Page 90 of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe
‘Is that so?’
‘Anything that involves a toolbox really. Fixing something, making something. Big giant ‘I love you’ gestures.’
‘Wow, I had no idea.’
Jeanie leaned into him again. ‘Yep.’
‘I’m glad we were both obvious about it,’ he said, before their attention drifted back to Dot and Norman’s reunion. Jeanie couldn’t imagine working next to Logan every day and not being able to tell him how she felt, or hold his hand, or kiss him. It would be torture.
But she could imagine how someone might worry that they were unlovable. It might have crossed her mind a time or two. The fact that her brave, strong aunt felt the same way made Jeanie think that maybe no one had things really figured out.
And maybe that was okay.
Maybe she could be cheerful and dark, messy and competent, sunshine and rain, New Jeanie and Old Jeanie mixed together.
Logan pressed a kiss to the top of her head, and she felt the warmth of it down to her toes.
It certainly seemed to be working out so far.
Maybe the picture-perfect small-town life she had imagined didn’t exist, but the one she had found was pretty damn perfect for her.
Epilogue
Jeanie’s apartment was filled to the brim with people – people and empty, moving boxes. Logan stood by the front door, collapsing the boxes one by one as they were emptied. He already had quite the satisfying stack beside him. And every box he added to the pile just reminded him further that this was real, and Jeanie was staying.
But even if she didn’t, he was still worthy as a person. Or so his new therapist liked to tell him. He was working on untangling his issues once a week with Dr. Stephens and Jeanie was adapting to her new life, but most importantly they were doing it side by side.
The unpacking party was Isabel’s idea. She’d recruited the book club, Annie, and Hazel to come and help Jeanie finally get settled in her new apartment. Noah had begged Logan to invite him, too, so the tiny apartment was now crammed with all of Jeanie’s new friends.
She beamed from the center of the room, instructing Noah on just where she wanted everything hung.
‘I think a little higher on the left,’ she said.
‘No, no. Now it’s crooked,’ Hazel protested, pointing to the higher side. ‘Lower that side again.’
Noah held the giant framed painting of a purple cow above his head and struggled to adjust it again. ‘How’s this?’
‘I don’t know. Now the right seems too high.’ Hazel stifled a giggle.
Jeanie put a hand on her hip and cocked her head to the side. ‘Maybe I don’t even want it on this wall at all.’
Noah lowered the painting with a groan. ‘You two make up your minds. I need a drink.’
Jeanie and Hazel collapsed into fits of giggles on the couch. ‘Sorry, Noah! You’re the best,’ Jeanie told him as he walked by to grab a beer from the kitchen. Logan followed him in, passing a very flustered Jacob, who was on his way to ask Jeanie why she owned so many chunky scarves.
Noah grabbed two beers from the fridge and passed one to Logan. A stack of pizza boxes sat on the counter. Payment for everyone’s help. It was the day before Thanksgiving and Jeanie said this was the feast before the feast. Tomorrow they would close the café and head out to New York to spend Thanksgiving weekend with Jeanie’s family. He was only a little nervous about meeting her parents and her brother, Ben, who’d decided at the last minute to fly in from California to celebrate. Jeanie said it was because he was dying to meet her sexy farmer. A comment that while always welcome from Jeanie’s lips, did nothing to settle his nerves.
‘I think she hates me,’ Noah said, not needing to specify who he meant.
‘Probably not.’ Logan took a swig of his beer, pushing aside thoughts of meeting Jeanie’s family for the moment.
‘I’m pretty sure she does,’ Noah said with a grim smile. ‘But I’m good at wearing people down.’
Logan laughed. ‘That is one of your special talents.’
Noah nodded and took another sip of beer to fortify himself against Hazel and Jeanie’s teasing. ‘Okay. I’m going back out there.’
‘Good luck, man.’
