Tessa pivoted into the closet, scooped an armful of hanging clothes, and tossed them on the bed. “Lacey, you’re sweet, and I get that you don’t want me to go. But what your Aunt Crista just accused my father of is completely unacceptable.”
“First of all, she’s the family drama llama and doesn’t even deny it,” Lacey said. “Second, how could your dad be responsible for my grandfather’s death? He died in prison of a heart attack. Your father had nothing to do with it.”
Tessa’s throat grew so tight, she couldn’t respond. Forcing herself not to replay the words, she slid a dress from its hanger with trembling fingers.
“Tessa, even I know the family’s history,” Lacey said. “My grandparents and your parents never spoke again after that last summer. There was a hurricane and this house—or what it used to be—got wrecked. No one except Uncle Eli even knew until a month ago that my Grandma Maggie owned it.”
“There was a reason for that falling out,” Tessa said.
“But my grandfather didn’t die until a long time later. They had a fight, is all. People do.” Lacey dropped on the bed and put a hand on the suitcase. “You can’t leave.”
The true ache in her voice touched Tessa, and echoed exactly how she felt. “Well, I sure can’t stay.”
“Aunt Crista’s just trying to get her way, which, nine times out of ten, is Grandma Maggie’s way. She does anything my grandmother tells her—it drives my mom crazy sometimes. And Crista’s always looking for attention. Classic baby of the family, you know?”
Well, she certainly got attention tonight.
“There has to be some foundation for what she said,” Tessa said, gnawing at her lip. “Maybe he testified against Roger and that’s why she thinks he’s responsible.” She thought about that for a moment. “He was a legal ethics professor. He’d be a powerful witness.”
“Would he do that?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “He would only do the right thing—that’s what drove him in life.”Unlike Roger, she thought bitterly, unwilling to say it out loud to Lacey. She couldn’t help the crimes her grandfather had committed.
“Even if he did testify against him, it’s ancient history,” Lacey said.
“Not to Crista.”
“Remember who you’re dealing with.” Lacey looked skyward.
Tessa let out a dry laugh, though it did little to ease the ache in her chest. “Yeah, I can remember more than a few of her meltdowns from when she was little.”
“See? It’s just the way she is, although she has been a lot better since Nolie was born. This was over the top, even for her. Listen, I can’t stand it if you leave, Tessa.” Lacey’s voice cracked. “We’re starting a business. You’re so much fun. You can’t…”
Tessa zipped the suitcase with a sharp tug. “Maybe I’ll stay around town, if she goes back to Atlanta. I’ll find something to rent.” Even as she said the words, she knew she wouldn’t.
This was it. This was her end to Destin. It was time to run. She knew the feeling like she knew her name, like she knew breathing.
When the going gets tough, Tessa gets going…to her father.
Because that’s where she always ran—to the arms and strong shoulders of the one person who truly believed in her.
But he was gone. And she had no one to turn to, really. Although judging by the look of pure love on Lacey’s face, she could turn to her.
“I can’t imagine how much it hurt you to have his name smeared,” Lacey said, proving that look was genuine.
Somehow, this young woman—about half her age—deeply understood Tessa even after only knowing each other for a month. Or she wanted to, and that was touching, too.
“Hurt beyond description,” Tessa said, taking a step toward the bathroom to pack her cosmetics.
“But if you leave, Tess, it’s like you’re saying you agree.”
She froze.Oh.She hadn’t really thought of it that way.
“Right?” Lacey said, hope lifting her voice when Tessa didn’t move. “Stay tonight. Stay in your room, right here. I’ll sleep down here if you want—I’m sure I’m getting booted out of Kate’s room and back in with my mom.”
Tessa smiled. “It did become Kate’s room pretty fast,” she said. “And this…” She looked around the guest room, one of the smaller bedrooms in this monstrous house and devoid of any furniture but a bed, a cheap temporary nightstand she’d bought, and a chair she’d found at Target.
Vivien was going to make this a pink room—Tessa had insisted—when she got around to staging the extra bedrooms. But even without a professional’s touch, this little space felt like home.
