Page 6 of Coming Home

Stepping inside, he chuckled. “Well, this has certainly changed since the last time I was here for Boo’s funeral.”

“All the renovations have been completed. After the rooms were freshly painted, I made some new curtains. Ordered new comforters. Collected all your old trophies and memorabilia. I left your books on the shelf, though.”

She opened the closet and indicated a couple of boxes on the floor. “Everything is in there. You can go through and see what you want to keep and what can be thrown out.”

He thought pretty much everything could go. He’d lived over a dozen years without needing to see Little League trophies or plaques from sports banquets. Still, it would be a fun walk down Memory Lane to go through everything a final time before he tossed it.

“I’ll give you time to unpack, and then we can talk,” his sister said. “Anything I can put on to wash for you?”

He picked up the duffel bag she had placed on the ground next to the bed. “Everything in here. It’s what I wore while I’ve been hiking the past few weeks.”

Willow took the bag from him. “I’ll throw on a load now. It may take more than one, though, as big as this bag is.”

“I’ll get everything out of my suitcases. The shirts are clean but will need ironing. I threw in some suits, as well. I’m not quite sure how I’ll want to dress in the Cove while I’m at work.”

“Most everyone is casual,” she informed him. “Except Clancy. He still wears his bow ties to the office, along with a suit jacket.”

“I’m hoping I can get away with a nice collared shirt and slacks most days,” he admitted. “I’d love to think ties were a thing of the past. Unless I have to appear in court.”

“I don’t know how often Clancy had to do so,” Willow said. “I’m sure he can fill you in on the kind of cases you’ll be handling and the needs of Barton County’s citizens.” She hesitated. “I certainly hope you won’t be representing any murderers anytime soon.”

“Me, too.”

Willow left and Jackson took the next half-hour sorting through things, placing items in drawers, hanging things in the closet. He would need to bring up the ironing board to get the wrinkles out of several shirts. He moved to the Jack-and-Jill bathroom, which he had shared with his sister growing up. They had liked being so close to one another and since it had dual sinks, they were often able to get ready at the same time. He noted the new tile in the shower and the marble countertops, as well as the mirror now being framed. After placing his toiletries in the medicine cabinet and in the top two drawers, he decided to shower and located towels in the linen closet.

He dressed in a golf shirt and pair of jeans and headed downstairs, finding Willow sipping tea in the kitchen.

“Wow. Now this is a kitchen.”

Jackson admired the new appliances and painted cabinets, along with the large island. He took a seat on one of the stools, and Willow poured him a cup of tea from the teapot. He squirted a healthy amount of stevia into the cup and then took a sip.

“Ah, this hits the spot. As much as I love my coffee, there’s always something comforting about a cup of tea,” he said. “I recognize Boo’s teapot.”

“I know the kitchen looks new, but the cabinets are still full of her things,” Willow told him. “The china and everyday plates. The pots and pans. Mixing bowls.”

“How about her studio? Are you finding it meets your needs?”

She nodded. “The light is excellent. I didn’t need any of the clay or molds she used, so I donated those our alma mater’s art department. They were grateful to get it.”

They talked for a while about what she was working on and then she caught him up on news in the Cove, sharing more about Tenley and Carter’s wedding on Valentine's Day and the party afterward.

“I remember Carter pretty well. I spoke with him briefly at Boo’s memorial,” Jackson said.

“You’ll get to meet Tenley and several others at Game Night tomorrow.”

He had heard of their monthly gatherings and how competitive they became.

“Remind me who’ll be there besides Carter and Tenley.”

“Gage Nelson. He moved to the Cove last summer.”

“Oh, the former Navy SEAL who does fitness training, right?”

“Yes, that’s Gage. And two cousins, Ainsley and Rylie Robinson. Ainsley was two years behind me in school. Rylie didn’t grow up in the Cove, but she did spend her summers here with Ainsley’s family.”

“Which one did you run into in Paris?”

“That would be Ainsley. She was attending some prestigious pastry school, and she now owns and runs Buttercup Bakery. I know you’re not big on sweets, Jackson, but Ainsley may change your mind.”

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