AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They filed out the door to finish the job and leave the women alone.
Throughout the day, his mind drifted back to Amanda, to the vibrant smile that never left her face and the soft laughter that filled the air.
When the work was done, and Bowie and Katie left, he and Wes fixed the sagging porch awning. Wes, the last to leave, gave Jackson a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Take care of that pretty lady, Knight.” He winked, a knowing smile on his face. Jackson laughed at the well-meaning comment, acknowledging the truth it held.
“I’m trying to.” He didn’t have a lot of money. He had little to offer anyone except his honesty, time, and love. He hoped that would be enough.
As the door closed behind him, the cabin seemed to take a deep breath, settling into the quiet that had become a rare commodity throughout the day. Gunner had already claimed his spot by the fireplace with Catsby in the chair above him.
Amanda was in the kitchen, her hands busy washing dishes. Seeing her standing there, lost in thought, brought forth a rush of emotions that Jackson had been trying to ignore all day.
“How about some hot chocolate?” he asked.
She smiled and nodded. “I’m happy to get it for you.”
He shook his head. “Not for me, for you.”
He filled a mug with milk and heated it in the microwave. When it came out steaming, he added cocoa, sweetener, and a dash of salt and whisked it until it was blended.
“See if you like this. It’s my mom’s recipe,” he said, his eyes meeting hers. The grateful smile she gave him made his heart flutter. Offering to finish the dishes, he shooed her toward the couch. “Go enjoy the fire with Gunner. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“But you worked outside all day.”
He nodded toward the living room. “Go. I’m fine.”
A few minutes later, Jackson joined her, while Gunner curled beside her, resting his head on her lap as she absentmindedly stroked his fur. The sight of their companionship brought an unfamiliar squeeze to his heart. Gunner was like his kid, and he could never be with anyone who didn’t love his kid as much as he did. Looking at the two together told him that wasn’t something he needed to worry about.
“Can you believe that Katie has Bea’s daughter’s heart and Bowie was once engaged to the heart’s original owner, Brandy? I’m a writer and can’t make up anything that good.”
He nodded. “I know. Wild, right? I met Bowie just after he entered the army. Shortly after he lost Brandy. It was a battle for him, but he came out on the other side.”
“It’s super swoony.”
“Swoony?”
“Romantic.” She looked at him with big brown eyes and said, “I want a fairytale ending someday.”
Same here.And for the first time in a while, he longed for that potential future. It was a future that hadn't crossed his mind until Amanda entered his life—a future brimming with love, camaraderie, and a profound feeling of belonging. He realized he was prepared to champion her, him, and their bond.
CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
Days later, Amanda sat in her favorite armchair and cradled a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Its rich scent wafted toward her, mingling with the pervasive scent of aged pine and wood smoke. She blew across the surface, dispersing the tiny marshmallows bobbing like little sugary lifeboats before taking a careful sip.
The bittersweet concoction melted on her tongue, warming her from the inside out. She allowed her gaze to travel across the room, her writer’s mind already painting a vivid picture of the coming Christmas season.
Her eyes lit as she envisioned the cabin transformed into a veritable Christmas wonderland. Strands of twinkling lights, each bulb a little droplet of radiance, would be strung along the rustic wood-beamed ceiling and around the windows, a reverie of color reflected on the glass panes, cascading a soft glow onto the snow outside.
She imagined delicate snowflakes crafted from paper and glitter suspended from the ceiling. They’d sway in the rising heat from the fireplace, creating a mesmerizing, almost hypnotic, spectacle of light and movement.
A robust Christmas tree would stand against the far wall where the fireplace was situated. Its branches, green and thriving, would cradle various ornaments, combining Bea’s vintage treasures and her additions. Each ornament would tell a story—a nostalgic echo of the past meeting the present. She could almost hear the whispers of laughter, shared tales, and carols lacing the air.
A contented sigh escaped her as she took in the cabin—her cabin. The quiet creaking of the old wood settling, the crackle of a log in the fireplace, and the rustling of the pine trees outside the window as they swayed in the gentle wind seemed to hint at the cabin’s hidden potential.
“But oh, Catsby,” she said to the feline curled up on the rug nearby, “It’s going to be a lot of work. But I think ... I think it’ll be worth it. You’ll have so much fun with everything I put on the tree.” She thought about their first Christmas together when he climbed up the center of the tree, causing it to become unstable. It crashed to the ground, scattering the ornaments. Finding them was Catsby’s greatest adventure that year. He was still finding bits and pieces into February.
The canvas of the cabin was bare, and her vision was clear. Christmas awaited.
The gentle buzz of her phone drew Amanda out of her festive reverie. A bright smile spread across her face at the sight of Meg’s name on the screen.
