“Something wrong?” Tessa asked.
His expression was blank, and his unfocused gaze stared at a spot over her shoulder. “It’s Monica. My ex-fiancée.” He accepted the call. “Hello?”
Air whooshed from Tessa’s lungs.He had been engaged?
Paul stood. “No, I’m in Mystic Water with Mom and Dad.” He glanced at Tessa and jerked his head toward the bedroom. Then he walked into the room and closed the door, officially shutting out Tessa.
Tessa’s throat tightened, and she stared at the closed door. She was surprised at how strongly this was affecting her. It’s not as though she didn’t have a past littered with exes too. Of course Paul had a life before she’d met him. He was exactly the kind of person women wanted to marry: charming, handsome, intelligent, independent, and humorous. Monica was his ex-fiancée, but why would his ex be calling him? Maybe she wasn’t over him. Maybe she wanted him back. Maybe she was gorgeous and talented and witty and perfect for Paul. The walls of the apartment pressed in. Tessa had to get out of there. She grabbed her purse and left the apartment, leaving Paul and Monica alone to reminisce about willy-nilly lives and wedding planning that might need to be kickstarted again.
Tessa skipped Scrambled and opted to buy a pack of strawberry Pop-Tarts and a Pepsi from the pharmacy, which had the most random assortment of snacks tucked among medications and ointments. The carbonated bubbles burned her throat on the first swallow. If only she could swallow down the disappointment too. Gone was the feeling of being buoyed by Paul’s attention and interest. Now she slumped on a bench outside of the hardware store eating her breakfast.
A few minutes later, a whirl of wind whipped around the street corner and blew Tessa’s hair into her eyes. She pushed out her bottom lip and puffed the hairs from her face just in time to see a curly-haired redhead plop down beside her on the bench.
“Tessa!” Nell Foster said with a smile as wide as the crack in Tessa’s heart.
“Hey, Nell. How’s the rental?”
Nell’s green eyes sparkled with a joy that had been missing in their last meeting. “Great. Just great. I can’t thank you enough. Liam is happy. The kids are happy.I’mhappy. You’re the bee’s knees, Tessa. I’ve been telling everybody what you did for us. Forallof us.”
“It’s the least I could do. I’m glad it’s working out.”
Nell’s smile was infectious, and Tessa’s lips tried to mimic her joyful expression.
“Now, you didn’t mention this to me, but you know how people talk, and I heard that your condo on Jordan Pond flooded. And there you were helping me, and you didn’t have a place either. I felt awful when I heard that.” Nell leaned closer to Tessa and lowered her voice. “But then someone said that the Borellis were letting you stay in the apartment above the diner. I also heard they’re oldest son came for a visit, andhe’sstaying there.”
Tessa stared at the branches of a dogwood bending in the wind across the street. Thinking of Paul made her feel as though she burned from the inside with a slow, deliberate smolder. The Pop-Tarts squirmed in her stomach. Nell’s questioning expression and wide green eyes confused Tessa. “Was there more to that story?”
Nell’s mischievous grin scrunched the freckles scattered across her nose. “Is he staying there?”
“Yes.”
“Withyou?” Nell giggled like a girl. “I know it’s none of my business, but, Tessa, he’s a real looker, isn’t he? A regular Italian movie star. And those gorgeous blue eyes. I wouldn’t blame you a bit if you weregetting to know him.”
The back of Tessa’s neck burned with embarrassment. “It’s a one-bedroom apartment.”
Nell’s eyes twinkled, and she whispered, “Even better.”
Tessa shook her head. “No, no that’s not what I mean. I’m in the bedroom. He’s on the couch. We’re not doing anything, and I’m not . . . well, I’m not staying there now.” Even though she was lying, the words felt like the truth. “I bought Honeysuckle Hollow yesterday.”
Nell gasped. “Dr. Hamilton’s old place? Gosh, last I heard it was a real wreck.”
Tessa sighed. “That pretty much sums it up, but I’m going to rehab it. I’m going to stay there.”
Nell gaped. “You meannow? Before it’s rehabbed?”
Tessa shrugged. The idea crept into her heart and beat steady and strong. “Yes.”
“Aren’t you a brave one!” Nell said. “Braver than me. I nearly died staying with my mother-in-law. I can’t imagine having the kids in a run-down house.”
“Well, that’s the thing, isn’t it? I don’t have anybody. It’s just me. Just me and Honeysuckle Hollow.” Tessa wasn’t sure if this new idea was brave or stupid.
Liam Foster walked out of the hardware store and nodded hello at Tessa before looking at his wife. “Ready, honey?”
Nell patted Tessa’s hand. “You be careful over there. Don’t . . . I dunno, fall through the floor or anything.”
“It’s notthatbad,” Tessa said, but Nell looked unconvinced. She waved good-bye and climbed into an SUV with her husband. Did Tessa even believe herownwords?
She dialed Charlie’s number. When Charlie answered, Tessa explained how she’d boarded up the windows the night before, and she asked when Charlie’s workers could get started on the rehab. Once the money from the sale of her condo was in her bank, and after she’d paid off Mrs. Steele, she planned to pay the workers for as much work as possible.
