Page 16 of A Touch of Spring Magic

“You always have a home here. You know that.”

Jessica nodded, feeling an unaccustomed burn of tears she quickly blinked back. As a young teen she’d often slipped over to Grandma Millie’s after school to escape some of the pressure—pressure at school and pressure at home that she’d likely created herself.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“You took a second day off work to bake me my favorite scone and ask about my health?”

Jessica sighed and sat down on a chair opposite Grandma Millie. “No secrets from you.”

Grandma Millie used the small knife to break off the tip of the scone and the spoon to scoop a little cream and raspberry jam onto it. “Do you want to keep secrets, Jessica?”

“No.” Her shoulders slumped. “How much do you know?”

“Why don’t you tell me?”

Jessica doctored her scone, trying to get her thoughts in order. And then she shared, far more eloquently than she had last night, forgetting her scone and the tea as she discussed how she’d been feeling empty, frustrated, unhappy with her career. She shared how she’d started to dream, why she’d wanted to stay in the farmhouse and explore first planting tea plants, making teas, but then lately she’d started wanting more, something different.

“I feel like it could become a business, sustaining not only me, but the land and the Cramer-Maye legacy.” She paused. “I’ve been saving money, hoping to at some future point purchase a few of the acres from you—and the greenhouses, of course.”

She’d used her own money for those.

“I know it’s not all worked out. Losing my job has shot everything forward and…”

“Are you going to let Meghan fight for you?”

“She’s a fighter.” Jessica relaxed enough to sip her tea. “But I don’t want to go back. Last night for the first time I can remember I didn’t need an antiacid. I slept through the night.”

“Well then, it sounds like a blessing in disguise.”

“Yes.” Jessica touched the gold cross she wore. “Yes, it feels like that, but I know I have a lot of work ahead, and I want to restore the gardens near the house for Chloe and Rustin’s engagement party regardless.”

She was adamant about that. If she had to find different land to create her nursery, then that was what she would do.

“What do you think?” Jessica asked.

“There’s something you should know, Jessica.”

She found it hard to swallow but she smiled, waited.

“This news is not yet for public consumption. I have yet to tell your father.”

“Neither have I,” she said. “I mean I will, but I wanted to speak with you first and Sarah, Meghan and Chloe and have a more detailed plan. Daddy was so proud of me landing that job. I know he’ll be disappointed and want me to join his company, but I really don’t want to just do accounting. There are things I love about it. I enjoy numbers and solving puzzles, but I want…more.” She wondered if she was explaining herself well enough.

“Sorry.” She flushed a little. “I interrupted. You had more to share.”

“I have put the farm in a trust for the four of you girls.”

“A trust?” Jessica breathed. “I’m not sure exactly what that means.”

“This is my home.” She looked around the elegant, historic home. “Your grandfather and I had many happy years here. And sorrows. But the Cramer farm was in the family for generations. I told my Jacob that he couldn’t sign over or sell my land to Sean Patrick, even though he has persistently wanted it for the past thirty years. The top twenty acres and house was mine. My siblings had sold to Sean Patrick years ago, but I didn’t want to. I wanted you and your sisters to have choices. Property that was yours free and clear. To always have a home. It is a trust in your names only, not ever transferred with marriage. We can review the legalities at some point.” Grandma Millie waved her hand casually as if what she was saying, as if what she was doing wasn’t life-altering.

“But it is all of yours, so if you want to build a nursery and restore the gardens and have an event space or a farm or anything, you can as long as you are all in agreement. I’m sure Meghan—though she is a la-di-da big-time corporate attorney—will know what to do, likely form an LLC with you four as equal board members.”

“Grandma Millie,” Jessica said faintly. “Grandma Millie.” She could hardly fathom the huge generosity of the gift.

“Surprised you, didn’t I?”

And Jessica saw the sly curve of a smile, before Grandma Millie hid her expression with another dainty sip of tea. “Are you going to serve tea and have baked goods at your nursery? Chloe has been mentioning a book she found.”

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