“Maggie doesn’t love adventure,” Tessa corrected. “But she is kind of glowy. You two get in trouble with some bikers again?”
“Not this time,” her mother said. “But we did make kind of a monumental decision.”
“Do tell.”
“Only if you promise not to share with Kate—yet.”
Tessa drew back and raised her brows. “I don’t usually keep secrets from my twin, Mom. Maybe you shouldn’t tell me.”
“Well, I will. And I’ll tell Kate myself if she ever comes back here.” She inched closer and lowered her voice. “We’re not leaving.”
For a moment, Tessa wasn’t sure what she meant. Not leaving for the bridge? Not leaving on another adventure? Not leaving?—
“Ever,” Jo Ellen clarified. “We’re moving into the garage apartment permanently and I’m selling the house in Ithaca and—don’t get mad—everything in it but the memories.”
Tessa stared at her, then blinked.Mom not in Ithaca?It was…
“Perfect,” she breathed.
“You think so?” her mother asked.
“Yes, I do,” Tessa assured her. “And not just because I’m here and I selfishly want you nearby. Because it’s cold and far and life is here—in the sunshine. Anyway, you and Maggie are as much sisters as Kate and I are. You deserve this, Mom.”
“Oh, honey!” She threw her arms around Tessa and they hugged, the action getting the attention of Maggie and those around her.
“What’s all this?” Maggie asked, coming closer.
Tessa didn’t answer but put the rare arm around Maggie Lawson and—even more rare—the usually chilly woman didn’t bristle. Instead, she just shook her head.
“Jo Ellen never met a secret she could keep,” Maggie said.
“Why keep it secret, Mags? I’m so happy.”
“Well, so am I. And look who’s going to live five minutes away.” Maggie beckoned Crista and Anthony closer, and they moved as one, arm in arm.
“Let me see your real estate,” Tessa said, taking Anthony’s phone while Crista yammered on excitedly about having a place down here.
“Guess no one is selling this behemoth,” Tessa said, eyeing Crista. “You were the wild card.”
“I say we keep the Summer House as a family compound,” Crista replied, glancing up at her husband. “I love that he wants that for all of us.”
He smiled, clearly basking in his Husband of the Year Award.
“Hey, boss.” From behind, Lacey wrapped her arms around Tessa’s waist and squeezed her, getting a gasp in response.
“Lacey! You’re here!” Tessa spun and hugged her, then looked around for Roman. “And where’s my boy?”
“He’s getting me a drink, since we just walked in. Surprised?”
“Yes! I didn’t think I’d see you for…ever.”
Lacey made a face. “Stop. We’re there for the season, then back here for the off-season, and you know you’ll see me plenty. Guess what?”
“You found an apartment?”
“We did—on the water in town. Gorgeous. But I also…” She bit her lip with a sly look. “Got our first client for the satellite office of Tessa Wylie Events. I wanted to tell you in person.”
Before Lacey left engaged and joyous, she and Tessa decided thattheywould be the ones trying to make long-distance work. If Lacey could scare up business in Jacksonville, Tessa would provide all the support and resources and take a cut of the profit. Lacey could run a satellite office and build her own event planning business.
