The house was already awake when Amy stepped out of the bedroom. Soft sounds drifted up the staircase as she paused at the top of the stairs, smoothing her dress instinctively, then began her descent.
Elizabeth was waiting at the foot of the staircase.
She looked up the moment Amy came into view and smiled with genuine admiration.
"My goodness," Elizabeth said. "You always dress so simply. And yet you manage to look… elegant every single time."
Amy laughed, slightly embarrassed. "I don't think about it much."
"That's exactly why," Elizabeth replied. "You don't try too hard. You let yourself be."
She stepped closer, taking in the soft lines of Amy's dress, the way it moved with her. "You remind me of my best friend from college."
Amy's curiosity piqued. "Really?"
"Yes," Elizabeth said fondly. "She dressed like you. Clean lines. She had this way of walking into a room and making heads turn without saying a word."
Amy smiled. "What happened to her?"
Elizabeth's smile softened into something quieter. "Life happened. We lost touch. No argument. No dramatic ending. Just… time moving forward without waiting for us to catch up."
She shrugged gently. "Sometimes, that's the saddest kind of loss."
Amy nodded. "I hope she's okay."
"I hope so too. Sometimes I wonder where she is and how she's faring".
Before Amy couldn't say anything, Jace appeared then, already dressed, keys in hand. "Ready?"
Amy smiled at him. "Yeah."
They all stepped out of the house together,He opened the door for Amy, standing back as Amy stepped in first.
"Don't forget to tell Rebecca to take of herself and the baby" Elizabeth said.
"Mom, Becca knows this will be your first time as a grandma, she wouldn't even dream of messing it up" Jace said smiling as he settled into the car. Elizabeth laughed waving at them as the gate slowly opened and they drove off.
The drive to Rebecca's was unhurried.
Amy watched Virginia pass by, the quiet roads, the open sky, the space that Manhattan never offered. "I still haven't gotten over how beautiful this place is," she said. "It feels… gentle."
Jace smiled. "We could live here someday. If you wanted."
She turned to him. "Leave Manhattan?"
"Well," he shrugged, "maybe not leave entirely. But if you ever wanted somewhere slower…"
She thought for a moment. "It would be nice. But our life is in Manhattan."
"I know," he said. "We could always have a place here. Somewhere you could come when you need to breathe, I could buy you a property here if....."
She laughed softly. "You really shouldn't spoil me."
His hand slid to her lap, warm and grounding. "Too late."
"Sophie would kill me if we move out"
"I know Sophie, she'd be happy for you and still want to kill you" He said and they laugh.
Rebecca's house stood bright and welcoming at the end of the driveway.
"Oh wow," Amy murmured as they pulled in. "It's beautiful."
The front door flew open almost immediately the car pulled up in the driveway.
"Finally!" Rebecca exclaimed, pulling Amy into a hug before she could say a word. "Welcome to my house."
"It's stunning," Amy said honestly.
Rebecca beamed. "Wait till you see inside."
"Hi Jace" She simply said as she looped her arm with Amy's and walked her in.
The interior was airy and elegant, white walls softened by shades of grey, a chandelier catching the light just right. Everything felt deliberate but lived-in.
"We went with white and grey," Rebecca explained as they walked in. "Exquisite but chic. White is me of course and grey is Nick, I didn't want to be that wife who would want the whole house to be just her design."
"I love it," Amy said.
Jace nodded. "Taking notes for when Amy and I get a place."
Amy blushed. "Jace."
Nick joined them, smiling warmly. "You're finally here."
He hugged both of them and they moved into the living room, conversation unfolding naturally.
"Rebecca has been up since 6am putting together everything for lunch, she relieved the cleaner and the chef of their duties today, said she wanted no distraction": Nick explained as they took their seat.
"Oh wow" Amy exclaimed.
"She didn't even need my help either, I just had to watch her do her thing herself"
They all laughed.
Nick spoke about work, contracts, long meetings, the relief of seeing profits come in.
"I'm really happy that the deal with our South African investors has been finalised, I wouldn't have to leave Rebecca anymore for impromptu meetings." He said.
"That's nice" Jace said then recounted how the exhibit he did few months ago went really well.
"Honestly, I'm proud to say my brother-in-law is basically famous," Nick said.
Jace laughed. "Please don't."
"I mean it, one of the investors literally signed a contract with us because of you".
Jace let out a laugh. "How is that even possible?" He asked.
"He loves your photographs, we were having a meeting and he had a notification come into his phone and it was your photography updates so he started talking about how your photographs resonates with him alot and I just blurted out that you were my wife's brother, that did it and the contract was signed, it was a win for the company" Nick explained excitedly.
"Wow" Jace simply said.
Amy smiled. "He's basically the talk of photography back in Manhattan but he's just too modest" She said.
Rebecca reappeared almost immediately "Lunch is ready."
"Alright, let's go see what my sister has been up to since morning" Jace said as they made their way to the dining room.
The dining table looked like something out of a celebration.
Roasted chicken glazed with herbs, creamy mashed potatoes, berries, fresh salads, warm bread, small bowls of sauces carefully arranged. Rebecca had thought of everything.
Jace stared. "Rebecca. It's just us."
"I know," she said simply. "That's why."
"It's too much" Amy added.
"Exactly the point, this is my first time hosting my brother in my house so I didn't want to be found lacking" She said.
They sat down and a bottle of wine was opened, glasses clinking softly after Nick made a toast.
"So," Rebecca said eventually, "when's the wedding?"
Jace looked at Amy, smiling. "This year."
"Virginia or Manhattan or anywhere?" Rebecca pressed.
"Anywhere Amy wants."
Rebecca sighed dramatically. "I adore you."
"I want to help," she added. "Everything. Dress fittings. Cake tasting. Shopping. Venue picking,any country.I'm in."
"You're pregnant," Jace reminded her.
She shrugged. "You're my only brother. I get to do this once."
Amy reached for her hand. "That means a lot to us."
"Don't be too fast babe, Sophie would personally kill me if anyone tries to take her role" Jace said.
"That's true" Amy concurred smiling teasingly.
"Well, she'll have to accommodate me, we'd do it together,I'd try not to mind" she teased back. They laughed as conversation continued flowing effortlessly through the meal.
Later, Nick asked when they'd be returning to Manhattan.
"Have you both decided when you will be going back?" Nick asked.
"This weekend," Jace said. "Sophie's missing Amy terribly."
Rebecca smiled. "Your best friend must be wonderful."
"She is," Amy said softly.
As they finished lunch, Nick and Rebecca walked hand in hand escorting them to the door.
"Since you'll be leaving this weekend, I was thinking we should do one last thing at the house before you both leave" Rebecca suggested.
"What do you have in mind?" Jace asked.
"Not sure yet but just know that Nick and I will be coming to the house the day before you'll leave"
"Don't come with your funny ideas" Jace said.
"Oh pls, you know I'm the life of the party" Rebecca said as they laughed.
"I'll miss you," Rebecca said to Amy.
Nick teased, "Not your brother?"
Rebecca laughed. "I will. But not as much as Amy."
They hugged goodbye at the door, warmth lingering long after.
As Amy and Jace drove away, Amy rested her head against the car window.
"That was really beautiful," she said.
He squeezed her hand. "Yeah. It was."
"Your sister is very thoughtful, I think I might just love her more than you" she said smirking.
"Oh really?" He asked still driving with his left hand.
"Depends though" She said.
"On what?"
"How fast you drive to the house and we get to our room" She smirked even more.
"Amethyst,is that you being naughty?" He asked laughing.
She laughed. "You know I was joking"
"I'm not taking that as a joke" He said as he stepped on the pedal accelerating the car.
"Jace!!!" She screamed laughing as the car sped off.
....
She stepped into the hallway, tugging slightly at the hem of the oversized shirt she'd stolen from him. It fell mid-thigh. Bare legs. Bare feet. Hair still messy from lying down.
"Babe," She called but he didn't answer.
He was on the couch, laptop open. He seemed busy.
"Babe," she said, softer this time.
He looked up immediately. And smiled. That automatic smile he never failed to give her.
"Hey."
She walked over and dropped beside him fitting herself into the space next to him like she belonged there. Because she did.
"What are you doing?" she asked, peeking at the screen.
He hesitated for half a second. That was all it took.
Her eyes scanned the page.
Flights.
Departure times.
Sunday.
She blinked. "Oh."
He shifted. "Soph...."
She didn't look angry. Just… surprised. A little wounded if you looked well.
"Were you going to tell me?" she asked gently.
"Of course I was," he said quickly, closing the laptop halfway. "I just....I just got off a call. It reminded me I can't keep pretending I don't have a life waiting for me and work and everything."
She folded her legs under herself and looked at him fully now. "So you're leaving then."
He exhaled slowly. "I have to."
"When?"
"Sunday. Probably."
She swallowed, nodding slowly like she was processing something she already knew was coming. "That's soon."
"I've already stayed longer than I planned." His voice softened. "Two weeks turned into… what? Almost three?"
She gave a small smile. "You say that like I kidnapped you."
"You kind of did and I allowed you to" he murmured.
She nudged him lightly with her shoulder. "You could've said something earlier"
"I didn't want to."
That made her look at him again.
He reached for her hand this time, holding it absentmindedly, tracing his thumb across her knuckles. "I love being here. With you. Waking up without an alarm with you right next to me. Arguing about what to eat. Listening to you jump around about Amy and Jace like you're almost more happy than they are themselves."
She laughed softly. "I am happy for them."
"I know."
She leaned into him then, resting her cheek against his chest. "I just didn't expect you to book it without saying anything."
"I wasn't trying to hide it." He pressed his lips to the top of her head. "I just… if I say it out loud, it becomes real."
That hit her harder than she expected.
Her fingers tightened slightly around his shirt.
"I'll miss you," she said quietly.
"I'll miss you too."
The room went still.
After a few minutes of silence, she opened her mouth to talk but then he said something first.
"When do you start work?" he asked.
"Monday." She sighed. "So you're leaving Sunday and I'm jumping back into reality the next day."
"Timing's cruel," he said lightly.
She tilted her face up to look at him. "Do you know when Amy and Jace are coming back?"
"Not sure."
"Probably around the same weekend," she said. "This place will feel different again."
He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "Everything feels different when you're in it."
She rolled her eyes softly. "That was smooth."
"It wasn't meant to be."
They fell quiet again. Not awkward. Just… aware.
He closed the laptop completely this time and set it on the table. Then he pulled her properly into his arms, like he wasn't planning on letting go anytime soon.
"These few days," he said softly, "they were supposed to be just Christmas. A quick trip. And somehow it turned into… this."
She traced lazy circles against his chest. "Into what?"
"Into something I don't want to rush out of."
Her throat tightened a little.
"You'll come back," she said, more like a promise than a question.
"I will."
"And we'll do this again."
"Yes."
"Maybe longer next time."
He smiled against her hair. "Definitely longer."
"And just maybe somewhere else" He added.
She smiled. "Where do you have in mind?" She asked.
"I don't know maybe....California" he said.
"Darren, your house is in Boston" Sophie said.
He chuckled. "I know but maybe it's time we stay somewhere else that is not your house"
She blushed and shifted slightly so she was half lying across him now, her head tucked under his chin, his arms wrapped around her waist.
Neither of them talked about distance. Or work. Or how quiet the apartment would feel next week.
For now, it was just both of them. His heartbeat under her ear. His fingers absentmindedly drawing shapes against her back. The kind of closeness that didn't need big declarations.
Just two people holding on a little tighter than usual.
And pretending Sunday wasn't coming too fast.