The dining addition to the lodge wouldn’t be a quick or easy transition. But Tessa was excited to have a new challenge. She’d banked enough savings to start something small without touching the reserved funds. And she had no doubt her sisters would back her idea. Best of all, it was something they could work on together, as a team.
“I’ve always thought Derek was a weasel.” Liam pointed to the TV. “He’s always watching what everyone else is doing. Hardly knows how to pay attention to his own tasks.”
“Yeah, he’s a real piece of work.”
“The ex?”
“Not my brightest moment,” admitted Tessa. “But that’s in the past. I don’t even care how he did it anymore. I just want this to be over.” She hoped freedom was simply one tough phone call away.
“I want that, too,” said Liam. “I only wish it wasn’t this way. You deserved your shot.”
Liam’s phone buzzed in his jeans, which was just as well. Tessa was done talking about Derek and all the things she wanted to leave behind. They could joke about the show, and she could tell Liam about the fewgoodmemories she did have. Like the helicopter ride over the city. Or the spa day. If there was one thingOrder Upgot right, it was their rewards.
“We have to go.” Liam rocketed up on the couch, bringing Tessa with him. “April’s in labor.”
* * *
Tessa’d only visited the single-story Sunset Ridge General Hospital once before, after a nasty cut on her arm required stitches; her first attempt at sneaking out a second-story window had been unsuccessful. It was smaller than Tessa remembered, but it had a room dedicated to labor and delivery.
“Thanks for staying,” Liam told Tessa in the waiting room. The chairs were comfortable three hours ago, but the cushions had long since lost their appeal. “I know she told us to go home, but since Miles can’t be here . . .”
Tessa reached her hand over and grabbed his. “We should be here. Just in case.”
Liam stared at her so long Tessa felt herself blush. But the second she turned her gaze away, he asked, “You know why I joined the Army, right?”
“I didn’t at first,” admitted Tessa. “But I figured it out.” The younger she was back then, the easier it was to stay mad at Liam and act like he took the choice from her. But as she grew up, the truth was too clear to argue. “You knew I wouldn’t go to culinary school—or New York, or anywhere else—if I stayed.”
“I didn’t want you to resent me five, ten, or twenty years later, for holding you back.”
She wished she could tell Liam he was wrong, but he wasn’t. Tessa would’ve been over the moon for the first few years, but over time she would have wondered what opportunities she had missed out on. “I wish you didn’t have to give up eight years of your life.”
Liam shrugged. “It started out as two, actually. Ended up kind of liking it.”
Liam’s mom, Jolene, appeared in the waiting area, ending their conversation. “Well, she’s resting best as she can right now. It probably won’t be long.” If there was anyone still resentful about Liam’s time away in the service, it was his mom. Until tonight, Tessa had managed to avoid running into Jolene.
“Any word on Miles?”
“They can’t spare him. There’s no one to cover if he leaves early,” Jolene said with a heavy sigh as she fell into a chair beside Liam. “He’ll be back next Wednesday, as scheduled.”
“We’re here to help,” said Tessa. “If you need anything.”
“Thanks.” Jolene’s smile was forced, but it had already been a long evening.
“Why don’t you go home and get some rest?” Liam suggested. “I’ll call you if things start moving.”
Jolene shook her head. “Your father just got Owen to bed. I’m not going to chance waking that kid up.”
“His lack-of-sleep tantrums are legendary in Sunset Ridge,” Liam said to Tessa.
“I wish he was kidding,” Jolene added. “I’ll stay for a while yet. I feel better being here.”
Maybe past transgressions could be forgiven. Tessa loved Liam, completely. And starting a life with him meant starting one with his family, too. This easy conversation with a woman who used to glare at her every chance she had gave Tessa hope she could be accepted by the Davies clan.
About to offer to retrieve coffee, Tessa’s phone buzzed on the seat next to her. She showed the screen to Liam, as shocked as him at the Las Vegas area code at ten-thirty on a Saturday night. “Reality TV never sleeps, I guess. I’ll be right back.”
Despite how exhausted she felt, Tessa found an empty private waiting room, steeled herself, and answered.
“Tessa Whitmore?”
