Page 9 of Simply Yours

Caitlin sighed with relief and stared at the small house she’d bought in Yonder with her V.A. loan. It was barely seven hundred square feet, but buying a house and having a mortgage was cheaper than renting an apartment –ifthey had apartments in Yonder.

Well, technically, her home was the land on the border of Yonder and Ember Creek. Her parents had moved to Abilene for her dad’s work, and while the thought that she could move back in with them and get her life started seemed tempting – it wasn’t where Jason was.

She served in the Navy for six years,six blood-sucking years, as a glorified receptionist in Groton, Connecticut. The only thing she really got out of those six years was a nest egg, the ability to type quickly, follow orders, and make her commanding officer’s coffee the right way – one and a half Sweet-n-Low with a splash of powdered creamer. Oh, and the intense realization that she wanted to go home, here, to Yonder.

There was no grand fanfare.

No ticker-tape parade.

She wasn’t a war hero, wasn’t a beloved member of the town; she just… was. Ruby Yonder had been from the prestigious family who’d once founded the town and now her granddaughter, Sophie Merrick, had returned, married, and set up a bed and breakfast in Ruby’s old home that she inherited.

BeccaBairdwas now BeccaGirouxand had married some famous hockey player, bouncing between Dallas and Yonder, according to Matthew.

Matthew, who was an avid fan and always texting her photos from the games. Those text messages were certainly better than some of the other ones she’d received from her friend over the years.

Should I be worried about a rash?

Toni’s got a crush on some pilot…

I think I got a bad batch of hooch – I can’t feel my fingers. Should I go to the ER?

Whaddya think of my new tattoo?

Come home, buddy. Jason is just as grumpy as ever. You’ll love it!

“Dang it, Matthew,” she whispered to the empty house, smiling as she wrapped her arms around her in a hug. “You just had to mention Jason, didn’t you?”

The walls seemed to smile in approval as the warm wooden cabinets of the small kitchen glowed as sunlight poured in. Yes, it might not be the prettiest place, but it would be home. If she was here, maybe someday she would find someone to make her forget her horrible crush on a man who wouldn’t give her the time of day.

Nope.

It was time to discover whoCaitlinwas now as an adult.

No running around barefoot in town, no riding bikes or hitch-hiking in pickup trucks with friends in the small town. She had lost herself to the military, subduing every ounce of personality within her, and that was bursting to get free now. She wanted to learn a hobby, wanted to make a quilt. She wanted to freakin’ bake yummy goods because she could and no one would harass her about passing her PT exams or tell her to get a different size uniform because her buttons were popping… because shefinallygot boobs.

The flat-chested tomboy… had blossomed.

“Can we say‘late bloomer’boys and girls?” Caitlin chuckled, setting her rucksack on the floor of the living room and looking around. “Looks like I need to get a few pieces of furniture, figure out where my next check is coming from, and get the lay of the land again… I cannot believe Yonder has a McDonald’s now.Wow. The town is really growing.”

Getting her cell phone out, she texted Matthew.

Hey – grab two burgers, any chair you see on the side of the road between the farm and Pecan Street – and get over here! I’m finally home!

No kidding?

Duuuuuude – I am soooo on my way.

She could practically hear him say the word ‘dude’ in her mind, knowing he would drag out the word dramatically to get his point across. Wasn’t that the sign of a best friend – when you could hear them despite the miles?

Double with cheese?

You know it.

Strawberry milkshake?

Only if it brings all the boys to the yard…

I’m a boy!

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