But honestly, she’d made the decision in a fog of missing Olive, so Tessa wasn’t quite sure how it would work out. She only knew she couldn’t be the one holding Lacey back from happiness.
“It’s actually for the Jags,” Lacey told her. “I met a woman in the PR department and she’s always looking for help setting up fan events and player appearances. She asked if I wanted a job, and I said no. But she could be our client.”
Tessa’s jaw loosened. “Are you serious?”
“We have three events in August.”
“Lacey!” She threw her arms around her young friend, squeezing before drawing back. “You sure you don’t want a job with her? Or just take this as your own business?”
“I’m positive! I can’t do this without you, Tess. We’ll Zoom every morning, you give me pointers and assistance, and I’ll help you hire someone here if you need it.”
“I don’t need anyone,” Tessa said softly. “Without Olive…”
Lacey made a face. “I know that was hard.”
She swiped her hand as if to say it was too much to talk about. “Another time,” she murmured. “No sadness today. Let me look at that rock again.”
As she admired Lacey’s engagement ring, Roman came over and hugged her, the three of them clustered together like the strange little mix of a family that they had become.
How could she not be happy when she realized that?
“What are you smiling about?” Roman asked, eyeing Tessa.
She lifted a shoulder. “Just the fact that after not having any kids, I now have a sonanda daughter and that is what our darling Eli would call a blessing. I’m just…overwhelmed by that.”
They hugged her just as Vivien clapped her hands and got everyone’s attention.
“Hey, all!” she called. “Sun’s going down, so we should start walking to the bridge.”
“Where’s Peter?” Eli asked, coming next to his sister.
Vivien shrugged. “He said he had a work issue,” she replied. “But I don’t want to be out there too late. We have young ones with us and…”
“Not-so-young ones,” Maggie said dryly, making everyone laugh. “And this oldster is not jumping off any bridge, so if you want to leave Atlas with me, Jonah, that’s fine.”
“You are jumping!” at least three, maybe four different voices chimed in unison.
“I am not,” Maggie replied.
“Mom, it’s not high,” Eli assured her. “Honestly, the bridge isn’t that far off the water, and it is very warm and safe. It’ll be fun.”
She lifted a brow as if she wereallergicto fun.
“Ignore her,” Jo Ellen said. “She’s going and if all she does is cheer me on, then that’s a win.”
Maggie rolled her eyes to the comments and laughter, and everyone started gathering towels, drinks, flipflops, whatever they would need.
Tessa peered out to the driveway from the front window but didn’t see any sign of Dusty. She considered texting him, but he’d find her. She wasn’t in a celebratory mood anyway.
In fact, she considered not going at all, but Lacey slid an arm around her and Roman picked up the ridiculous boom box she’d brought, and somehow, they were all traipsing outside in a massive group of Lawsons and Wylies.
“Like old times, huh?” Vivien said, tugging at Tessa’s sleeve.
“We’re missing Kate,” Tessa said. “You know she’d jump in with her glasses on.”
Vivien laughed and agreed. “Where’s Dusty?”
“He’s—”
