Page 41 of Finding Home

“Jace.”

“No arguing, the mermaid episode is about to start, and I still haven’t gotten to finish this one. I need to see if Oona gets free.”

She kisses me then heads into her room, and as much as I love when I get to follow her in there, right now, I’m happy right where I am.

“Alright, Ms. Lizzie, come here.” We snuggle under a blanket, with Tink by our feet, and watch some TV.

Lizzie eventually falls back to sleep around five but is awake again by six. This time when she comes to me with a hairbrush, I’m prepared. I have been watching YouTube tutorials on braids, and she actually holds still long enough for me to execute French braid pigtails. The end result isn’t nearly as good as the kid on YouTube, but I’m pretty proud of it, and Lizzie loves it. So, win, win.

We make chocolate chip pancakes and chocolate milk, eating together at the table with Lizzie jabbering the whole time. I don’t understand most of it, but I catch bits and pieces of her dialogue. I think back to our first few interactions where I would look to Harper to translate or give context. Now, I’m learning every day, and find myself understanding Lizzie’s version of communication more and more, which has my heart doing a happy dance in my chest. Harper appears in the kitchen while we are washing dishes. I wash, and Lizzie, who is standing on a chair at the sink, puts them in the drying rack.

“Good morning,” Harper mumbles. Her voice raspy with sleep is devastatingly sexy, and the small smile on her face, fuck, I want to wake up to her like this forever.

“Good morning.” I smile. “Your plate is in the oven on warm. Give me a second and I’ll get it for you.” We finish the last dish. I hand Lizzie the towel and she dries her hands before letting me help her onto the floor. She runs to hug her mom then disappears up the stairs to her room.

Harper watches her, retreating back. “Was Wren here?”

“No, why?” I ask, confused.

“Lizzie’s hair, it’s so cute, and Wren’s the only one that has ever been able to style it like that.”

“Not anymore,” I say as she spins toward me. I blow on my knuckles and polish them on my shirt with a smug ass smile on my face.

“No way! How?”

“There are some very helpful tutorials on YouTube. I’ve been practicing for weeks,” I admit sheepishly, not sure if it's cute or creepy now that I say it out loud.

“Damn you, Jace,” Harper says, batting away a tear. “I’ve never cried like this before you. What are you doing to me?”

Wrapping her in my arms, I kiss her head and breathe in the smell of her hair, jasmine and citrus. “I hope it’s because you are finally realizing you don’t have to be strong all the time, and that you have space to feel whatever you feel again.” We stand there wrapped in each other's arms for several minutes and I’m soaking up each one of them.

Chapter 29

Harper

Somehow, October slipped away, and November flew by just as quickly. Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Jace and I both took an extra day off work to spend a long weekend together, and I am so ready for it. Life has been pretty hectic lately, and if it weren’t for Jace staying over most nights to help with Lizzie, we would hardly see each other. Lizzie, fingers crossed, slept through the night two nights in a row, so I’m hoping and wishing on every star that this bout of sleeplessness is over.

Blake took a week off and just got back yesterday, and with the building almost complete, Jace was slammed with last-minute items, inspections, and Gary, who apparently is the bane of their existence, showed up on site with last-minute ideas. The spa is doing great. Ever since the Berry Festival, we have been booked solid. I want to believe it was our great advertising, but I also think Wren’s presence has brought in folks that might not have walked in before. We had interviews all day today, and I think we have a few good options to help lighten the load. Things are looking up all around, and this weekend is shaping up to be great.

I love Thanksgiving and having family all around. After losing mine and being alone, I appreciate my found family all the more. The guest list has grown since we started planning dinner. Shaina and Daniel are going to be in Washington with their son this year, but we have added Wren and Blake to our list. Along with a few crew members that I heard saying they were going to get pizzas for dinner and hang out in their rentals. I couldn’t stand the idea of anyone alone or missing out on the good food, so I invited them on the spot, and of course, Jace had been happy to go along with whatever I wanted.

His parents decided to come down as well, along with his sister. I’m trying to hide it, but I’m so freaking nervous. Jace may say, and even truly believe, that his parents are excited about me, but I struggle to accept that any parent is excited for their son to be with a single mom that got knocked up at nineteen. That just doesn't happen outside of cheesy movies. Whatever the case, I need to shake off these nerves.

I just dropped Lizzie off for some baking time with her Auntie Bree, and Jace is meeting me at my place to prep for tomorrow before his parents come in. His family will stay at his place, and he will stay with me and Lizzie. Which is basically what we’ve been doing for the last week or two, but it just seems different knowing his parents know. Tonight, we get to spend a few hours just us, and I already know it will help. Jace can put me at ease like no one else.

While I wait for Jace, I’m starting to work on the rolls. In an attempt to impress his family, I decided to make the dinner rolls from scratch. Nope, no unresolved people pleasing or parent issues here. Jace has agreed to be on turkey duty, because touching all that raw meat grosses me out. My second batch of rolls are proofing in the oven when I hear the front door open. Time had gotten away from me, and I look down at myself a little disappointed. I had planned to look cute when he showed up since we get to be alone, but that didn’t happen.

Jace fills the doorway, his eyes raking over me, smiling like I’m the prettiest woman he has ever seen. He has a gift bag in one hand, and flowers in the other. “Hi, sorry, it’s a mess. Well, I’m a mess, and the whole kitchen is, too, but the rolls are rising beautifully, so, go me.” I laugh, shooting him two thumbs up, trying not to act like such an awkward dork. Pretty sure I failed.

He drops the things in his hands and steps toward me instantly. His long legs eat up the distance between us, and as soon as he’s within arm’s reach, he pulls me into him. “You are perfect always, but damn, babe, you look so fucking hot right now.”

“You’ve gone insane.” I laugh, but deep down, I actually feel sexy now. He just does that to me. His thumb runs over my cheek, and it has flour on it when he pulls away. I wipe at my face to rid it of anything else. “Stop, or we won’t get around to making food.” Kissing him, I move back, because I’m about five seconds from jumping him.

With an exaggerated sigh, he sets the bag aside, and hands me the flowers. “Put me in, coach. Where do you want me?”

“Can you get the turkey brining, then cook the sausage for the dressing?”

“On it.” He moves past me toward the sink, smacking my ass as he passes. Focus, Harper, time to work, not to climb him like a tree, I remind myself as I watch him move through my kitchen with ease, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.