Page 24 of Holiday Grief

“Matchmaker, and right. That’s exactly what they do, and you're very good at it.”

“Can we post my picture to Jassy if we can't go see her?”

“Sure. I’m sure I have an envelope around here somewhere.”

“Can you show me some words to write on there?”

“Absolutely. What do you want to write?”

“I want to write Jassy’s name, and I want to say I love you, and that I want her to be my new mommy. That’s what I askeded Santa for.”

His heart melted right then and there.

When he lost Meredith, he hadn't been ready to think of moving on one day, but over time as the pain dulled and he started to think he might want to meet someone, fall in love and get married again, he could only hope his daughter would love that person, and that they’d love Claire in return.

He’d lucked out with Jasmine.

If she could find the courage to face down her demons, then all three of them could be happy together. She had him and his little match girl at her back, all she needed to do was reach out to them and they’d be there.

Chapter Eight

December 15th

6:55 P.M.

Physical exhaustion was the only thing getting her by right now.

Jasmine had thrown herself into her work, not a hard thing to do ten days before Christmas. Other than a couple of times a day when she’d sneak away to go to what she now thought of as her and Adam’s spot, she worked.

And worked.

And worked.

Worked until her body and mind were so worn out that she was able to collapse and go to sleep.

The farm wouldn’t close until ten tonight, but she had to pop back to her place to check on Fauna. Since her dog didn't like being in crowds, Jasmine usually left her at home. She had a small fenced-in yard and a doggie door so Fauna could go inside or outside, whatever she chose. Usually, she hung out inside. The kitchen was free range for her if Jasmine wasn’t home, and when she was there her dog was allowed to wander throughout the house with her. More often than not, Fauna was by her side.

A true companion.

Honestly, she didn't know how she would have gotten through this last year and a half without the dog.

That Adam had known what she needed when even she didn't know and gone out and done something about it was just another tick in the pro column when it came to her internal debate on whether or not she should ask him for another chance.

Trying to figure it out was exhausting in and of itself, and it felt like running in a circle, like Fauna when she was a puppy trying to chase her own tail.

What she needed was help.

Real help.

It might be the only shot she ever had at having a future.

What she was doing now clearly wasn’t working and continuing to do it when she knew that and expecting things to change would be insanity.

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

That was the definition of insanity, and she wanted so badly to break out of that cycle.

As she pulled up outside her place, leaving her car out front rather than putting it in the garage since she’d be going back out after a check-in with Fauna, Jasmine pulled out her phone.

---