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Things were so confusing now! She’d never loved the plan, because dishonesty always made her uncomfortable. But she’d freely gone along with it to help her new friend. Now, though, things just seemed even more muddled.
Why did it have to be complicated?
“Are you okay, honey?” Athena asked her.
“Yeah. Just thinking it all over.”
“It’s a lot. Remember, you don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with. I know you want to help people. You have a big heart, sweetie. But don’t compromise your values or your peace.”
After some quick reflection, Tessa told her, “I’m not there yet. But I’ll remember that. Thank you for the insight, Auntie.”
They hugged.
“Is Damon on his way?” Athena asked when she pulled away.
“Yeah,” Tessa answered. “But I have a few minutes. I’m going to call some folks back home and check in on them.”
Athena smiled warmly, patted Tessa’s arm, then moved on down the hall, giving Tessa the privacy she needed to make her phone call.
She found Ms. Craig’s number, put the phone to her ear, and walked slowly toward the staircase as she waited for the call to connect.
After three rings, the elderly woman answered, her voice bright and happy. “Tessa! We were just talking about you!”
In the background, she heard Mr. Banks say, “Oh, it’s her! Hey, ask her if she’s married a rich movie star yet!”
Tessa laughed. She could just imagine the old man sitting at the table there in the senior center, the way he did six days a week.
“Oh goodness. Al wants to know if you’ve found a rich movie star to marry yet.”
Tessa almost told her that she might have indeed, but stopped short of it.
Was she really thinking marriage? She hardly knew Damon! And he was over the moon about another woman. They were just friends.
Actually, they were more like acquaintances. Had they known each other long enough to consider themselves true friends?
Though that whole ordeal in the changing room at the store yesterday probably bumped them into a category beyond mere acquaintances.
Seeing someone’s legs spread apart would do that.
“Not yet,” she answered. “But I have met a couple of movie stars.”
“You have? Who?” Ms. Craig asked excitedly.
Before Tessa could answer, Ms. Craig said, “Hold on, hon. I’m going to put you on speaker so Al and the others can hear too. We have a big group in today. Just eating some lunch and playing dominoes.”
Tessa smiled. She could just picture them all, gathered around the phone, excited to hear her stories.
“Okay. Everybody can hear now,” Ms. Craig told her after some muffled noises and a beep.
“Damon Drake! And Lissa Keller.”
The oohs and awws told Tessa the group was clearly impressed.
“Are you going to marry Damon Drake?” Mr. Banks asked. “He’s handsome and loaded!”
Tessa couldn’t disagree with either of those statements. But there were more important things in life than fame and money. Besides, Mr. Banks was just being silly.
“He doesn’t want someone like me. Trust me. There are tons of pretty actresses running around this town. Guys like him don’t have time for a normal ol’ Plain Jane,” she told them.
