Tess
“Another, miss?” The poolside waiter picked up Tess’s empty piña colada glass.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Tess said with a tipsy smile.
“Coming right up.” He walked away with a salute.
“Drinking your lunch, Tess?”
“None of your business, Mrs. Schlesselman.”
The old woman laughed. Tess had met the lonely widow last night at the hotel bar. She’d plopped down next to Tess and peppered her with questions over dry martinis and nachos. She was brash, intrusive, and hilarious. Tess loved her.
“You still pining over that man?”
“Don’t make me regret confiding in you.” Tess had had one martini too many and (metaphorically) vomited all of her secrets and troubles right into Mrs. Schlesselman’s lap.
“We’re best friends now, Tessy,” she teased. “That’s what best friends do.”
Tess rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help but smile. In just a few hours, they’d fallen into an instant, easy friendship. She got up from her lounge chair and sat at the pool’s edge, letting her legs dangle in the water.
“Nowthisis a vacation,” she whispered to herself, tipping her head skyward to soak up the sun.
For the last five years, a “vacation” had been a hike into the mountains with half a dozen prima donnas, a weekend trip to New York City to visit Holly, or an overnight jaunt to Boston for a basketball game. Pampering herself at an extravagant beachside spa had been rotting on her bucket list, and it was finally time she got around to it.
With her employment about to end, it was outrageously irresponsible to be spending money this way. She should be socking away for hard times or investing in a new business, not blowing cash recklessly on three-hundred-count sheets and gourmet meals.
But after meeting with her girls, and learning of Logan’slatestbetrayal, escape seemed prudent. It was that, or risk a homicide charge. She’d driven to Boston, caught the first flight south, and arrived at the spa in the late evening.
Guilt over the indulgences might come later, but for now, she pushed that aside. It was only her second day here, and though she was relaxed, boredom was creeping in. Apparently, leisurely days of doing nothing wasn’t in her nature. She’d slept in, gotten a massage, and planned to waste away the afternoon day drinking poolside.
But none of it was much fun all alone. Except for her new BFF, Mrs. Schlesselman, she hadn’t talked to anyone.
The waiter brought her drink, and Tess took a refreshing sip.
“Bring the girl some fries, please, Mitch,” Mrs. Schlesselman said to the waiter. Tess was about to tell her to butt out, but then decided fries did sound good.
“Are you following me?” When Tess turned to confront her new friend, she had to hide a smile. Mrs. Schlesselman lounged under a huge umbrella and was dressed head to toe in purple—agauzy plum-colored sun dress and a wide-brimmed indigo straw hat.
“It’s a free country, Tess. I can sit by the pool if I want.” She fanned herself haughtily. “Plus, someone’s got to watch out for you.”
“You look like a grape.”
“Any news from your man?”
“Kinda.” Tess shrugged. She’d turned on her phone that morning to let her friends know where she was and been surprised by a text from Faith.
“My friend messaged to say she was wrong about the hidden family thing. It was Logan’s brother andhisfamily.”
Tess hadn’t found the news all that surprising. Logan might be a liar, but a cheater? Even with evidence to the contrary, she’d thought that idea far-fetched from the moment Faith suggested it.
“Well, that’s something. Come eat some fries.”
Tess huffed. “And people think I’m bossy.” Still, she stood, picked up her drink, and joined her purple friend, digging into the plate of hot fries Mitch had left.
“You don’t seem like the type to run from confrontation.”
“I’m not running,” Tess said. “It’s always been my dream to come to Florida, sit in the sun, and bicker with an impertinent but lovable raisin.” She smiled and winked.
