“Change in plans,” we both said at the same time.
Thea flashed a grin over her shoulder at me before she stood.
“Mom, Dad, this is Caterina.”
“Nice to meet you.” Caterina extended her hand. “I heard a lot of nice things about you from Thea.”
“Same,” Thea’s father smiled and took Caterina’s hand. “We were glad when Thea told us she had a friend out here. We were worried thinking about her here alone.”
Caterina’s smile faded, most likely picking up on the tension.
“I’m from Brooklyn, and my friends are still mostly there. I made fast friends with Thea, so I was glad when she came out here, too. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to sneak and get a mimosa while my six-month old is still sleeping in her carriage by the bar.”
“I’d love one right now,” Thea said, not hiding her heavy sigh before turning back to me. “Babe, do you want anything?”
That was my cue to follow her and escape this stifling tension, but I was never one to back down.
“No thank you, sweetheart. I’m good.” I shook my head as her eyes pleaded with me to come with her.
“I’ll come. I’m allowed one drink and I think it would come in handy, right now,” Moira stood and followed Thea and Caterina.
I sat back down and rested my elbows on the table.
“Mr. and Mrs. Kelly, I’m sure I’m not your favorite person. But please know that I love your daughter very much.”
“Did you love her back then?” Mrs. Kelly leveled me with a glare. “I hated thinking of her out here alone and all her old wounds opening up from spending time with you.”
I nodded, trying to ignore the jab in my gut from thinking of her old wounds caused by me.
“Yes, I loved her then, too, but I was in a bad place. It’s no excuse, and I’ve been sorry every day for years. I hate that I hurt her and I intend to spend the rest of my life making it up to her.”
Mrs. Kelly opened her mouth to say something when her husband dropped a hand on her elbow.
“My daughter seems happy now, but I remember a time when she was devastated and alone. Do you know what it was like for her?” His chest rose as he took in a long breath. “You can understand why we’re both concerned.”
“I do, and I don’t blame you. But I promise, I’m never going anywhere. I was beyond lucky to get a second chance with her, and I assure you I won’t ever take that for granted.”
I caught the both of them looking over my shoulder. Moira shook her head slowly at them both in my periphery and mouthed something to them that I couldn’t decipher.
“Maybe we can stop by the hotel.” Thea drifted her hand across my back and squeezed my shoulder before she sat back down. “It’s not quite finished yet, but we can give you a tour.”
Her hopeful smile made my heart sink. I had a weird feeling there was something she wasn’t telling me. I knew how upset she was when we split up, but now it seemed as if maybe I didn’t know the whole story. I understood her parents worry and reluctance at us being together again, but there was more to it.
I needed to get her alone later and find out what she was holding back.
“We would but we need to head back after brunch.” Mrs. Kelly’s smile was tight.
Thea pursed her lips at her mother. “You came to visit me only to spend most of the day in the car?”
“We were worried about you, but we see you’re okay out here.” Mr. Kelly said while holding his gaze on me. I wasn’t sure if that was an olive branch or a warning.
Thea’s hand slid under the table and squeezed my knee.
A couple of hours ago, I was floating high on Thea and our new beginning, not realizing the past may still be haunting us.
After her parents left I suggested taking a ride to the hotel. Thea was chatting up a storm, but for once I was the quiet one.
“I’ve never been here on a Sunday.” Thea’s arm slid through mine as we stepped into the hotel. “It’s spooky without all the drilling.”
