“Let’s not go overboard.” Jane glanced at her wife. Everything that was so wonderful about Annie was on display that very minute. Her belief in Jane. Her optimism. Her ability to see good things where bad things once were. Her unwavering support. The fact that she knew Jane through and through. The offhand comment she’d made weeks ago that had now translated into this moment. Jane knew that the hard work was still ahead of her, but this was where it started—and where she got to relish in the new-born excitement of it.

“Who? Me?” Annie gripped Jane by the shoulders. “I’m just happy for you. That you have this again in your life.”

“I love you,” Jane replied. Three words she said so often to her wife—although it had been a while—but still meant from the bottom of her heart.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Annie entered the store earlier than usual the next morning because she had woken early with Jane, who was too excited about plotting her new series to stay in bed for long. She wondered if things would become fully all right between the two of them again now that Jane had her writing mojo back. Annie was level-headed enough to realize it wouldn’t be that simple. It was just one piece of their puzzle that had been missing. Others remained tucked away in their hiding place and would not find their rightful place until… until what? Annie wasn’t sure about that. Until enough time had passed? Because time would pass and Jane would forgive her for having a crush on Kristin eventually. Just as Annie had forgiven Jane for her indiscretion with Beth. That was what wives did. They moved past things and then onward. They realized life wasn’t perfect and people were flawed, and they had the companionship of each other to face all that imperfection.

Annie unlocked the door and pushed the button that rolled up the screen in front of the shop window. While the screen folded in on itself and more light streamed into the shop, her glance fell on the poster touting pre-orders for Caitlin and Josephine’s upcoming book. The launch party was only two weeks away. She could hardly ask Kristin to stay away from her friend and employee’s party. She wouldn’t. As she flipped the sign on the door to Open, she asked herself whether she was looking forward to the party because Kristin would be there, or just because it would be a wonderful evening for the shop in general.

Just as she turned her back and headed for the counter, the door opened. Mia greeted Annie with her habitual kiss on the cheek.

“A coffee in return for asking you a burning question,” Mia said.

“Yes please, and shoot.” Annie followed Mia to the coffee counter. Mia was always full of burning questions. Annie had gotten used to them by now.