Chapter Eleven
Amariah
The sound of Christmas music filled my bedroom, tugging me awake.
I cracked one eye open, catching a hint of the dim morning light spilling through the curtains.
The scent of pine drifted through the air, which could only mean one thing: Saturday morning cleaning.
The only problem? It was barely seven o’clock, and my body wasn’t planning to rise before noon.
Yesterday’s Black Friday rush had nearly taken me out.
The store had been packed from open to close, and if I hadn’t hired a couple of local teens for holiday pay, Jacob and I would probably still be there ringing up customers.
Thankfully, our helpers agreed to work the weekend, giving us both a breather.
I needed it. The heaviness behind my eyes said I was still running on fumes.
Flipping the comforter back, I dragged my tired body upright and slipped my feet into my fuzzy slippers.
The black silk pajama set I wore was no match for the winter chill, so I wrapped myself in my plush robe and tied it snugly around my waist. Coffee was my mission.
Coffee and a quick check on my parents before I tried—and probably failed—to sneak back to bed.
I peeked into my parents’ room first. My dad was resting peacefully, so I closed the door softly and padded down the hall.
The faint sound of “Silent Night” drifted from the kitchen, and when I turned the corner, there was my mother, mopping the dining room floor like she earned a paycheck to do so.
“Morning,” she greeted cheerfully. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
I exhaled, resisting the answer I wanted to give. “Morning. It’s fine. I’m just going to make a fresh pot of coffee to rejuvenate.”
My mother nodded, humming along to the music as she swayed with the mop. By the time I poured my first cup, she’d set the mop bucket aside and wandered into the kitchen, stretching with a groan.
“Whew!” She leaned back, pressing her hand into her lower back. “These old bones ain’t what they used to be.”
“Mama, sit down and take a break,” I said, patting the stool beside me at the island. “You could’ve asked me to do that.”
She poured herself a cup of coffee before sliding onto the stool next to mine with a small grunt. “With the way you dragged in here last night?” she scoffed, blowing on her coffee. “You were only good for one thing: sleep. And you deserved it. You’ve been working hard at that store.”
A blush crept into my cheeks, and I nudged her playfully. “You don’t have to butter me up. I’ll clean the kitchen,” I teased.
She laughed, spilling a drop of coffee down her chin. I tore off a paper towel and handed it to her.
“I wasn’t pulling your leg,” she said, dabbing at her chin, “but I will take you up on that offer.”
We shared a quiet smile before her hand landed gently on my shoulder.
Her tone shifted, soft and sincere. “Seriously, Amariah, you’ve been putting in a lot of work to keep the store going.
Your father and I may not say it enough, but we appreciate everything you’ve done, taking time out of your life to help us and putting your heart into it. We’re so proud of you.”
Warmth spread through my chest, her words settling deep.
I knew my parents were proud of my career and my choices, but hearing my mother say she was proud of me for preserving our family’s legacy…
that hit differently. I’d always assumed they were disappointed that I didn’t stay and take over the store.
They never said it, but I’d felt it. Knowing that I’d done something meaningful for them, even temporarily, filled me with joy.
“Oh, Mama,” I murmured, pulling her into a hug, “I’m just glad I can help.”
“Me too.” She stood to refill her cup, then glanced back with a knowing smile. “And I know it isn’t easy working alongside Jacob.”
That made me straighten. I’d been waiting for an opening to ask why no one had told me he was employed at the store. Well, door opened. I walked right through it.
“Now that you mention it—”
She set the carafe down and groaned. “Oh, Lord. I shouldn’t have brought him up.”
“Too late,” I said, crossing my arms. “Why didn’t you tell me Jacob was working for us?”
She chuckled, leaning against the counter. “Correction: Jacob works for your father, not you or me.”
I waved her off. “Oh, whatever, Mama. You know what I mean.”
“Why would I tell you?” She tilted her head, searching for words. “No offense, sweetheart, but your life is in D.C. The store’s always been our responsibility. Besides,” she said, lifting a brow, “you two weren’t speaking then.”
“None taken,” I scoffed. “I get not telling me while I was away, but you could’ve said something when I told you I was taking over the reins.”
Her expression softened with guilt. “You’re right. I probably should’ve. Honestly, it just didn’t cross my mind until it was too late, and by then…well, you’d already found out.”
That was putting it mildly. “Found out” was one way to describe the emotional train wreck that moment had been.
She smirked, eyes glinting. “Well, you two powered through it, and from the looks of things, you’re definitely on speaking terms now.”
I waved my hands defensively. “Oh no, don’t go there. We found some common ground because of the store, that’s all. A truce was the closest thing we had toward a resolution. Trust me, Jacob’s probably counting down the days until I head back to the DMV.”
“Ha!” She barked out a laugh. “Maybe at first. But not from what I saw at Thanksgiving. The way he hugged you, the way he looked at you all day? That man is smitten. Always has been.”
I rolled my eyes. “Mama, please—”
“Mama, please, my head, shoulders, knees, and toes,” she fired back, waving a hand. “I know you saw it. Stevie Wonder could’ve seen it. More importantly, I know you felt it. And if I’m right, which I usually am, you feel the same way.”
I hated how right she was. When I first learned Jacob and his mother were coming for Thanksgiving, I’d been a ball of nerves.
Sure, we’d called a truce, but I didn’t know how that would play out off the clock.
Yet, when he hugged me, it felt like peace and safety.
It felt like home, and everything I didn’t know I’d missed.
And he smelled good—dangerously good. He wore a scent that made a woman make bad decisions at night that led to the walk of shame in the morning, proudly.
But so much time had passed and so much had gone unsaid that I convinced myself it was my imagination or hormones.
Definitely hormones.
But now, hearing my mother say she saw it too? Maybe it wasn’t just in my head. Maybe it was still there, waiting…lingering.
“Mom,” I said quietly, “if that were true, Jacob would’ve said something by now. Besides, my life’s in D.C. His is here in Skye Ridge. That would never work.”
My mother set down her cup and came around the island, her expression tender.
“Listen, I’ve never meddled in your relationships, and I won’t start now, but whatever you and Jacob had back then, it’s still there, whether or not you two admit it.
Love’s a strange thing, baby. It shows up when you least expect it, and once it grabs hold, it doesn’t let go.
” She took my hands, her voice softening even more.
“I don’t know how it’ll work out, but if you and Jacob are meant to be… you’ll be.”
With that, she pulled me into another hug, leaving me with her words echoing in my heart.
I’d come back to Skye Ridge to tend to my father, and then to help get the store back on its feet.
Things were finally getting steady again.
Once they were, I was supposed to return to my life in D.C.
to my plan, my path, but as I sat there watching the morning light drift across the kitchen floor, I couldn’t help but wonder, maybe fate had brought me home for something more than my parents and the store.
Maybe it had brought me back to the one person I never truly stopped caring for.