“I hope you’re kidding,” said Sophie. “They can’t expect you to drop everything like that.”
“You’re not going,” Cadence said, hands on her hips. “Right?”
Tessa gave a helpless shrug. “It’s not exactly up to me. I signed a contact.”
Cadence shook her head. “No. No way they can do that. Guest appearances and stuff like that, sure. But this? They can’t mandate you give up five more weeks of your life. You didn’t join the military, Tessa.” She untied her apron and tossed it on the back table.
“Where are you going?” Tessa asked.
“To talk to our lawyer, Mr. Jenkins. Email him a copy of the contract.” When Tessa didn’t make an immediate move to fish her phone out of her purse, Cadence added, “Like yesterday.”
“It’s pointless,” said Tessa, remembering what Janet told her last night. If there were a way around it, her only ally—the only one truly rooting for her—would have let her in on that secret. “I know what I signed. I remember the clause, I just didn’t think it mattered.” She glanced around and lowered her voice. “I expected to win.”
Cadence rolled her eyes as dramatically as she used to when they were younger. “When are you going to stop trying to fix everything yourself and trust us? We’re not kids that you have to protect.”
“We want you to stay, Tessa,” added Sophie. “But if you’re going to be a part of this, you have to be honest with us. Trust that we can handle thingstogether. You’re not alone.”
“Sophie’s right. Either you’re a silent partner or you’re all in,” said Cadence from the other side of the table. They’d been blessed with a small break of eager tasters, but even if that weren’t the case, Tessa suspected any line of people would have to wait. “What’s it going to be?”
* * *
Liam
Liam was in a sour mood. One that started the afternoon before when Tessa marched out of the kitchen, and continued through to the next day. She’d been avoiding him, but to be fair, he’d been avoiding her, too. He hadn’t missed a Blueberry Festival except while he was away during his years in the Army, but today he was hiding out in his shop.
“April,” Liam growled. Everything had been going great until his sister had to remind him that Tessa might leave again. Sure, it was a legit risk. But Liam was quite happy living in denial. He wanted desperately to believe that little moments they shared this week would be enough to convince her to stay for good.
But the seed of doubt had been planted when his sister warned him Tessa mightwin. And with how much Tessa talked about needing to go back on a moment’s notice, maybe she still would. Liam wanted to see her accomplish all of her dreams, but he also wanted her to stay and build a life with him—the life they dreamed up years ago.
Why did the two scenarios have to repel each other like oil and water?
“You hammer on that Jeep bumper any harder and you’re going to bust it, not work out that dent.”
Liam wiped away a line of sweat on his forehead with a shop towel, dropping the mallet. He turned to find his buddy Ford standing behind him with folded arms and a raised eyebrow. “How was Boston?”
“Too many people. Glad to be home.”
“Good.”
“Festival already started.”
“Not going.”
“Sure, you are.” Ford picked up a socket wrench and got to work tightening the bolts on the new radiator.
It was the last thing Liam needed to do for the Mustang before it was good as new. But he wasn’t ready to install it and put everything back together, which was why he’d switched to a different task. Banging on a steel bumper felt more satisfying than turning a socket wrench anyway. “No point.”
Liam had offered his friend a job multiple times, but Ford kept too busy doing handyman work for most of the town. But the two of them worked well together with a synchronization that accomplished a lot. With Liam’s luck, that radiator repair job would be finished in half an hour tops and leave him without an excuse to stall. “Cadence won’t let me go if I don’t bring you with me.”
“I’ve got too much to do.”
Ford stopped ratcheting. “You’re not giving up, are you?”
Liam took a long, deep breath. “Maybe I am.” If he threw in the towel now, at least he’d know his fate. He wouldn’t have to wait on some stupid phone call to make up Tessa’s mind.
“You’ve been waiting years for Tessa Whitmore to come strolling back into town.” Ford shook his head. “And now you’re just going to let her go without a fight?”
As much as he wanted to continue pounding on the bumper, Liam relented and helped Ford attach the upper hose for the radiator. “I’m tired of not knowing.” There. He’d said it. “This way, I know what I’m in for.”
