Page 76 of Reclaimed Roots

The wooden carving felt warm against my chest, a piece of the past I thought I'd lost forever. I looked up at Elliot, hoping my expression conveyed how much this meant to me.

Elliot's hand settled on my shoulder, solid and comforting. "I'm glad you came home, Natalie."

I smiled shakily, running my fingers over the carved initials. "Thank you, Elliot. For keeping this. For everything."

He didn't say anything. He simply nodded. But I knew he understood. We stood there in companionable silence, the barn creaking softly around us.

Chapter Thirty-One

JASPER

My shoulders were tight,muscles coiled with lingering tension from our family meeting. The gravel driveway crunched under my boots as I shifted my weight, unable to stay still.

Damn, why am I so anxious?

Maybe because I had watched Nat walk into the barn with Elliot, and I didn't want to go two-and-oh on my brothers messing with my girl.

Then again, this was Elliot we were talking about.

And Natalie.

She loves me. She's home. She's staying.

I closed my eyes, leaned back against the truck, and silently repeated the mantra. The barn door creaked, and my eyes snapped open. Elliot emerged, veering off toward the house. Natalie was right behind him. When she spotted me, a smile broke over her face and she hurried over. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes unnaturally bright.

I straightened up, pulling my hands from my pockets.

"Jas," she panted, coming to a stop a few feet away. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. "I-I love you."

My heart pounded against my ribcage, threatening to burst free. The world around us dissolved, leaving only her standing before me, vulnerable and raw.

Say something, you idiot.

I closed the distance between us. My hand reached out, seemingly of its own accord, and cupped her cheek. Her skin was soft beneath my palm, and she leaned into my touch, reaching up and cradling my hand to her face.

The familiar orchard aroma of apples and earth was eclipsed by coconut and vanilla.

"I'm sorry for running again," she said, her voice soft but steady. "I feel like I never got around to saying it properly before. I'm not going to make excuses for myself. It was a knee-jerk reaction, and I regret it more than you know."

I wanted to pull her to me, but I held off. She wasn't done, I could see it in the set of her jaw, the determined spark in her eyes.

"I'm done running, Jasper. I've realized it doesn't matter how far I go."

I tilted my head, a question forming on my lips, but she beat me to it.

"No matter where I am, my heart will always be in Sable Point... with you."

The words slammed into my chest like a sledgehammer. My shoulders slumped, the tension seeping out of me as her confession sank in.

She extended her hand, offering me something.

My fingers grazed her soft skin as I took the object from her. It was a piece of wood, smooth to the touch, but unexpectedly weighty in my palm.

My eyes burned as I ran my thumb over the carved initials: J + N.

Fuck, I remember carving this like it was yesterday.

I blinked rapidly, but it was no use. A tear escaped, sliding down my cheek.

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