Page 18 of Chloe's Christmas Escape
But he was still undecided.
Mrs. Holstead, Charlie’s mama, had probably overseen the arrangements for his parents. She had been one of his mother’s closest friends, practically a second mother to all of Charlie’s friends.
What would she think of Chloe?
Her approval suddenly seemed very important. Chloe appeared to get along well with everyone she’d met. Marjorie Holstead had the uncanny ability to root out a person’s deepest secrets. With a few well-placed questions, she seemed to strip away layer after layer until she had revealed the very core of each person.
He shook his head, strongly considering canceling his visit with her, though he knew he wouldn’t. Before he could take a step, the door behind him opened and Jackson caught a hint of lavender perfume that could only belong to his new wife. He clenched his jaw against the unfamiliar sensation of being so aware of this attraction to her. An attraction he’d been fighting all day.
He wondered if there was such a thing as love at first sight.
“They’re getting ready to serve dinner,” her quiet voice interrupted the darkness. “Would you like to come in, or I can fetch my cape?”
He slowly turned around to meet her gaze. She stood in the doorway, framed in the light from the oil lamps on the porch. Her eyes sparkled in the golden light and a halo-like aura surrounded her head.
Perhaps she was an angel?
Perhaps the pain was getting to him, after all.
“I’ll come in. No need to inconvenience anyone.” He pushed away from the porch and limped towards the door.
Chloe stepped back, making room for him to join her in the foyer. “Why does it feel like you’re used to being inconvenienced?”
When she spoke, he paused for a moment in thought before shaking his head and stretching out his arm to shut the large front door. “When you pick a service career, you become accustomed to people needing your attention.”
“I don’t want to be an inconvenience,” she murmured, tucking her hand into his offered elbow. “A man should have peace. That is what my da says.”
“You aren’t bothering me. We’ll find our own way forward. Your da sounds like a wise man, but I think we both deserve peace. Don’t you?”
He glanced downward, only to find her gaze fixed on the lively group of people in the dining room. Both maids, the cook, and the Higgins stood around the room.
“What is all of this?” Chloe squeaked.
“Congratulations!” the room chorused, before clapping while the two of them stood awkwardly in the doorway.
He watched her tilt her head from side to side.Was she studying the cake?
“You were making this cake for me this afternoon?” His wife took several steps forward, staring at the curmudgeon cook.
“Yes ma’am,” the older woman smiled, red coating her cheeks under Chloe’s attention. Jackson could barely believe it. This woman kept to herself most times. He’d rarely seen her interact with anyone, including him.
“Why would you do that?” Chloe was now standing beside the cake, staring at it. He could see the tears shimmering in her eyes.
“We wanted to celebrate your marriage and time here, dear.” Mrs. Higgins stepped forward, wrapping Chloe in a tight hug. “We see many people come through here, and the girls and I thought this might help you feel a little less homesick.”
“Thank you,” Chloe sniffled, and the house staff took that as their sign to disappear back into the kitchen. Jackson stepped forward, shaking Mr. Higgins’ hand before pulling out a chair for his wife and taking the one next to it.
“It looks like Elliana did it again,” the older man chuckled, taking the seat at the head of the table. “Did I hear that you’re leaving us?”
“Yes, we’re headed out in the morning.”
He felt Chloe’s delicate fingers gently brush against his thigh, and a silent surge of electricity coursed through him. His pulse raced as their fingers intertwined. He glanced up quickly, saw her gaze fixed on him, and then forced himself to look away to maintain his composure and finish his sentence.
After saying the blessing, they served a small meal of chicken pot pie. Jackson listened as Chloe and Mrs. Higgins discussed what she needed to set up a new house. He could almost hear the plans in Chloe’s hushed tones for a home of their own. His wife deserved a proper home, and he would build it once they arrived in Sterling.
He envisioned a white picket fence encircling the property and children with blond curls running around playing in the yard. His heart had decided, but he was terrified of saying something wrong and ruining it all.
“Is there already a house waiting?” Mrs. Higgins cut her eyes to him expectantly.
