Where the Heart Is

Chapter 54

‘You have a lot of stuff,’ Jack said, holding up a Himalayan salt lamp in one hand and a large tourmaline crystal in the other. ‘Do these go in the keep or discard pile?’

Adelaide smiled and pointed to the ever-growing pile of things she wanted to take back to Ashe Ridge. ‘Keep.’

‘You know the studio I built is for your painting, not hoarding, right?’

She flung a cushion at his head. ‘I’m not a hoarder. I like to surround myself with pretty things.’

‘Me too.’ Jack carefully placed the lamp and crystal on the floor before crossing the room to slide his arms around her waist and nuzzle her neck. ‘Extremely pretty.’

‘I never would’ve picked you for an old romantic,’ she murmured, savouring the feel of being cherished by her husband. ‘But I like it.’

‘Good.’ He nipped her neck before easing away, a wicked glint in his eyes. ‘You know what I like? Taking a break from this endless packing for an afternoon nap.’

Adelaide laughed. ‘When we had one of your infamous “naps” yesterday, we didn’t make it out of the bed until this morning. At this rate, we’ll never finish packing.’

‘We happen to be very good at napping .’ His cheeky smile warmed her heart. ‘Plus, we have to make up for lost time, you know.’

She cupped his cheek, wishing they hadn’t been so stubborn for so long. ‘I know. But I also want to get back to Ashe Ridge and set up our home.’

His gaze softened. ‘Our home. I like the sound of that.’

‘Me too.’

She pressed her lips to his, still marvelling that in the last month since the B & S ball, they’d reunited for good, and Jack had accompanied her to Tally Bay to pack up the remnants of her life here.

The last two weeks had been bliss: easy hikes, afternoon swims, impromptu picnics, and making love long into the night. Adelaide had never dreamed she could be this happy again and while they’d holiday here on occasion in the future, she knew where her heart belonged.

With Jack, in the cottage he’d built for her, in Ashe Ridge.

‘I guess the faster we pack, the faster we go home?’ Jack’s mock huff made her chuckle.

‘Exactly.’ She winked. ‘Besides, the faster we stuff those boxes, the sooner we can take a nap.’

‘Don’t have to ask me twice.’ He released her and headed back to the bookcase he’d been emptying. He picked up a dreamcatcher. ‘Keep or discard?’

As she studied the lines of her husband’s face, the uptilting of his mouth, and the softness in his eyes as he looked at her, Adelaide knew she didn’t need the dreamcatcher anymore.

Her dream of happily-ever-after had come true.