CHAPTER FIVE
Nine years ago
Jessie’s whole body trembled as she boarded the plane home for the first time in six months. This had been the longest she’d been away from Pinegrove, and she simultaneously ached to see her family and Malcolm, but also itched to get her next placement.
She’d met amazing people, experienced different cultures—both from the other workers and volunteers and from the locals—and she’d already learned so much about herself.
There were certain things, certain routines, she’d quickly left behind when forced to share cramped quarters with relative strangers.
As she hefted her duffle bag off the luggage carousel in Atlanta, she heard the familiar baritone of her father’s voice. “June Bug!” Her nickname cut through the din of the airport, and Jessie’s knees nearly buckled with relief.
“Daddy!” she shouted, bounding toward him, her arms already open.
They embraced in the middle of other travelers eager to continue or end their journeys. If Jessie listened carefully, she could hear Bing Crosby wishing everyone a white Christmas overhead. “Merry Christmas,” Nick said, smacking a kiss to the top of her head.
“Merry Christmas,” she replied into his chest, tears welling. No matter how old you were, sometimes you needed a hug from your dad, especially during the holidays.
“Our guy’s got us double-parked out front, so we better hurry.” He pulled back, reaching out to take her bag.
“Trev’s here?” Jessie asked, following quickly on her dad’s heels.
Without turning around, he said, “No, Malcolm.”
Jessie’s feet skittered to a halt, causing a young mother with a stroller to bump into her. Even being surrounded by holiday cheer, the other woman muttered some very un-Bing-approved greetings as she navigated around her.
Nick realized Jessie was no longer following him and stopped, a sullen expression crossing his face. “Oh hell.” He sighed, shoulders slumping. “You two aren’t together anymore?”
Jessie opened her mouth a few times, the personification of a goldfish. “No, we are,” she said, voice low. “I guess I thought I wouldn’t see him until he came back from college.”
Malcolm and she had shared letters and emails as often as the time difference and their hectic schedules allowed.
She knew they’d see each other on this trip; hell, she yearned for one glimpse of his smile, but being back now felt different.
A part of Jessie feared they wouldn’t feel that spark, that the combination of time and space had been too much for their young love story.
Finally, Nick relaxed. “He got home yesterday, called right away to ask when you landed. Momma and Trev are busy with baking and wrapping, so we thought we’d have a little road trip.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “We were even going to stop at Bojangles for you.”
Jessie covered her rumbling stomach, the thought of fried chicken and a biscuit making her mouth water. “That sounds amazing,” she groaned.
“Then we’re good? Because if you need me to ...” Her father looked around the crowded airport, as if there was a department next to the baggage claim to store the object of your muddled affections.
Holding up her hand, Jessie politely stopped her father’s ramblings. “Daddy, we’re good. It’s just a lot, you know?” She nibbled her bottom lip, eyes downcast at the tiled floor. “I miss him, and I love him, and I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Oh, June Bug.” Closing the distance, he wrapped an arm around Jessie.
“Anyone with eyes can see you kids are crazy about each other. I understand it’s been hard with the distance, but you’re home now.
Things will settle back down. Your momma and I were the same way—young love is fickle and fire at the same time. ”
Not realizing the emotional bomb he’d detonated, Nick picked up her bag and strode toward the exit. Jessie swallowed down the lump in her throat, fantasies of fried chicken sandwiches curdling her stomach. Her father thought she was done with the Peace Corps, just like Malcolm had assumed.
There wasn’t time for Jessie to spiral, because as soon as they stepped into the Georgia sun, she saw him, leaning against her father’s pickup with his arms crossed over his broad chest, gaze trained on the exit.
Any doubt she had about seeing him evaporated as their eyes locked, his smile taking over his handsome face.
Uncaring about the pickup double-parked behind him, Malcolm sprinted toward her, ready to tackle her to the ground.
“JJ!” He was breathless when they met each other, no hesitation before he picked her up and spun her around like they were starring in a romcom.
“JJ,” he repeated, peppering her neck with kisses as she giggled, feet dangling in the air like a rag doll.
Allowing them a moment, Nick took her bag and tossed it in the back of the truck. Jessie was idly aware of the holiday masses milling around them, but her world had narrowed down to Malcolm.
“You’re here.” Jessie breathed in his citrus, woodsy scent, pressing kisses to his cheeks before finally meeting his lips. Their first few kisses were frantic, staccato pecks until they found their rhythm again.
Malcolm’s tongue darted out, parting her lips and earning a sound she really shouldn’t be making in public, let alone within sight of her father. Jessie’s hold on Malcolm tightened, pulling him as close as she could with her purse—and rapidly beating heart—between them.
“I missed you,” he muttered in between kisses, fingers digging into her hips.
“I missed you, too,” she agreed, reluctantly pulling back. She blinked, taking him in up close. The first semester at college had given him leaner cheeks, longer hair, and a scattering of stubble over his jawline. She liked it—a lot.
Behind them, Nick tooted the horn and stuck his head out the window. “You kids can continue the reunion on the road.” He cleared his throat, and added, “Maybe not the full reunion.” He flushed and dipped his head back inside, causing both Malcolm and Jessie to burst out laughing.
“C’mon,” Malcolm said, taking her hand and leading the way. “I don’t know if your daddy told you, but we’ve got fried chicken in our immediate future.”
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The drive home was one of Jessie’s favorite holiday memories.
Nick stopped at the first Bojangles they passed, ordering more than three people should consume in one week, let alone one day.
He turned on the holiday station on the radio, offering the backseat to Jessie and Malcolm for their fried feast.
The three of them laughed, caught up on the last six months of their lives, and finally sang a very off-key rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as they crossed into the Pinegrove city limits.
Nick took the scenic way home, driving through Main Street where the shops were decorated with greenery and a million twinkling lights.
Malcolm held her hand the entire time, only letting go to eat his sandwich and tuck a receipt into his pocket. “Merry Christmas, JJ,” he whispered, peppering her with Cajun-scented kisses.
Their bubble burst as they pulled into the driveway. Jessie spotted a familiar car. “Your parents are here?” she asked, shooting a look to Malcolm.
His head fell back and he muttered a few choice words. “Easy, son,” her father teased. “That language isn’t appropriate this close to the Lord’s birthday.” He winked in the rearview mirror before throwing the truck in park.
Jessie’s sneakered feet hadn’t even hit the pavement before Estelle and Daisy burst through the front door, Craig and Trevor following at a more leisurely pace behind them.
“Jessica June, you get your fanny over here,” Daisy ordered, closing the distance in three strides.
The air left Jessie’s lungs in a woosh as Estelle joined the fray.
“My goodness, honey. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?
” Her Chanel perfume was both cloying and comforting, and also a stark contrast to Daisy’s cozy vanilla scent.
Where Estelle’s aroma came from an expensive bottle from a high-end department store, her mother’s scent came from warm kitchens where memories were baked and savored.
Trevor helped their father with her bag as Craig cleared his throat. “Good heavens, Estelle. The cameras are off, and this poor girl probably needs some Oxygen. Cut!” He made a slashing motion with his hand, earning an elbow in the side from his theatrical wife.
“Hush up. Can’t a girl be excited?”
Malcolm scrubbed a hand down his face. “Mom, there’s excited, and then there’s scene stealing.”
Nick and Trevor returned, their new basset hound puppy, Gus, yapping around their ankles.
Saving everyone from an Estelle rant, Trevor stepped up and pulled Jessie in for a quick hug.
“Welcome home, goober,” he whispered into her ear before dropping his arms and gesturing to the hound dog.
“I don’t believe you’ve met the newest addition to the Mays clan. ”
If Jessie thought she’d fallen in insta-love with Malcolm all those years ago, it had nothing on the emotions clogging her throat at the small dog before her.
He had huge, sad eyes and a pair of ears that dragged on the ground.
He sat back on his rump and offered a few woofs before she fell to her knees and nestled him to her heart. “Oh my Lord,” she breathed.
Daisy snickered. “I knew you’d love him.” Turning to Estelle, Daisy said, “We weren’t even in the market for a dog, but when Nick heard about the fire at the dog breeders outside of town, we had to check out the little guy.”
Estelle and Craig made their excuses to leave, although Malcolm gladly accepted Daisy’s offer to stay for dinner.
When the meal was done, dishes were cleared, and her parents and Trevor were occupied, Malcolm shrugged on his jacket.
“You must be exhausted,” he said, covering his own yawn with the back of his hand.