Page 16 of Big Dill

Something in her tone shifts, and something in me softens with it. I lean against the island, giving her space. Giving her time with her thoughts.

“I’m sure Jaxon filled you in,” she says. “Told you how supportive they are of our career choices.”

“I’m sorry, Jami.”

She shrugs, a slight smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “In my case, they were right. They get to say I told you so.”

“That doesn’t mean they should.”

She stares into her coffee. “I should’ve become a teacher. Like they wanted.”

The words hang between us, heavier than the smell of coffee and butter and morning.

And for the first time since she walked into the kitchen, I don’t feel awkward.

I feel protective.

Her voice drops. “Maybe then I wouldn’t have to be here…”

I turn from her, the comment stinging a little more than I want to admit. I’m very protective of my hometown, and those who live in it.

“I’m sorry, Brody. I didn’t mean it like that. I appreciate all you guys are doing for me. I just mean…” Her shoulders tighten. “Don’t listen to me. I don’t know what I mean anymore.”

What she really means is that she’s made some questionable life choices, and moving to Churchill Falls completely broke, single, and miserable wasn’t exactly on her bingo card.

“Teaching… is that what you want to do?” I ask carefully.

“No.”

“Maybe not all your choices have been perfect,” I say, shrugging, “But if teaching isn’t what you want, then you’re making the right choice by not doing it. It would’ve made you miserable.”

“Miserable, right,” she says dryly, and I catch the twitch in her lips. I grin. “Because I have no idea what that’s like.”

“Right. Okay,” I say, leaning against the counter and ignoring the way my heart is ticking faster than normal. “How about this? Today, we do fun things. Things that make you happy. When was the last time you did something just for you? Something that actually made you… smile?”

A burst of color warms her cheeks, and she glances down like she was just caught doing something forbidden and yeah, I get it. Her thoughts are on the night we hooked up.

“Um… yeah.” I clear my throat. “Okay. Well…we can’t do that again⁠—”

“You’re a man of your word,” she cuts in smoothly, and I can’t tell whether she’s happy or sad about that.

“Yeah, so we’ll find other things to do to make you happy,” I add, and her expression softens, the tension in her shoulders finally letting go.

“These carbs are making me happy,” she admits, taking a bite of toast, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Then wait until you taste Sadie’s pie,” I tease.

“Sadie?”

“My sister,” I say casually, flipping the eggs. “She has two kids.” My heart warms as I think about my niece and nephew. “She manages the grocery store.”

“You just have one sibling?”

“Yes, Sadie is older.”

“So, it’s your mom.” She stops herself. “I mean, Ma, Sadie, Aunt Verna, and…”

“And Aunt Theresa. She’s the manager of the hotel here in town.”