“Tess!”
She straightened, squinting toward the house at the distant sound.
“Tessa!” Dusty jogged across the street in long strides, lifting a hand when he saw she was looking. His expression was unreadable from here, but he sure looked anxious to join them.
She slowed, letting Olive dawdle so he could reach them. While they waited, she crouched again, leaning close, her voice dropping into that conspiratorial tone she used only with Olive.
“Look who it is,” she said, nodding toward him.
“Dusting.”
She cracked up at the name that had stuck. “Yes, that’s our Dusting. He’s very handsome, don’t you think?”
Olive looked at him, silent, probably not knowing what handsome was anyway.
“And kind,” Tessa added, because it was important and they’d read a book last night about a kind kangaroo, so she knew Olive knew what it meant. “And he makes good sandwiches. Also, he laughs at jokes that aren’t very funny, which is a fine quality in a man. I say, find a man with a sense of humor, a good heart, and a decent toolbox and you’re golden, Double O.”
Olive picked up another shell.
Tessa kept going anyway, because she needed to say it out loud, even if Olive had no idea what she was hearing. She had to give voice to her feelings and who better than this tiny bestie?
“You know, I think I’m falling in love with him,” she said softly. “Girl to girl, I’m here to tell you, I think that’s what’s happening. And I hope—when you’re big—you meet someone just like him. Someone who is there when you need him, and even when you don’t. Someone who looks that good when he runs.”
She stood as Dusty reached them, breathless, hands braced on his knees for a second before he straightened.
“Hey,” he said, smiling automatically—then something in his face shifted.
“What’s wrong?” Tessa asked immediately.
Dusty blew out a breath, inching back away from Olive. “Morgan’s out,” he whispered.
Tessa blinked. “Out?”
“She checked herself out. Which she can do at any time. I got a call from a doctor who said she’d made some progress, but not enough. Still, they can’t keep her, so…”
Tessa’s stomach dropped. “When did she leave?”
“Break of dawn this morning. I called her and she said she took an Uber home and now she’s…on her way.”
“Here?” Tessa’s world tilted when he nodded. “I thought—we thought—I had another week.”
“I know,” Dusty said quickly. “I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t imagine she’d?—”
“Tess?” Olive ambled over. “Jewel?” She held up a slimy black pouch that had probably once held a sea oats pod.
“Oh, I think a mermaid must have dropped her wallet,” she said, getting wide eyes from the little girl and a soft snort from Dusty. “Better leave it for her. And I have very exciting news about your?—”
“Not yet,” Dusty muttered. “In case she changes her mind.”
Tessa nodded. “Dusting is making the sandwiches for lunch!” she said instead, her voice rising brightly. “Are you hungry?”
She shook her head, looking from one to the other. “More jewelwy.”
“We’ll come back later,” Tessa replied, hating herself for lying but not as much as she hated Morgan for shaving a week from this bliss.
No, no, she mentally corrected herself. She didn’t hate anyone. Especially not Olive’s mother. But she wasn’t happy.
“Come on, princess. Let’s go get you lunch and I’ll…” She swallowed. She’d pack up her clothes and toys and…and cry.
