He led her back to the table and sat down close to her with his arm over the back of her chair.Right away, the girls started talking about some of Tessa’s friends.The men talked about business.Grant tried but couldn’t make out much of the girl’s conversation.They had put their heads close together and talked in low tones.
Jennifer reached for Tessa’s hand, and a frown of concern crossed her face.“I don’t know why you put up with Madlyn.All she does is bring you grief and frustration.”
Tessa shrugged in dejection.“It’s getting to the point when I might have to just let her go.I’ve been trying for years now to help her.Frankly, I think it started in high school.It just keeps getting worse as time passes.”
“Tessa, you have tried to help her for so long.I seriously think she needs professional help and maybe even antidepressants.”Jennifer knew most of what Tessa had done for Madlyn over the years.She felt terrible about the disappointment Tessa was dealing with.
“If she could only find a good man who treats her right.”
Jennifer shook her head.“I don’t think a man is the answer.I think there’s something inside her she needs to fix.Maybe she’s just one of those sad people.She only seems happy when she’s making someone else miserable.”
Tessa glanced at Devon.“I’ve thought that, too.Devon can’t stand her anymore.He thinks she tried to drive a wedge between you and me, and he won’t have it.”
“I don’t blame him.”Jennifer couldn’t hide the anger in her voice.
“I know, me either.Maybe if I hadn’t known her most of my life, and our parents weren’t friends, I’d feel better about walking away from her.”Tessa shrugged and took a drink of her wine.
“I’m sorry, Tessa.I wish I could help, but she’s disliked me since she and I met in college.There is no way she’ll listen to me.”
Tessa shook her head.“I’ve never understood her attitude toward you.I know some is jealousy, but...”
“Well, don’t worry about that.It doesn’t matter to me whether she’s my friend or not.I have you,” Jennifer smirked.
Tessa snorted.“Not that I don’t love being your friend, but someday you’ll have to open yourself up and let more people in.We only became friends because I spent so much time in your dorm room with my friend, Nancy, when you guys lived together.”
“And you wouldn’t leave me alone no matter how much I tried to ignore you.”Jennifer laughed.“The only time I got a little peace was when I locked myself in the bathroom, which never lasted long before you knocked and asked if I was sick.”
Tessa chuckled.“What can I say?I felt bad for you.All you did was study and work.I didn’t think I'd seen you smile until our sophomore year, when we lived in the same dorm room.Which I was surprised you agreed to, by the way.”Both women laughed.
“I wasn’t unhappy.I was just determined.You know I had reason to be so serious.That was my one chance to break the cycle of poverty my family had been in for decades.”
Both stayed silent for a minute, each lost in their thoughts.“That’s enough depressing conversation, Jennifer.Come with me to the ladies’ room.”Tessa stood and waited for Jennifer.
“Whoa, baby, where are you going?”Grant held onto Jennifer’s arm.
“I’m going with Tessa to the restroom.I’ll be right back.”She stood and tried to pull away from him.She rolled her eyes when he wouldn’t release her.
“Why do you both have to go?”
Devon snorted.“They always go in pairs, dude.”
“I’ll go with you, ladies.”
Grant went to stand, but Jennifer put a hand on his shoulder.The look she gave him seemed to get through to him the most.
“No, Grant.We’ll be right back,” Jennifer said, her voice firm.She walked off with Tessa, not looking back.
