Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
The relief on her aunt’s face as she crosses the dining room is palpable.
“Aunt Frannie!” Maddie jumps off her chair, dashing to her aunt, who swoops her up in a big hug.
“Maddie Bear,” she says, cradling her close. “Man, we were scared. I’m so glad you’re okay.”
Maddie pulls back, gazing into her aunt’s face. “I’m sorry. I already told mommy, I’m not going to play hide and seek ever again.”
“Sounds good to me,” Frannie says, glancing over her niece’s head to us. “Thank you two so much. We’re all so grateful that Maddie ended up with such kind people. What do I owe you for the dinner?”
I wave a hand, “Don’t worry about it. It’s our treat.”
“We insist,” Tessa cuts in. “It’s no trouble at all. Maddie was so much fun to hang out with. I hope you have a safe ride to your aunt’s house, Maddie. It was so nice meeting you.”
“Nice meeting you, too,” Maddie says, shier now that her aunt is here. She opens and closes her fingers to wave goodbye. “Thanks for the burger and fries and coloring and ice cream.”
“You’re so welcome,” Tessa says, beaming at the little girl. “It was our pleasure. Take care and hug your mama tight tonight.”
We say our goodbyes to Frannie and wave as she carries Maddie out to her car. When they’re gone, I turn back to Tessa with a smile, “You did a great job with her. You’ve really got a way with kids. Have they always fallen in love with you at first sight?”
She pales as she glances down at her hands.
“I’m sorry,” I say, sensing I’ve stepped in it somehow. “I just meant—”
“I need to tell you something,” Tessa says as she glances up, her eyes shining, “But I need to get back to feed Freya first. She’ll be upset if we don’t let her out of her crate soon.”
“Okay, of course,” I say. “Whatever you need.”
And I mean it. I want to give her whatever she needs.
I just need her to help me figure out what that is.
Chapter 18
TESSA
After our nearly three-hour delay—it took Frannie longer to reach us than Shirley expected—we decide against trying to make it all the way to Aspen. Wes cancels the campsite rental, and I look for a motel room nearby close to the highway.
But fifteen minutes later, I’m still searching and the sun is sinking low on the horizon.
“I guess we could camp in a Walmart parking lot,” Wes says. “I hear they allow people to do that. But there wouldn’t be any hookups for water, so no shower or flushing the toilet. Unless we bought a bucket and filled it with water, maybe?”
I shake my head, still scrolling. “No, I’ll find something. I mean, this place just a few exits up has one cottage left, but…”
“But?” he prompts, his focus sliding my way.
I feel his gaze on my face but keep mine on my phone as I say, “It’s a king-sized bed. Not two double beds. So…”
“Well, I don’t mind sharing if you don’t,” he says. “We can put a pillow barrier in the middle of the mattress if you want, and I promise I’ll stay on my side.”
“I’m not worried about that,” I mumble.
“Then what are you worried about?”
“Nothing, I guess,” I lie. “I’ll book it.”
I shouldn’t be worried about anything. After all, there’s no way forward for Wes and me in any version of the future. It won’t matter that I can’t have kids. He’ll probably think I’m crazy for telling him—especially like this, like it’s some kind of big deal and so upsetting I get teary when I think about it.
I don’t usually get teary. It’s just that Maddie was so sweet, and Wes was so good with her. He’s clearly going to be an amazing father someday.
Someday in the future, when he finds a woman closer to his own age, one who can give him a family and the kind of life he wants. I might even get to be “Aunt Tessa” to his kids. Chase already calls me auntie and his cousin, Sara Beth, has started doing it, too. Pretty soon, I’ll complete my metamorphosis into an honorary McGuire sibling.
Hell, maybe Wes will eventually come to think of me as a sister someday.
The thought makes me want to toss my cheeseburger.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
“Fine, why?” I say, finishing the booking.
“Your lip was all snarled up. Like you smelled something off.”
I force a smile and reach for the GPS screen on the dashboard, typing in the motel address. “Sorry. My burger is talking back to me a little. I may take a walk when we get to the motel, just to help with digestion.”
“All right,” Wes says. “Is that going to be before or after you tell me whatever you need to tell me? I don’t want to pressure you, but I’d love to know what’s on your mind. You can tell me anything, you know. I’ll keep it to myself. I’m a vault. Ask any of my brothers and sisters. I’m the one they go to when they need to get something off their chest and don’t want everyone else in the family to know about.”