Once again, Crista’s heart folded that this woman—a virtual stranger who Crista had literally attacked when they’d met—cared so much for Nolie. They were all going to be in tears tomorrow.
“Maybe I can put Anthony off for a day or two. Just while you work on the quick-look counting.”
Tessa slowed her step and crossed her arms, studying Crista intently. “What if she passed the third-grade test before you leave?”
“She can’t. They don’t give it until early May.”
“There must be a few online samples and practice tests that we can give her. That was one of my—” Tessa checked herself and continued, “One way I managed to pass was by taking practice tests over and over. My, um, tutor was a teacher, so he knew that if I wasn’t too surprised by the types of things I was tested on, even if the content was different, I was relaxed and did better.”
Crista eyed her. “This tutor you loved so much—it was Artie, wasn’t it?”
She nodded.
For a moment, neither spoke, then Tessa said, “I bet we can find third-grade entrance exams online. Would you look for them?”
“Of course.”
“So, if she took one or two or more tests, and passed them all?” Tessa asked. “Would Anthony get off your case and let her stay? And then he could come down for the fashion show and see how happy she is with his own two eyes. Plus, he can see the tests and know you did the right thing.”
She made it sound so easy, but maybe that was Tessa’s gift. It was probably the very reason she was so good with Nolie. Good heavens, why hadn’t this woman had a child?
“What do we have to lose?” Tessa pressed.
“Nothing,” Crista agreed. “I’ll tell him tomorrow.”
“Good. Let’s turn around and get some sleep,” Tessa said, pivoting in the sand, the move turning the bioluminescence alive under her feet. “Oh, look at that. Blue magic.”
Feeling better than she had in hours, Crista laughed softly. “It really is.”
“That’s magic, too, you know.” Tessa pointed to the Summer House, the lone light from her room guiding them closer. “The old cottage and this new mansion. Magic.”
And Crista’s heart fell again, remembering her other problem. “Don’t get attached,” she said softly. “I don’t think we’re going to keep it.”
“Seriously?” Tessa glanced at her, a note of real concern in her voice. “I thought…Vivien and Eli…”
“I know. And everyone is kind of dug in, living like it’s a family home.” Crista shook her head. “But that house is an enormous amount of financial security. Way too much to give up.”
“Don’t tell me, this is Anthony speaking.” Tessa made a face. “I don’t think I’m going to like this guy.”
“He’s a good guy—mostly. We’ve hit a few rocky patches, especially…” She hesitated, not sure if she should share this with a virtual stranger. But, really, was Tessa a stranger? Not exactly. And it felt so good to get it off her chest. “My mother living with us has…added pressure.”
Tessa snorted. “Maggie Lawson? Pressure? I can’t imagine.”
That made Crista smile. “She does have a way of making you see people through her lens, which is somewhat unforgiving.”
“Like the way you’re looking at my father.”
Crista didn’t answer, feeling more like she was walking a tightrope instead of a sandy beach. And falling off would hurt.
The fact was, her true loyalties were always going to be with her mother. And Anthony, of course.
“Anyway,” she said quickly. “Neither Anthony nor my mother can see the need to own this beach house. Anthony understands finance and investments and the profit from the sale of this house could pay for…all kinds of things, including every bit of Nolie’s education.”
“Ohh.” Tessa let out a groan. “I get that, but…summers at the beach are a different kind of education.”
Crista knew that, but kept it to herself.
“I think that eventually Eli and Vivien will do the numbers and see how that kind of money could change their lives and secure their futures,” she said instead. “Keeping a house we never knew we had is just a silly pipe dream.”
