Page 41 of Coming Home

It wasn’t just good news. Ainsley knew it was life-altering news.

And that change was possible because of this man. Her man. Her love.

Her future.

CHAPTER 14

Everyone had gathered at Boo’s by six o’clock that evening, Gage being the lone exception. He finished with his last client at six and had said he would head over as soon as the training session finished.

Ainsley got out plates from the cupboard as Tenley asked, “What is going on?”

“Don’t even bother,” Willow said. “I tried to get it out of her when Jackson left to pick up the pizzas. She’s not budging.”

“Hmm.” Tenley studied her, and Ainsley felt a blush creeping up her neck. “I guess we’ll have to wait for Jackson to return.”

“And for Gage to get here. He should arrive any minute,” Willow reminded.

Jackson entered the kitchen with pizza boxes in hand and set them on the island. Dylan and Carter followed him in, and everyone grabbed a plate, going through the makeshift buffet line, claiming slices of pie.

Gage joined them, curiosity written across his face. “Tell me I didn’t miss anything,” he said.

“Ainsley has been a fortress of steel,” Tenley kidded. “We weren’t able to get anything out of her. And Jackson just got here with the pizzas.”

“Let’s everyone get situated, and then we’ll talk about this impromptu meeting,” Jackson said, placing a slice of sausage and mushroom on his plate.

They headed into the dining room, taking their seats. Jackson sat to Ainsley’s right and took her hand beneath the table, squeezing it encouragingly. He looked to her, and she nodded for him to be the one to break their news.

He cleared his throat and said, “Everyone knows I came back to the Cove to take over Clancy’s law practice,” he began. “I was burned out on criminal law, and the weeks I hiked after my last trial ended helped me to realize a few things. One, I had missed the Cove deeply. L.A. is a sprawling mess of millions of strangers. The Cove is a community, where people look out for one another. I missed being a part of such a group, having that sense of belonging.”

He paused, taking a sip of his iced tea. “But more than wanting to live in the Cove again, I had a more personal purpose in mind than professional. I’m thirty-three and more than anything, I wanted to find someone to share my life with and start a family.”

Jackson squeezed her hand. “I found the perfect house—and the perfect woman. I know others will think this was lightning fast, but Ainsley and I are on the same page. We want the same things in life.” He turned and looked at her, tenderness in his eyes. “And I have found love for the first time in my life.”

He raised their joint hands and kissed hers.

Their friends broke out in raucous cheers, everyone standing and wanting to give them congratulatory hugs. All three women had tears in their eyes, and Rylie’s began spilling down her cheeks.

“I knew Jackson was the one for you,” her cousin said, hugging Ainsley tightly. “I think we all saw the connection between the two of you. It was instantaneous.”

By now, Ainsley, too, was crying tears of joy. Jackson put an arm around her, holding her close against his side.

“I know tongues will wag in the Cove about the speed with which we’re doing this, but I’m old enough—and confident in us—so I don’t care,” he told them. “Ainsley and I are adults, and we know our minds. Neither of us has been in love, until now. I think we’ll try this for forty or fifty years, and if it doesn’t work out, then people can say I told you so.”

The group laughed, and Gage said, “I think it’s great you both know what you want out of life and aren’t afraid to go after it. I’ve never been in love myself, but if I ever find that special someone, I wouldn’t waste a single minute apart.”

Ainsley marveled at the short speech Gage had made. He rarely said anything personal or took the attention of the group.

“Thanks for your support, Gage,” she said, looking directly at him before gazing at the others gathered around. “Thanks to you all. You are both family and friends to us, and your support means the world.”

“When is the wedding?” Willow eagerly asked. “I assume you’ll want to have a quick ceremony as Dylan and I did, but we’d be happy to host a reception for you at Boo’s.”

“We were thinking about next Monday,” Jackson revealed. “We’d like all of you there, if possible.”

“Don’t hold off on my account,” Dylan said, “but I have a state law enforcement conference that starts this Friday and runs through Monday. I’m sorry to miss the ceremony.”

Carter cleared his throat. “I’m afraid Tenley and I are out, too. I’m filming a pilot on Monday. It’s taken a lot to get it scheduled, and I would hate to have to throw a monkey wrench into all the planning. We weren’t even going to say anything to you until the shoot was over and we learned whether or not the network would pick it up, but I want to be up front about why we can’t attend.”

She glanced at her fiancé. “It doesn’t have to be this coming Monday. Are you willing to wait another week or longer?”

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