The rest just stared in silence and she knew what they were thinking. How? Who? Taking a deep breath, she dove into the tough stuff.
“I met someone,” she said. “A guy who was a passenger on the ship on a weekend booze cruise with his buddies. We…you know. We didn’t exchange last names. Or phone numbers. I didn’t even know where he lived. It was dumb and careless and…I figured it ended when the shipped docked. It didn’t. Well, the guy disappeared fast enough but”—she leaned her head on Roman’s shoulder—“the results of that night are with us today.”
A reaction rippled over the whole boat, a few saying his name and muttering their surprise, but it was Kate who leaned forward.
“You could have told me,” she said, sounding understandably sad. “Anytime, you could have.”
“I know,” she said, taking her sister’s hand. “I should have told you when it happened. But you were already getting another advanced degree and I was…messing around on cruise ships.” She gave a dry laugh. “Hasn’t that always been the way of it?”
“No,” Kate said, standing up. “We are sisters andthathas always been the way of it.”
“I’m sorry, Kate,” she said, and meant it. Then she turned to her mother. “I’m sorry to you, too. I panicked. I didn’t know what to do. I was living in Florida, you all were in New York, and didn’t have a clue. As I got further along, I called Dad. He quietly and kindly arranged for an adoption…and Roman got a wonderful family.”
“So, you’ve been here all this time…” Vivien shook her head, staring at Roman like she was just seeing him for the first time. “And we didn’t know? How did you…and how did he…”
“And how did we not see it?” Maggie interjected. “Now that I look at him, all I can see is Artie.”
“I saw it,” Seamus said with a gravelly laugh. “Stepped in it real bad, too.”
“You didn’t know who he was?” Kate asked.
Roman stepped forward. “My turn?” he asked Tessa.
“Yes, please.” She laughed, grateful for the reprieve and the help.
He kept his hand on her back in the most tender of gestures as he cleared his throat. “First of all, please forgive me for the deceit. I got a message from Lacey?—”
“You told Lacey and not me?” Tessa heard the hurt in Kate’s voice.
“Iguessed,” Lacey said. “I could tell Tessa had something in her past and I honestly just guessed. I found Roman. And we…”
“Wait a second,” Vivien said, turning to Lacey with her voice taut. “You knew this? Are you two…an act?”
“No,” Roman said to Vivien. “Please, everyone, listen. We are not an act. Lacey found me all on her own and I wanted a way to meet Tessa without upsetting anyone’s life. Coming as someone she was dating was all my idea, but…” He smiled at Lacey. “It got real, real fast,” Roman finished, holding up a hand like a Boy Scout. “I swear.”
Lacey just gave a self-conscious laugh while everyone on the boat tried to process what it all meant.
No surprise, Eli took the lead, clearing his throat and standing. “Well, I, for one, think this is a miracle, and I don’t say that lightly. Tessa, he’s right. No one is judging you. You made a selfless and brave decision.”
“Thank you,” she muttered.
“And, Roman?” Eli extended his hand, and they shook. “You are more than welcome into our lives, our homes, our hearts, and this mish-mash of a family, young man. Let me be the first to thank you for being such a gentleman with my niece and an excellent addition to our lives.”
All Tessa could do was try to swallow the lump in her throat. What a class act Eli Lawson was. Kate could certainly do no better if she wanted a solid partner in her life.
As if her sister realized the same thing, she stood and reached for Roman. “I’m sorry for making this about me. It’s not. And I’ve always wanted to be an aunt. Welcome.”
Smiling, he hugged her as all the reactions spilled out—joy, forgiveness, surprise, and inclusion. But no one looked more excited than Matt.
“Wait a second,” he exclaimed. “Does that mean I have a cousin in the NFL? Are you kidding me?”
Most of them laughed at that, but Roman just smiled. “You live in Ithaca? Bills fan?” At Matt’s enthusiastic nod, Roman gave him a thumb’s up. “Free tickets when we play Buffalo, cuz.”
“Like I said, it was no surprise to me,” Seamus chimed in. “I took one gander at the boy and I just assumed he was Tessa’s son.”
Herson. Would she ever get used to that?
“And if he hadn’t,” Vivien said, her attention still on Lacey and Roman, “were you going to keep this a secret forever?”
