Zane bit back a groan. Maybe the reason he’d felt so compelled to talk to Bruce today was because God knew Bruce would be receptive to what Zane had to say about forgiveness. Zane was thankful for that, but he’d been hoping for information that would help him protect Tessa. It was too much to hope that the wind had given Bruce any suggestions, but he had to ask. “Any advice?”
Bruce inclined his head toward him, the aged professor prepared to share with the ready pupil. “Keep her close. Make sure she knows how you feel about her. Don’t leave it until it’s too late. You’ll regret it if you do.”
“More words of wisdom for the book?”
“If you want.” Bruce’s smile was a little wicked. “I’m here all week.”
Zane had to laugh. “I’m only here until next Wednesday. I’ll look for you before I head back to DC.”
“You do that. And bring Tessa when you do.”
“You got it, Bruce. Take care of yourself.” Zane slipped some cash into Bruce’s bag. Bruce pretended not to notice. That was how they made this work. “And stay out of that angry wind. I don’t want you to get blown away.”
Bruce smiled. “Now who’s sharing words of wisdom?”
Zane mulled over their conversation as he drove back toward the office. Back to Tessa. But no epiphanies illuminated his understanding, and when he found her in the conference room, she was surrounded by agents giving her their final reports. The president arrived tomorrow, and the groundwork was done. This was hardly their first rodeo, and Tessa had managed everything with grace and professionalism.
They were as ready as they could be.
25
TESSA PULLED UP THE SPREADSHEETthat currently held the contents of her brain. Everything she could control was done. Assignments had been made for every checkpoint and every post in the home and on the grounds. She knew where each agent would be, from the snipers to the K-9 officers. And, much to her chagrin, every single person on the guest list, including the three she considered to be the most likely to be hiding past criminal activities involving Secret Service agents, had cleared the security screenings and was approved to attend.
There were some hints of impropriety, usually of the financial or business variety. But nothing that would eliminate them from attending. And not a single one of them had any known affiliation to Craig Brown or Calvin Cross.
The spreadsheet and every piece of information that filled the cells on it said that the president would be safe at the Carmichael estate.
But Tessa couldn’t shake the feeling that she was missing something. Something big.
TWO HOURS LATER,she tossed the final remnants of the Chinese take-out containers into the trash. The women who had joined her for the evening—Faith, Ivy, Hope, and Sharon—were some of the finest women she knew. Of the group, the only one who needed to know now was Faith. Faith would be present tomorrow night, and it was critical for her to be in the loop.
As for the others, there might never be a better opportunity to share the details of the night that changed everything. And the truth was, she needed them to know. Needed to stop carrying the shame of it all. Needed to trust them with this part of her that no one but Zane knew.
But how was she supposed to initiate the conversation? What was she supposed to say?
“Okay, everybody.” Faith clapped her hands. “We all know that there’s something on Tessa’s mind, so let’s take a seat and let her unload on us.”
She should have known that Faith would have her back on this. Everyone laughed at Faith’s blunt approach to the situation and sat around her in a loose circle, cups of hot tea, hot chocolate, and decaf coffee scattered on the tables around them.
Tessa looked at each of them, who had nothing but love and compassion in their expressions, and had to blink back tears. “I don’t know how to do this.” The pending confession had all four women leaning toward her.
Ivy slid to her knees and took her hand. “Maybe we could start with prayer?”
Tessa squeezed her hand. “Yes.”
Ivy reached for Faith, who reached for Sharon, who reached for Hope, who reached for Tessa. Only when the circle was complete did Ivy begin. “Father, we are so thankful for the bonds of friendship and family that have joined our hearts together. We alsoknow that when two or more are gathered, you are in our midst. We’re so thankful for you. For your love, your mercy, your grace, your forgiveness, and most of all for the gift of your Son and the freedom to walk into the future knowing that our pasts, whatever they hold, have been redeemed in Jesus. That we are clean and spotless before you. And that we are held in you, not by our own strength, but by yours. Please calm our hearts and give us wisdom to respond as you would have us respond. Give Tessa the courage to say what’s on her heart. In Jesus’s name. Amen.”
The murmur of “amen” filled the room, and everyone resettled into their seats. But before Tessa could begin, Sharon raised her hand. Ivy and Hope laughed, but Sharon widened her eyes at them while keeping her hand up.
“Sharon, do you have a question?” Tessa asked.
“More like a request.”
“Okay.”
“Given that I’m the most out of the loop on pretty much everything, and I’m not sure what you’re planning to share, could you possibly start at the beginning and give me the time line of events that have led up to this point?”
“I would appreciate that as well,” Ivy said.
