“There has to be something we can do,” Logan said, frustration rising.
“I’ll call them as soon as we hang up and see what I can work out.”
“Do I need to get involved?” Logan asked. “Who’s the lead on this?”
“No. I’ll handle it,” Coop insisted. “You sound worried about more than just this deal. What else is going on?”
“Tess just found out her mom was rushed to the hospital. No details. She’s on her way now.”
“That’s terrible. You gonna go?”
“Not yet. I’m giving her a minute to find out what’s what. I’ll reach out in a bit and see if she wants me there.”
“I hope everything’s okay,” Cooper said. “This doesn’t sound like the best time to tell you this, but we’re fixin’ to visit. Like, tomorrow. Sorry for the short notice, but can we stay at the inn?”
“Oh, sure. I’ll have Max book you a room.”
Logan returned to the inn and tried to work, but his concern for Tess and her family had him distracted. That, and his guilt.
Discovering she wanted The Outpost ignited new urgency to confess his deal. He had to make this right and vowed to come clean the instant the situation with Mrs. Walker was stable.
It was good that Cooper would meet her soon. He would be unbiased and could give Logan an honest, hot take on Tess.
Finally, about an hour later, Tess texted to say her mom was out of surgery and would be fine. Logan offered to bring burgers by, but his text went unread. He figured she was busy with her family and didn’t want to seem pushy. As much as he wanted to help and be with her, he’d wait for her to contact him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Tess
When Tess arrived at the hospital, the doctor informed her and her family that her mom had been taken into surgery for an emergency appendectomy. After a tense couple of hours, a green-scrubbed-clad surgeon entered the waiting room, pulling off his paper hat.
“Everything went fine,” he said. “Better than expected. We were able to go in laparoscopically and didn’t have to open her up. She’s been in recovery for about a half an hour. You can take turns seeing her now.”
The tension drained from the room as everyone heaved a grateful sigh.
“Thanks, doc,” Tess’s dad said, a single tear escaping. “I’ll go first.” He followed the doctor out.
Now that the imminent danger had passed, they all relaxed.
“So,” Tess said. “Guess what I found out today?”
“That it was my idea for Garrett to hole up at The Outpost?” Faith asked.
“That I cheated off your math homework all through junior high,” Alex confessed.
“That you reallydoneed to moisturize?” Juliet said.
“That I was the one who broke that lamp and blamed you when we were kids,” Nick said.
Tess gaped. “What? No. It was a rhetorical question. But don’t think we aren’t revisiting all of those things. Iknewit was you.” She pointed at Nick.
“You gonna tell us or what?” Alex said.
Tess rolled her eyes. “Remember when I said I thought Logan was hiding something? Well, I found out what.”
“Oooh.” “Do tell.” “Is it juicy?” Her friends leaned in, rubbing their hands.
“Yeah, not so sassy now, are ya?” Tess said.
