Page 109 of The Marriage Mistake

After that, I stopped resisting.

Now I stepped inside and propped the door open for all the curious townspeople who had come out for the grand opening. I inhaled the earthy, floral scent of nearly a hundred different tea varieties. The townspeople milled around and sniffed teas and looked at the mugs and teapots and tea balls and all the other small goods I had to offer.

I watched them, feeling like my heart was on display for anyone to see.

Then Jack was there, shielding me from it all. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed the side of my head. “So proud of you,” he murmured. “It looks amazing.”

“You’ve already seen it a million times,” I reminded him.

He pulled back and pressed a kiss to my lips. “Yeah, but it’s different with people in it.”

My heart was jammed up near my throat. Ida Gretzinger was looking at one of the handmade clay teapots I’d sourced from a local artisan. Betsy (who was Etta’s sister, I’d discovered) was sniffing one of my chai teas. Caroline was here, studiously ignoring Knox, who watched her every move. Darby was with Vikki, and they were sitting at one of the banquettes in the corner by the window.

“The website guy said he’d have the next revision over to me by the end of the week,” I babbled to Jack. “So I should be able to take online orders soon. Shipping is still really expensive from here, but I’ve found a company that⁠—”

“Ember.” He held my cheeks and smiled at me, his face so full of love it made my chest ache.

“Yes?”

“Take a deep breath.”

I inhaled.

His smile widened. “Now look around and take a second to enjoy this. It’s beautiful, and it’s all yours. You did this.”

My next breath was shaky. I leaned into him, watching people study my wares, and let the truth of his statement settle into my bones.

I’d made a monumental change in my life. I’d taken a risk—multiple risks, so many risks—to end up right here, in Jack’s arms. I had a business and a family and a new home. I had a shop. I had more money than I knew what to do with.

I was rich, and not because of my father’s money. I was rich in relationships and community and love.

Wiping dampness from my eye, I nodded. “I did this,” I whispered.

“I’m fourteen now,” Darby announced, popping up out of nowhere to look at me expectantly. “That means I can legally work. Can I work here?”

I blinked. “You’d want that?”

She nodded. “It smells good in here.”

Jack laughed and ruffled her hair. “We’ll see,” he said, then looked at me. “A summer job isn’t a bad idea.”

Darby took one look at my smile and knew she’d won. She bounced back to the banquette and threw herself into it next to her best friend. I leaned my head into Jack’s chest for one last moment, then pulled away to go stand at the cash register. Judging by the way she stood expectantly by the till, Ida Gretzinger was about to be my very first paying customer.

Jack caught my fingers and kissed them. “Love you,” he murmured.

“Love you too,” I replied, smiling. He let me go, and I went to help Mrs. Gretzinger.

Later, when the people were gone and I was finished closing up, I looked up to see Jack’s car parked outside. He leaned against the hood, waiting for me. I locked the shop’s front door and collapsed into his chest, inhaling the scent of him. He held me, and when I tilted my head up to look at him, he pressed a kiss to my lips. It was soft and tender and exactly what I needed. Kissing him always felt like coming home.

Then, with his blue eyes intent, he said, “We should have a baby.”

I blinked. Opened my mouth. Closed it.

Jack softened, touching his nose to mine. “If you want,” he added.

“I…” My throat was tight. “Is that something you want?”

He nuzzled my cheek, kissed my jaw. “Yes,” he told me. “Been thinking about it a lot lately. You’re so good with Darby, and I just… I just love you, Ember.”