“Yes.”
“Listen, Arabella, I love you like you were my own flesh and blood, and that means I have to nag you until you do what’s right for you,” Tessa says. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s the Sharpe family way.”
Sighing, I say, “Yes, I’ve gotten to know your mum quite well. But it’s the Langdon family way to get pissy about anyone sticking their nose in our business.”
I walk over to the edge of the pool and reach my hand out. Flora reaches up and I touch her chubby little fingers. “Auntie loves you.”
“Wuv you too,” she says.
I blow James a kiss, since I can’t reach him without falling into the water. “I love you, James.”
He gives me a big nod and blows me a kiss back. My heart squeezes.Oh, I want one. Or two.
When I stand and turn, Tessa’s giving me a meaningful look. “You want one, don’t you?”
“No,” I say, feeling my cheeks heat up. “Well, someday, maybe, yes. But not with a man who doesn’t also want one with me.”
Tessa shakes her head. “So disappointing, really.”
Balling up my fists, I rest them on my hips. “What is?”
“You had this one burst of incredible power and courage, and now…” she shrugs. “Meh.”
I sigh and let my head roll back like an irritated teenager. “Could you please refrain from busting my ovaries? I’m really not in the mood.”
“Sure, sure,” she says, nodding. “It’s fine. You go back to being as unremarkable as Gran said you were. You’re already letting Mrs. Chapman boss you around again. It’s fine, really. If being a doormat makes you comfortable, you just go back to that.”
“I’m lying low for a while until this scandal dies down!” I hiss. “It’s the least I can do after all the trouble I caused the family.”
“That story is long dead. Like your moment of being fierce.”
“What do you want me to do? Rush to Santa Valentina, sweep him off his feet, and twirl him in the air?”
“How about just go to him and start with ‘hello’ and see where it goes from there?”
“No, because I’m not pathetic.”
“Pathetic is not taking any risks and spending your entire life pining for a man you couldbewith.”
“I can’t even…” I say, shaking my head. “I have to go.”
“Yes, go. Be a very good girl,” she says, taking another bite of celery.
“Please do everyone a favour and eat a donut or something,” I say. “We can only really use one snarly woman dishing out advice around here.”
“Oh, no, don’t do that, Your Highness,” Xavier tells her. “You’ve worked so hard and even a single donut would be a huge setback.”
I walk toward the door as guilt clouds move in over me. I turn back and say, “Tessa, I still love you.”
She turns and smiles at me. “I love you, too. Sorry I’m being such a snaggle-toothed witch.”
“It’s fine. I am too.”
“You know what you need?” she asks, then she whisper-yells. “To get—”
“Notthe answer to all life’s problems,” I say, holding up one hand.
“But it helps.”
