Page 10 of A Touch of Spring Magic

“We have to wait for Sarah,” Jessica said firmly, realizing she needed to pull out her inner hostess like now. “And why are you both here so early?”

“It’s not early.” Meghan looked at her Apple smartwatch. “You commanded a sister meeting. I packed up and headed here because you never do that, and it’s nearly tax season so I figured it was momentous. Storm?”

“I didn’t command.”

“Totally queened it on all of us,” Chloe said. “It’s past six. I headed over after choir practice—so starved smelling the tajine the whole way.”

“Isn’t that the clay cooking pot? Moroccan, right? You made us food?”

“Rustin did, and I think tajine is both. When Rustin and Rebekah start talking food and recipes I can barely hear over my tummy growling.”

“So hard for you,” Meghan teased. “And still as skinny as ever. When I take clients out for lunch or dinner, I always have to count the calories like it’s a final exam.”

“Stop it,” Jessica said. “You run like a gazelle and are perfect.”

“Sturdy. Solid.”

“If Mom said that to you again, she needs more lip filler so she can’t talk for a while,” Jessica snapped then slapped her hand over her mouth.

Chloe and Meghan stared at her.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Meghan’s hazel eyes sparkled. “I love the feisty, but what are y’all doing out here, and why do you look like you’ve been rolling around in the dirt all day?”

“Because I have been. Time got away from me. Let me take a quick shower. Sarah should be arriving soon, and we can have some bubbles and appetizers and share our news,” Jessica said firmly.

Chloe ran out to the barn to check on the cats while Meghan followed Jessica back to the house, but she was feeling too wobbly to say anything, afraid she’d burst into tears until she got her armor on. Jessica dragged herself up the stairs to shower. Every muscle ached. This would be how she’d feel until she grew accustomed to the long hours and very manual labor.

“At least I won’t have to count calories along with Meghan,” she murmured, wondering what her mom and dad were going to say when she found the courage to tell them she was switching up her life. And what if Grandma Millie didn’t like the idea and rescinded her offer to stay at the house and do what she wanted with the garden?

“Tomorrow problems,” she told her reflection.

Tonight was about sister support. She was going to need it as she headed in this new direction. She stripped and stepped under the lavish gush of hot water, hoping it would wash her clean and bolster her defenses.

Chapter Three

Sarah had arrivedwhen Jessica limped downstairs after her shower. Any hope that all her aches and pains would vanish in the shower, like they had when she’d been eighteen, had been scrunched under her muddy gardening boots, but she did have the claw-foot tub, and she’d use it tonight—with a bath balm and candles—after her sisters commiserated and then celebrated her news.

But Chloe first. She’d brought the champagne. She was in love. And she deserved the spotlight.

“You’re limping.” Sarah hurried forward. “What happened?”

“Just got a little too enthusiastic in the garden,” Jessica replied. She didn’t look at Meghan. She’d always been able to see right through her, and yet the whole point of them being here was that she needed to tell them what had happened, and what she hoped to do next.

“Why were you working in the garden today? I thought it was weird that Rustin saw you in town. Did you take the day off?” Chloe bounced up on her toes. “Good idea. Maybe you should take a week because your tax season zoom is starting and we won’t see you again until May.”

“Ahhhh…” Nerves clawed at her throat. She was being ridiculous. These were her sisters. They’d always had her back.

“What’s up?” Chloe asked.

“What happened? What do you need?” Meghan demanded.

“Jessica?” Sarah’s quiet voice made her feel guilty and reminded her of Grandma Millie’s sharp ability to cut through the crap.

“Champagne.” It was easy to pop out her social voice on demand. “And then I’ll dish after Chloe.”

Chloe practically hopped. “You first.” Chloe swung out her arm dramatically as if ushering Jessica up to a stage. “You’re the hostess.”

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