Page 42 of Curious Hearts (The Healing Hearts #2)
The gentle teasing caused Ali to laugh, not her usual giggle but one that bordered on hysterical.
“Sorry, I just… I spent all day preparing myself to be nobly supportive when you told me you were leaving. I had speeches planned. Mentally packed a metaphorical airport care package with British snack foods and those little neck pillows.”
“I’m sorry,” Jessica said, her expression growing serious again. “I should have been clearer in my message. I just I wanted to tell you in person.”
“No, it’s okay, it’s just—” Ali shook her head, still struggling to absorb the good news.
“Jessica Taylor turning down the holy grail? Did you hit your head? Are you running a fever? Should I call someone?” She reached out as if to check Jessica’s temperature, the gesture half-joking, half genuine concern.
Jessica caught her hand, holding it between both of hers. “I’m perfectly healthy. Just reevaluating my priorities.”
“Your priorities,” Ali repeated. “And those now include staying in Denver? With problematic cats and—” she hesitated, afraid to presume too much, “—me?”
“Yes,” Jessica said with simple certainty.
“I’ve spent so long ensuring I overdeliver on expectations without ever questioning whether it still leads where I want to go.
Moving from achievement to achievement, checking boxes…
Others’ and my own. But these past months have shown me possibilities I hadn’t considered before.
Ways of living with a less narrow field of vision than the one I had. ”
Ali stared at their joined hands. “Walter must be furious,” she said, latching onto a practical concern because the emotional implications felt too overwhelming to process. “And your parents?—”
“Disappointed would be a more accurate description,” Jessica replied with a wry smile. “Especially my mother. But I’m learning that living my life for other people doesn’t make me happy.”
“And what does?” Ali asked, finally looking up to meet Jessica’s gaze. “What makes you happy?”
Jessica’s expression softened, her expression a little unsure.
“I don’t know exactly. I’m still figuring that out.
But I know it includes that old Victorian with its creaky floors.
And seven cats with boundary issues. And—” she paused, her fingers tightening slightly around Ali’s, “—it includes you. If that’s something you want too. ”
Ali’s emotions welled up, too powerful to contain with her usual deflective humor.
“I do want that,” she admitted, her voice a little shaky.
“So much that it terrifies me. I’ve been feeling physically ill since I sent you away, thinking about you leaving.
I even alphabetized my spice rack today, and I don’t even cook. That’s how far gone I am.”
Jessica’s smile widened. “Impressive.”
“It’s pathological,” Ali said, a hint of her usual self-deprecation creeping back in. “I was going to offer to help you pack for London while secretly stealing your socks so you’d have to come back for them.”
“A solid plan,” Jessica agreed, her eyes warm with affection. “Very strategic.”
“I’m not known for my strategic thinking,” she said, and took a deep breath.
“Jessica, I need to tell you something, and it’s probably too soon and definitely too intense, but if these past days have taught me anything, it’s that life is too short, so…
” She paused, gathering courage. “I’m not just in love with you.
I’m completely, ridiculously in love with you.
Like, I’m not sure how I would have kept breathing if you had decided to leave. ”
Jessica silenced her with a kiss that left Ali no doubt about the sentiment being reciprocated. When they finally broke apart, Jessica cupped her face with her palm.
“I love you too,” she said. “I’m not sure when it happened or how, but I fell in love with you, Ali Ritchie.”
The words sent a wave of happiness through Ali so intense it bordered on physical pain. “Say it all again,” she whispered, needing to hear it to believe it was real.
“I love you,” Jessica repeated, her smile widening. “And I’m staying in Denver. To be with the woman I love.”
Tears cascaded down Ali’s cheeks and she couldn’t remember a time when she’d ever been happier—like, ever.
“I’m proposing an alternative to Walter.
That I establish a sustainability-focused investment arm here, expanding our reach without relocating the expertise we’ve built.
It’s actually a more cost-effective business model than sending me to London, though Walter will take some convincing.
That’s what I’ve spent my weekend doing.
Although if I’d known you were alphabetizing your spice rack, I’d have been tempted to rush over and help you. ”
Ali let out an involuntary girlish giggle. “The cumin and coriander would have benefited from your expertise!” Her smile dimmed, her brow creasing. “But what if he says no?”
“Then I have options,” Jessica said with surprising equanimity.
“Other firms would be interested in the client relationships I’ve developed.
Or I could consider establishing my own advisory practice.
I have savings… And a condo I can sell.” She grew serious, her gaze holding Ali’s.
“The point is, I’m choosing this, us. Not because it’s logical or part of some plan, but because when I’m with you, I feel happier and more alive than I have in years. ”
Ali stared at her, still half-convinced she was hallucinating this entire conversation. “You realize I’m still a disaster, right? I leave coffee cups in weird places and forget to pay bills and once lost my car keys in the refrigerator. I work unpredictable hours and bring home strays and?—”
“I know,” Jessica interrupted, a smile playing at her lips. “You’re chaotic and impulsive and completely unconcerned with proper spreadsheet maintenance.”
“That’s not a glowing recommendation,” Ali pointed out.
“I’m not finished,” Jessica said, cupping her hand to Ali’s cheek.
“You’re also the most genuinely compassionate person I’ve ever met.
You see what matters. You make me laugh, you challenge my assumptions, and somehow, you’ve made even the most disrupted aspects of my life feel like adventures rather than inconveniences. ”
“Wow,” Ali managed, emotion threatening to overwhelm her again. “That was quite a speech from someone who organizes her spice rack by frequency of use.”
“Alphabetical is inefficient,” Jessica replied with perfect seriousness. “You want the most commonly used spices at eye level for optimal retrieval.”
Ali burst into laughter, the sound carrying all the relief and joy she couldn’t contain. “My God, I love you,” she said, the words coming easier now. “Even, no, especially , when you’re being ridiculously methodical about mundane things.”
“I love you too,” Jessica said, her expression softening. “Especially, when you’re turning my life upside down.”
A loud meow from the bookshelf reminded them they weren’t alone. Chairman Meow had apparently decided they’d had enough private time and was demanding attention.
“I should warn you,” Ali said, not releasing Jessica’s hands, “Chairman Meow has final veto power over all my relationships. And he’s very choosy.”
As if on cue, the cat jumped down and approached, circling Jessica’s ankles once before sitting and looking up with his single-eyed stare of judgment.
“I think I’m being evaluated,” Jessica observed, reaching out cautiously.
“Final judgment,” Ali confirmed, holding her breath as Chairman Meow sniffed Jessica’s fingers, then butted his head against her hand in a clear demand for attention. “Well, that’s unprecedented. He usually makes people work much harder for his love.”
“I have experience with difficult cats,” Jessica pointed out, scratching under Chairman Meow’s chin. “Empress has been an excellent teacher in the art of expectation.”
Chairman Meow’s purring and pressing against Jessica’s hand was the final surreal element in what was turning out to be a surreal day, and she couldn’t help but shake her head in almost disbelief.
“What?” Jessica asked, noticing her expression.
“Nothing. It’s just an hour ago, I was convinced you were moving to London and I’d never see you again. And now you’re here, telling me you love me, and my cat is giving you his blessing, and I think I might be having some kind of emotional whiplash.”
Jessica’s expression grew serious. “I’m sorry I put you through that,” she said, moving closer so that their shoulders touched. “I wasn’t trying to be mysterious. I just needed to be sure of my decision before I talked to you about it.”
“I get that.” Ali leaned into Jessica’s side. “Though a small hint might have saved me from stress-cleaning my kitchen until it looked like an HGTV makeover reveal.”
“Noted for future life-altering decisions,” Jessica said, slipping an arm around Ali’s waist. “Clearer communication, less dramatic reveal.”
Ali turned, studying Jessica’s face. “I still can’t quite believe this is happening,” she admitted. “That you’re choosing to stay. That you love me. It feels like I’m going to wake up and find out I fell asleep watching Hallmark movies again.”