“They say you can probably leave tomorrow,” Nick said. “Isn’t that amazing?”
“Yes,” their dad piped up from the corner. “But she’ll have to take it easy for a while.”
“So, you feeling pretty good?” Tess asked. “’Cause there’s something important you need to know.”
Her mom nodded. “What is it?”
“Nick has a confession to make about the broken lamp incident of 2010.”
Her mom laughed, but her dad kicked them out. Guess she’d have to wait a little longer on her sweet redemption.
Tess walked outside to call Moody’s attorney.
“Hi, Mr. Ramsay,” she said. “You don’t know me, but I manage one of Don Moody’s stores—The Outdoor Outpost? He gave me your name as someone I could contact about an in-process deal involving the store.”
“Ah, yes. The Moody deal.” Tess heard clicking on a keyboard. “I’m not actually hands-on with that one—farmed it off to a coworker—so I may not have the latest. But last I heard, we’re still waiting on the buyers to get back to us regarding the revised portfolio. I do know Moody’s chompin’ at the bit to get the contract signed before he heads off on his honeymoon. He already postponed his departure a few days just for this deal. New bride was none too happy about that, let me tell you.”
“What if I reach out to them?” Tess asked, desperate to keep him on track. “I don’t want to hold anything up or cause any problems, but I also really want The Outpost.”
“Unconventional,” Ramsay said. “But I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. Let’s see if I can find the info.” He paused, and she heard more clicking. “It’s a multi-bajillion-dollar company down in Texas. Houston, if I remember right. Two brothers own it.”
Her stomach turned to stone. It couldn’t be.
“Hah. Found it. Logan and Cooper Fox. Think they plan to turn it into one of their franchises, a Wilderness World.”
Tess’s tongue wouldn’t move. Her legs felt weak. Her blood began to boil. And the litany of emotions made her dizzy. Thankfully, there was a wooden bench nearby, and she fell into it.
Logan was buying her store.That’swhat he’d been hiding. Being rich had just been an appetizer lie, a teasing taste to whet her appetite for the main course lie.
“You still there?” Ramsay asked. “You ready for the number?”
“I’m here,” Tess choked out. She didn’t bother jotting down the number. She wouldn’t be calling it.
Many emotions ran through her, but betrayal topped them all. He’d probably come to town to research the business. That was the only logical explanation. How else did Richie Rich from Houston end up in tiny GVF?
So, he’d known from day one. When she met him in the coffee shop, the whole time on the campout, and all the hours they’d spent together since. He’d had a million opportunities to come clean.
The betrayal stung, but what caught her off guard was thedepthto which she felt betrayed. It rivaled the day she’d found out about Seth’s gambling debts. And she’d loved Seth. Which begged the question…Had her feelings for Logan tripped over attraction and stumbled into love? Is that why this hurt so much?
Faith came out and sat beside her, reading her mood effortlessly. Just as she’d been doing all their lives. “Bad news from Moody?”
“Somethin’ like that.” Tess huffed out a laugh. She could let Faith assume this was all about losing The Outpost deal, but sooner or later, she’d find out the real issue anyway. “It’s Logan’s company that’s buying the store.”
“What? And he didn’t tell you?”
Tess shook her head.
“Oh, honey.” Faith wrapped Tess in her arms. “I’m so sorry.”
Tess wasn’t a big crier, and even now, only a tear or two escaped. “Can you tell my dad I’ll come back tomorrow?”
“Of course. How you gonna get home?”
“I could use a walk.” She stood. “The triple C’s barely over a mile.”
“All right. Well, call if you need anything. You know we’re all here for you.”
Tess used the twenty-minute walk to think—and stew. She’d been irritated to find out Logan had misled her about his money sitch. That was nothing compared to this.
