Falling in Vermont (Cozy Nights in Vermont #2)

Chapter 17

THANKSGIVING

SOPHIA

“A nd then, they brought ferrets out,” Iris said, slapping the farmhouse kitchen table, making the Thanksgiving centerpieces wobble as she talked about her reporting travels. “ Ferrets .”

“They get it, honey. Ferrets,” Iris’s boyfriend Sam said, rubbing her shoulders.

Sophia beamed at her sister from across the table. She loved having them stay for the last week in the newly reopened cottage.

The kitchen that she now thought of as hers as much as Blake’s was bursting with love. She and Blake hosted an informal Thanksgiving get-together at their house. Her parents had already planned a trip to Italy for the holiday, so Iris and Sam had decided to come to Vermont to visit their favorite small town during their travels.

It had only been a mere eight weeks since Sophia had entered the state of Vermont, but she felt like she’d been here a lifetime.

Felt like these were her people. Like she’d found a place where she belonged.

“Tell us more about the dolls,” Alan said. Sam and Iris both gave a full body shiver.

“That’s why your inn was so magical,” Iris said, patting Alan’s hand. “When we found Clovely, we knew we’d found something special.”

Sophia squeezed Blake’s hand on her thigh as he kissed her head.

“I’m really, really, really grateful that you found Clovely,” Blake said to Iris, even as he looked directly at Sophia.

Oh, her heart.

It had never recovered from the shock of having a perfect man love her so completely.

And she hoped it never would.

A knock on the door interrupted things, and Star let out a howl. She’d been having a ball running back and forth between all of her favorite people.

Blake grabbed the door, and Mabel popped in holding a pecan pie.

“Happy Thanksgiving!” she said, and a chorus of voices greeted her back. “They’re finally settled down enough at the inn. I thought I’d come over for whatever meat you’ve left on the bones.”

Beverly and Sophia both got up instinctively to fix Mabel something.

It had only been three extra weeks of considering Clovely home, but Sophia knew in her heart of hearts that she was here to stay. She’d put in a month at the Clovely Inn so far and loved it. Beverly was an amazing head chef, and Sophia had learned so much already.

Blake came up behind her and rubbed her shoulders as she fixed Mabel a plate. She’d been up early preparing things yesterday and then had done a rotation at the inn, subbing in for the normal baker who was on vacation. Add in all of the manual labor of massaging the dough, and her shoulders ached from being in overdrive.

She fucking loved it.

“Can I get you anything?” Blake said, digging into her shoulders with his thumbs.

“Oof, that,” she said, leaning into it.

The last few weeks with Blake had been magical. The pumpkin farm season had settled down, so they finally had time to do this novel thing called relaxing. They shared each other’s hobbies. He’d tried his first face mask; she’d cheered on the Clovely High School varsity football team to their county-wide victory, shouting along with Blake.

Her cookbook was finished. The final manuscript of all fifty recipes and her introduction had been sent in only one day late.

Aside from committed partnerships that she’d already agreed to before she’d upended her life, she now only posted on social media for fun. She’d told her followers about the change in her life, and most were exceedingly happy for her. Star made regular appearances on her posts now, much to the joy of everyone, Blake especially.

Her account lost a few thousand followers, but you know what?

Those people could fuck right off.

She was happy now.

“Is Star’s plate ready?” Blake asked.

Tippy tappies sounded on the tile beside Sophia’s feet as she gathered bits and pieces that she’d saved off to the side before they’d been seasoned. She made Star her own Thanksgiving plate without any of the bad stuff, wanting to make sure she spoiled her as much as Blake did.

The beeper went off.

“Oh, my apple fritter tarts are ready.” She passed them out with dollops of whipped cream on top. Blake had sent her a wicked wink as he’d licked his off.

God, she loved him.

Getting seven hours of sleep each night cuddled up together had been a game changer for him. He now had energy to spare and big plans for his crops (that she didn’t fully understand but enthusiastically supported) for that spring. Even now, Beverly was quizzing him over a glass of wine on how to get more of her supplies from the farm for the summer menu.

Sophia had already started secretly planning how to make the next fall the best one yet. She wanted to put Jameson Family Farm on the map so Blake would never have to worry again.

And she hadn’t seen a protein shake in the house in weeks. He’d slow down to eat lunch and dinner as she enjoyed feeding him delicious food, showing him just how much she loved him every day.

Star ran through the room, darting between many of her favorite people as they chatted in the kitchen.

And as she registered that the kitchen was filled with people she could feed and the man she loved and who loved her back to her very marrow of her bones, she felt so terribly grateful for the gift that was fall in Vermont.

THE END