Loving Georgia ✔️

Chapter 10

Jeremy hadn't had the chance to talk to Georgia since their kiss at the waterfall. He'd been staying in the cottage but had been creeping in after dark and running out in the morning insisting June needed him.

This morning had been no different. Georgia hadn't said anything this time, just watched as he so keenly sped up the path to the front house.

It was the blatant disregard he had for her that bothered Georgia. No interest in checking in with her or assessing the situation. He didn't know she was in love with him. How could he?

As horrible as she felt thinking it, Georgia couldn't help but wonder if he was just waiting for June to die so he could put the whole situation behind him. As if she never existed.

'Dear, are you awake?' June popped her head into the cottage.

Georgia pulled herself out of bed with a small groan. It wasn't like her to linger in bed after the sun was up, and it definitely was not like her to return to bed once she had gotten out the first time.

Jeremy had her doing all sorts of odd things. The only way she could rest her mind and remove the frustration was to sink back into her jasmine-scented sheets and hold her eyes closed. If she convinced her brain to sleep again, the frustration would surely be gone when she woke for the second time that day.

'I'm awake, June.' Georgia wiped her eyes as June pottered around the kitchen.

'Are you feeling okay?' June asked with concern. She placed the back of her palm against Georgia's forehead but shook her head. 'No fever.'

'I'm okay, I think I didn't sleep well last night.' Georgia tried to reassure the older woman.

'You need a good breakfast.' June nodded.

Georgia glanced into her kitchen, wondering what she had in the pantry. She was running low on eggs and hadn't quite finished the chook shed to buy the chickens. Breakfast meant going to the store. She didn't feel like going to the store.

'Are you listening to me dear?' June tapped Georgia on the shoulder. 'Don't be ignoring me now, you don't know how much time I have left.'

'June!' Georgia admonished. 'You can't go around using that as a free pass to everything!'

'Says who?' June narrowed her eyes.

Georgia chuckled, a warm blush creeping into her cheeks. June was right. Who said she couldn't do that – and why should Georgia make that decision? 'Fair call, June.'

June stared at Georgia for a moment, trying to find the best way to guilt her into coming into the main house. She tried a few options, but Georgia did not seem interested. It felt odd to June, to hear Georgia say no and stick to it.

'Is everything okay dear?'

Georgia glanced out the open front door, and to her surprise Jeremy was standing at the small gate she'd fixed last year. The same gate she had grabbed that basket of fresh grown apples the first day he had come back to town to stay.

He stood there, eyes fixated on Georgia through the glass. She wanted to run to him but wasn't sure if it was to kiss or to throttle him. She didn't want to find out. 'Everything is fine.' Georgia hid her throbbing heart behind a soft smile. She knew it wouldn't reach her eyes, but there was little she could do about that.

June wouldn't take no for an answer. She got sick of fighting Georgia and instead wrapped her frail hand around Georgia's wrist and pulled her outside. Georgia stumbled out after her, not wanting to be the reason June broke something.

'You best just give in.' Jeremy tried to offer a warm smile, but a grimace captured his lips.

They walked in silence after June, neither knowing what to say. Georgia wanted to ask why he had been avoiding her, but she didn't want to hear the answer.