Tessa exhaled and looked out at the water, her heart lifting at this news. “Huh.” She stood at the helm, the first smile in hourspulling at her mouth. “Well, that’s some good that came out of it.”
“A lot of good came out of it,” he said. “We just went about it all wrong.”
Finally, she sighed, wanting to put the anger behind her. And there was one more conversation she had to have. Well, there were several, but she’d start with Lacey.
“C’mon, Romeo.” She reached for the ignition. “Get in your little boat and lead me back to dry land. I want to talk to your girlfriend.”
“You’re not mad?” he asked. “You don’t hate me?”
She looked at him and let out a little moan, finally throwing her arms around his broad shoulders and hugging her son for the first time in twenty-five years.
“Hate? I’ve loved you since before you were born,” she muttered. “And I guess nothing will ever change that.”
He squeezed her and those mighty shoulders shuddered with a sob it felt like he’d been holding in for a long, long time.
The trip back was faster and easier, with no tears. The sea breeze and salt air cleared her head as she watched Roman—her son!—lead the way in the other boat. They slowed down at the marina and he turned to return his boat.
She puttered to the dock, where Lacey sat at the end, a fishing rod in her hand.
Seamus’s cure for a broken heart, she imagined.
Lacey stood as Tessa eased into the slip, bending over to tie up the bow line without being asked. Then she gingerly climbed onto the deck, her gaze on Tessa.
“Can we talk?” Lacey asked softly.
Tessa took her sunglasses off and rounded the helm. “I know you’re sorry.”
“You don’t knowhowsorry,” Lacey said, reaching for her. “Because there are no words to tell you.”
Tessa pulled her in for a hug. “It was wrong,” she whispered.
“I know, I know.” Lacey squeezed so hard that Tessa had no choice but to put her arms around her, wincing when she felt just how badly the poor thing was trembling.
“I’m not worth you being this upset, Lace.”
Lacey gasped, drawing back. “What? Are you kidding? You’re…you’re everything, Tessa! I never knew anyone like you and I respect you and I love you. And I hurt you and…and…” She swiped at the tears flowing. “I am so, so sorry.”
“C’mere.” Tessa pulled her to the leather bench and eased them both down, side by side. “Of course I forgive you. I forgive Roman, too.”
“Oh, Tessa, thank you.” She collapsed, letting her head fall onto Tessa’s lap, her hair covering her tear-stained face. “I just hate that this happened and my part in it. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Uh, can I guess you were being persuaded to be the girlfriend of a super-hot guy who also happens to be kind, smart, and on an NFL roster?”
Under her hands, Lacey’s shoulders moved in a soft laugh. “Yeah,” she blubbered. “I might have gotten…a little swept away in the moment.”
Tessa smiled and stroked Lacey’s sun warmed skin. “Blame me.”
“You?” She popped up. “You didn’t do anything.”
“Only made a perfect specimen of mankind for you to fall in love with.”
“Oh, Tessa.” She managed a laugh. “We’re a long way fromlove.”
Tessa smoothed Lacey’s messy hair, and wiped the tears on her cheek. “I don’t know about that,” she said. “But I do know this…”
Lacey waited, holding her gaze.
“My father would say anything motivated by love is never bad, but it can be messy.”
