Jayce & Emma: The Collection by Winkes Barbara

Author:Winkes, Barbara
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2021-05-30T16:00:00+00:00

4. Close Quarters

During those long nights in prison, Emma had often dreamed about the beautiful things she would surround herself with once she got out. At the time, most of these things seemed forever unattainable, but dreaming and envisioning her future had kept her sane.

All of it and more had come true, she realized with excitement when she stepped into the sunlit kitchen that morning, the scent of fresh coffee tempting her from her sleep.

“Hey. You’re awake.”

Jayce, still dressed in a tank top and PJ bottoms, pulled her into a close embrace. The affectionate greeting was soon interrupted by the insistent meows directed at them. Elvis the cat sat on one of the chairs, demanding attention.

Jayce sighed. “Come on, I fed you already. Now it’s the moms’ turn.” She had set the table for a leisurely breakfast, including two glasses of champagne.

“That’s beautiful, but I can’t drink. I need to work later.” Emma didn’t mind. The cozy scene was every bit a reminder that she didn’t have to fantasize about the ideal life any longer. She had it.

“It’s in a few hours. We never really celebrated your promotion.”

“I thought we did.” Emma couldn’t help but smile, amused that Jayce actually blushed at her words.

“There’s more than one way to do that, right? Come, sit. You must be hungry after all that earlier...celebrating.”

It was Emma’s turn to blush. She had finally arrived at a place where she knew that whatever good had come into her life, she deserved it. She had paid her dues in advance to be able to live a quieter life now, with the woman she loved, a job she enjoyed going to every day. Elvis jumped from her chair to Emma’s lap where she curled up, purring happily.

She caught Jayce’s affectionate gaze on her. Moments like this, she could easily cry from sheer happiness, but of course she wouldn’t. That would be ridiculous.

“There’s a new girl at the store today,” she said. “My first training assignment.”

“You’ll do great. Kitty is lucky to have you.”

“I think I’m the lucky one…if it wasn’t for you, I could have never made it this far.”

“I don’t know about that. You’re one of the most resourceful people I know…but let’s not get gloomy. You earned this. I’m proud of you.”

“I’m happy.”

It meant everything, coming from Jayce who had seen her own share of professional and private challenges—but she was right. For a long time after her release, Emma had been ducking, waiting for the other shoe to drop. What she’d learned in those days was that it did anyway—and the best that she could do was to be ready, to surround herself with as much good as possible.

Now, after winning the lawsuit against the city, and being promoted manager in Kitty’s greeting card store, her financial future was more secure that it had been in a long time. She was living with Jayce now, and she had found good friends. Whatever happened from here, she was able to deal with it.

“I don’t have that much time, but maybe you’d like to come in the shower with me?” she suggested.

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