Silent, with Nolie’s hand in hers, Maggie came down the last few steps and people parted like the Red Sea, uncertain over the meaning of this new arrival.
But not Tessa. She knew what Maggie Lawson’s arrival meant—the end of everything.
“Mom,” Eli said with what could only be described as a guilty laugh. “Imagine our surprise.”
“I have been imagining just that,” she said. “Ever since I called Crista and Nolie answered the phone and told me you were all here.”
Nolie beamed up at them, utterly clueless to the dynamic. “Remember when everyone was all crazy with the setting up stuff a couple days ago? I heard Mommy’s phone ring and saw it was Grandma Maggie and we had a secret talk.” Her eyes glinted as she looked up at her grandmother. “And I told Grandma Maggie that I wanted her here for Miss Tessa’s big party and…” She did a precious little dance and tugged on Maggie’s arm. “You made it, Grandma!”
“Of course I did, sweetheart. I would never miss this event being held in my home, on my property.” She closed her eyes. “And yet it’s full of strangers.”
“I’m not a stranger, Mags.” Jo Ellen’s words cut through the crowd.
Maggie turned, looked at her, and all the color drained from her face. “What…you…how…” She sucked in a deep breath.
Jo Ellen blanched, too, reaching out her hand as if she needed support, and Kate snagged her fingers immediately.
“Come on, Mom. Let’s take a walk.”
As they quickly stepped away, Kate threw a pleading look over her shoulder to Eli. He frowned, obviously torn. After a split second of hesitation, he hustled after Kate and Jo Ellen, showing very clearly where his loyalties lay.
And Tessa decided right then and there she loved him for that.
For what felt like an eternity, no one said a word. Then Maggie leaned down to whisper something to Nolie, who nodded and scampered away as if to do whatever the queen had demanded.
Then Maggie looked right at Tessa and narrowed her sky-blue eyes. “I understand you are in charge of this…” She flipped her fingers. “This.”
“I am.” Tessa lifted her chin, instantly transported back three and a half decades, on another boardwalk, during another showdown. She’d been terrified then, too, but she had to protect and defend Vivien.
But this time? Well, Maggie did own the house and Tessa was merely…an unwelcome guest.
Maggie took one step closer. “Then it will fall on you to get every single person out of my home, off my property, and out of my sight as fast as humanly possible.”
Tessa managed a breath. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Lawson, but?—”
“Hold on.” Vivien appeared at Tessa’s side, her body vibrating so much Tessa could feel it. But all she got from her mother was a withering look of disappointment.
Vivien merely stood straighter under the weight of that look, squaring her shoulders. “Mom,” she said through gritted teeth. “I want you to come upstairs with me right now.”
Maggie lifted one brow. “After these people?—”
“Not after anything,” Vivien insisted. “Right now.”
Inching back, Maggie gave her a shocked look that probably lasted two seconds but felt like an eternity. Then she pivoted and strode through the room, back up the stairs.
“I got this, Tess,” Vivien whispered.
“Are you sure?”
“I am.”
“All right, she’s all yours. But…” Tessa threw a look at the room. “What about…everything?”
“The show must go on. And it will. Just hold it off for ten minutes and I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” Tessa challenged.
“I’ll…take the hit. After all, I owe you one for the summer we danced.”
