Tessa knew where it was going, but she just smiled at her sister. “You’re good together,” she said. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks.” Kate leaned in. “Will you please tell me what’s going on? Remember, I’ve known you since we were in utero. You can’t hide a secret from me.”
“Oh.” Tessa breathed the word, wondering if she should start this truth-telling right here and now. A soft whisper to Kate, a quiet sister-to-sister talk, a moment…without real privacy.
“Tessa, please. Talk to me.”
“Okay,” she said, easing away. “But I’m going to tell everyone at once. And then you’ll know that I most certainly can hide a secret from you. And I have, for twenty-five years.”
“Excuse me?”
She stood slowly, the boat swaying underfoot, and cleared her throat. “Okay, everybody. Can I have your attention, please?”
Conversations paused. Heads turned. The laughter quieted at the rare serious note from Tessa Wylie.
Well, folks, it was about to get real serious.
As though they sensed something important was happening, Matt and Emma climbed up the swim ladder and grabbed towels, as quiet as everyone else. While they found seats, Tessa glanced at Roman. He gave her the smallest nod. Lacey squeezed his hand and let go.
“I, uh, have one more story.”
“Another Artie memory?” her mother asked.
Tessa felt a smile lift her lips. “He was involved, yes. But this isn’t about Dad. It’s about…Roman.”
“Roman?” Maggie asked as every head turned toward him.
“Roman knew Artie?” Vivien looked as confused as everyone else.
“Yes, he did,” she said, speaking just loud enough that everyone could hear her. “In fact, Artie was the first man who ever held Roman and was with me…the day I gave birth to him.”
She heard a soft gasp. A whimper. A few whispers of, “What did she say?” And then there was silence, except for the lapping water on the sides of her boat.
“Twenty-five years ago,” Tessa whispered, “I had a baby that I never told any of you about. I gave him up for adoption the day he was born. Only Dad knew and…helped me.”
There was a silence so complete, even the birds overhead seemed to hush.
Roman got up then, and walked to stand next to her, the move demonstrating such solidarity, she nearly melted.
He put a hand on her shoulder and smiled. “Don’t worry, Tessa. No one is going to judge you.”
Her heart shifted as she smiled back at him.
Jo Ellen sucked in a breath, then set down her glass with a shaky hand. “Oh, honey…”
Kate blinked, trying to stand but unable to. “Wait. What? You hada baby? And…it was—is—Roman?”
He gave a slight tip of his head, acknowledging that.
“I did. Remember when I had that job working on a cruise ship out of Port Canaveral?” she asked Kate.
Her sister nodded numbly. Everyone looked utterly gobsmacked but as they all looked from Tessa to Roman and back again, those expressions slowly changed to recognition.
She laughed softly. “I know, right? Once you know, you can’t unsee the resemblance.”
“I can’t believe it,” Kate whispered.
“I’m stunned,” Vivien added.