ANYWAY. Besides the bathroom horror, everything is amazing. The ocean is the perfect, Jo Ellen stocked the freezer with bomb pops (bless), and Peter carried my suitcase into the house without me even asking. I know, I know—he’s probably just being nice. But also…maybe not??? I’m watching closely.
He and Eli found their “friends”—other eighteen-year-old big boys like Dustin “the Boogie Board Destroyer” Mathers. That kid got tall, but he’s still a menace. My mom calls him a “wild child” and for once I actually agree with her.
He came over with Peter and Eli after their fishing thing last night and we made s’mores. He caught all his marshmallows on fire, which of course incited Tessa to swirl them around and do a fire dance. It was equal parts hilarious and terrifying, butalso surprising because Dustin totally ignores her. Maybe he’s blind.
So yeah. Summer is on.
Tessa just went back into the bathroom, so I have to sit outside the door for forty minutes to keep my place in line.
Love always,
Vivien
P.S. Peter called me “early bird” this morning because I was the first one up. It wasn’t really a compliment. But still. Yeah, he’s cuter than ever and ye olde crushe hasn’t worn off, sadly.
“Whatcha reading?” Tessa stuck her head into the main bedroom, looking for Lacey but seeing Vivien on the king-sized bed, a notebook on her lap.
“If I told you, I’d never hear the end of it,” Vivien said, closing the notebook and letting it fall on the floor next to her with a glimmer of guilt in her eye. “Come on in. I assume you’re looking for your star employee. She’s in the shower. She’s got a date with Roman.” Vivien added a grin. “Your son.”
Tessa slowed her step, the words hitting deep. She was still getting used to the discovery that Roman Matteo wasn’t merely a great-looking NFL wide receiver who’d stolen Lacey’s heart—he was the baby boy she’d given up for adoption twenty-five years ago.
But his arrival did more than add a new person in her life to love. The secret Tessa had kept to herself for all those years was out now, and had somehow unlocked a stirring in her heart she didn’t recognize or understand.
The sensation was real and made her restless, prowling around the house trying to nest in a place that really wasn’t home.
“Come. Sit.” Vivien waved her into the room. “Don’t look too closely since I haven’t finished this room or several others. I have another design client, and we’ve officially turned into the shoemaker’s children.”
Tessa came all the way in and headed for the only chair, plucking one of Lacey’s tops off the seat before she got comfy. “Honestly, you two should have your own rooms.”
Vivien laughed and gave a vague gesture toward the notebook she’d dropped. “Hey, it’s Summer House rules—no matter how big Eli built this house, we still have a crowd. Every time Lacey’s about to move into the spare room down the hall, we get another person. Meredith’s coming, have you heard?”
“I did hear that from your mother, who is quite excited,” Tessa said, tucking her feet under her to settle in for a chat. “It’s very clear that Maggie’s kryptonite is—are—her grandchildren. Did you see her rocking Atlas like he was the Second Coming?”
Vivien laughed softly. “My mother does seem happy, doesn’t she? So rare.”
Reconnecting with her lifelong best friend, finally understanding what happened in the past, and meeting her first great-grandchild all seemed to work like a charm on the usually formidable Maggie Lawson.
“So Roman’s leaving this week, huh?” Tessa asked, glancing toward the closed bathroom door as the shower stopped and some humming started up.
Vivien nodded. “He has meetings with his agent and coach in Jacksonville and then…” She made a face. “Has Lacey talked to you yet?”
“Talked to me about what?”
“Time off,” Vivien whispered. “Roman’s asked her to drive over later this week, spend some time in Jacksonville, then go down to meet his parents.”
Tessa lifted her brows. “Goodness. Things are progressing. Of course she can have time off. We have two events this month and she’s done all the legwork to get them ready. I love that he wants her to meet Faith and Bob.” She smiled. “I’d like to someday, too.”
“I’m sure you will, and they will thank you to the stars for giving them that amazing man.”
“And I’ll thank them right back for raising him so well when we meet at the rehearsal dinner.”
“I can hear you two!” Lacey called from the other side of the bathroom door, making them both crack up. “Every word.”
“Dry your hair so you can’t eavesdrop!” Tessa exclaimed. “Or else I won’t give you time off to go be an NFL girlfriend!”
They shared a look as the hair dryer started.
Vivien dropped back on the bed with a wistful smile. “That sound reminds me of what I was just reading.” She reached down and picked up the notebook. “A Destin diary, this one when we were fifteen.”
