back here. I guess . . . well, I guess I thought that it would be different. Unfamiliar. That things would have changed so much it wouldn’t feel like home. And there are some new things but for the most part . . . I don’t know. It still feels like it used to,” she said.
“Think about it?” I asked.
“I will. But if I do decide to move back, I won’t take your house. Thanks though.”
“It’s not like I’m living there, Lissy.”
“When did you move in here?” she asked.
“Today. I’m getting the last of my stuff tomorrow.”
“Huh,” she replied and then started laughing.
“What?”
“I bet old Ben Coppersmith took one look at her and knew she’d be perfect for you,” Felicity said, still laughing and looking at Georgia through the windows.
Fuck. Me.
I hadn’t thought about it like that, but she was probably right. Christ, I even remembered Ben asking me from time to time if I’d met anyone yet.
“Sell your h
ouse, Jess. Put the money away for the kid’s college fund. There’s a lot I would have to decide on to move back. A lot of history to overcome. So we’ll see. But don’t get your hopes up. Okay? I have a life in Seattle. I like it there.”
“Okay. I’m happy as long as you’ll consider it.”
“I promise.”
Our conversation ended when Ma made her way through the front door. Everyone said their good-byes and I helped carry presents and a huge box of leftover food to Felicity’s rental car.
