Page 110 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

“That means I’m going to contribute.” He’s been weird about me buying even the smallest of things around the house. Is it pride or something else?

“Don’t worry about it. Things’ll get better. I’ll pick up more fencin’ work. Somethin’.”

Why does he wave it off like that? I won’t let him.

I poke his chest. “I’m serious. I will contribute, buy things to set us up, for the baby, for the farm.”

He sighs as if realising it’s a fight he won’t win. Because I won’t back down.

I run my finger along his stubbled jaw and lean in close enough that his breath tickles my lips. “And, Jerry?”

His chest rises and falls. “Ah-huh?”

“What you said in the drying shed...”

He bites down on his lower lip.

“I know we were unexpected. Things might get hard, but we’ll get through it because I love you.”

His lips part.

“To some people, those are just words. Not to me and I’m guessing not to you. You need to know how much you mean to me. You feel like home. That’s everything to me.”

He cocks his left brow. “Yeah?”

I press my lips to his. “Yeah.”

He holds my head in his hands, love and vulnerability in his eyes. It’s as if he just wholly handed me his heart, forgetting he still needs it to function.

“Welcome home, sugar.”

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