“Ihave so much I want to say to you. Both of you.” I indicate Tess’s parents, Sarah and Roy.
“We’re so happy to see you, TJ. You look good.” Sarah’s eyes glisten. “Are you taking care of yourself?”
“I’m trying to. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to show my face around here. It was selfish of me to stay away, and I—”
Roy holds up his hands. “It’s alright. We all grieve differently. We understand.”
Sarah tucks her hand into the crook of her husband’s elbow. “What matters is you’re here now.” She glances past me. “I was wondering if you brought anyone with you.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” I pull in a deep breath. “For a long time, I didn’t think there would be anyone special after Tess, but I met someone recently who has made me feel …” I pause, searching for the right words to describe Lucy while being cognizant of Tess’s parents’ feelings. “She’s made me feel like loving might be worth it again … even though the future is unknown and there’s always the risk of pain ahead.”
Sarah sniffs, and Roy pats her hand. “I know that’s what Tess would have wanted. She loved life, and she would have wanted you to live yours to the fullest. That’s what we’re trying to do, too. Some days, it’s easier than others—” Sarah’s voice cracks. “But we owe it to her to try.”
I nod, my throat thick with emotion. “I won’t ever forget her. The woman I’m seeing helped me remember that I should honor Tess’s memory by being willing to love again.”
Roy glances at his wife and then smiles at me. “Sounds like she’s good for you.”
“She really is.” A weight of longing presses down on my shoulders. I wish Lucy could be here. I know why she can’t be, but man, it would be good to see her, to be near her, and soothe my aching heart with her presence.
“Oh my.” Sarah stands up straighter. “Youdidbring someone.”
My entire body freezes. It can’t be. Can it?
“Or I should say someones.” Sarah motions with her hand, waving forward whoever is behind me.
I turn to see Anton, Rose, Poe, and Del, along with a couple of my other teammates and their significant others.
Anton clasps me on the shoulder as Del wraps me in a bear hug, lifting me off the ground.
“What are you guys doing here?” I ask, once he sets me down.
“Lucy asked us to come before she left for California.” Poe straightens the collar on his tux. “You’re lucky I love you, man, because I still feel like an overdressed penguin in this thing.”
I splutter out a laugh and make introductions between my teammates and Tess’s parents. The whole time, my mind and my heart are filled to the brim with memories of Tess and longing for Lucy. I picture her standing in Poe’s living room, huddled up with the guys, while I was on the phone with my grandma. She didn’t mention anything to me about inviting my teammates, but she was looking out for me even then. She knew this would be a difficult day, and she did everything in her power to ease the burden of me having to bear it alone.
“Should we head inside?” Anton jars me from my thoughts.
Roy motions for us to lead the way. “We’re waiting on a few people, but we’ll see you all in there in a bit.”
I stop to hug Sarah one more time as the guys and their dates enter the ballroom where the benefit dinner is set to begin any minute. She squeezes me tight. “I’m so happy you’re here. I’m so happy for you. Youfound a good one.”
She releases me, and someone else joins her and Roy. I make a quick retreat, and it’s only when I’m halfway to my table that I start wondering how Sarah knows who I found. I didn’t once mention Lucy’s name.
I dismiss the question, assuming she was speaking generally. I take my seat at the table with Anton on my right and Poe on my left.
Rose leans across Anton’s place and smiles at me. “It’s really good you’re here, TJ. We’re proud of you.”
I smile back. “Having you all around for this makes it easier.”
“Tess sounds like she was quite the woman,” Poe says from my other side. He’s got the event program open to the bio they’ve included of Tess.
“She was.” Before I can say more, Sarah and Roy are onstage, giving their opening remarks.
“It’s humbling to have you all here with us tonight as we remember our Tess and join together to do some good in her honor.” Roy puts his arm around his wife, and the entire room applauds. “This year, we have a special guest who reached out to us after hearing Tess’s story.”
Sarah turns and holds out a hand. “Ladies and gentlemen, Lucy Dupree.”
My stomach bottoms out as Lucy joins Tess’s parents on stage. She’s in an understated and unassuming long black gown, but my heart still stops as she walks forward in a pair of sky-high heels. If I wasn’t so stunned, I would be out of my seat and making sure she made it across the stage without tripping.
