“Out of all my nieces, you’re my favorite. But don't tell anyone,” Kerry spoke in a hushed tone.
“You do realize everyone knows that already, right?” Diane snickered.
Kerry's green eyes sparkled. “Even if they do, I'll take it to my grave and say I love my nieces the same.” She innocently smiled.
Diane shook her head as she chuckled. “I'm sure they believe you.”
Kerry chuckled as well.
The two continued their banter as they worked.
Unbeknownst to them was Tessa standing on the other side of the glass, watching them with a look of disappointment on her face. After a few minutes, she walked away.
ChapterFourteen
Tessa
Tessa drove through the expansive wall of immaculately maintained boxwood and fire-and-ice daylily hedge in the shape of a semicircle on either side of the driveway, forming an intricate web of pathways to the other sites on the property. She took her time to admire the restaurant and Inn as she drove past them. The Inn was a fully restored three-story old-world colonial house updated with some contemporary touches. Previously narrow windows had been replaced with ones that were wider and slid open. Balconies surrounded the upper floors, allowing visitors to sit out on the deck and take in the picturesque views that persisted throughout the entire property, specifically that of the harbor from the higher floors. Colorful and fragrant flowers bordered the path leading up to the entryway.
She arrived at the sprawling two-story Hamilton family home that completed the legacy property in less than two minutes. Now that their parents were gone, it belonged to her cousins. Their deaths were as recent as Don's, particularly Becky's, who died only a few months ago. She let out a sigh. Their family had been through a lot, and it didn't seem to be getting any better. The discovery that her mother had early-onset dementia was causing havoc in her mind. She couldn't bear the thought of losing another loved one. It would shatter her. She was sure of it.
Setting her face into a smile, she exited the car and reached for the casserole on the passenger seat. She made her way up the three steps that led to the porch and entered the already-opened door.
“Happy Fourth of July,” she greeted her cousins with a grin as she entered the kitchen.
“Hey, Tessa,” they greeted back with smiles.
“It smells great in here,” she complimented as she drank in the aroma of cinnamon, vanilla, and a number of other scents that sweetened the air.
“Wait till you get outside. Uncle Luke already has the grill fired up and ribs barbecuing.
“Mm-hmm, we’re definitely off to a good start then.” She licked her lips and rubbed her palms together. The others laughed at her actions.
“Is Diane here yet?” she asked, her voice rising with hope.
“Um, I don’t think so,” Andrea spoke up.
She turned at the sound of a baby crying, the sound getting closer to the kitchen. Jules walked in shortly with a distressed look as the baby she held in her hand continued to wail, her chubby cheeks stained with tears the color of ripened tomatoes.
“Mom. She’s been crying for the last half hour, and I don’t know what to do.” Jules’s voice cracked with panic as she stared wide-eyed at her mother.
Cora flew around the counter with her arms outstretched. “Give her to me,” she instructed. Jules passed over an upset Becca to her grandmother. “Shh. Shh…” Cora gently rocked the baby back and forth as she cooed at her. The baby’s cries died down, but she continued to sniffle as she stared at her.
“Has she eaten anything?” Cora asked her daughter, who was leaning against the wall and looking like she was physically ill.
“Um…” Jules shook her head as her eyes fluttered open and shut. She finally looked at her mother as she spoke again. “She had a bottle this morning and one just before we arrived.”
Cora nodded. “Did she drink it all?”
“She did.” Jules nodded back.
“It might just be a case of an upset tummy,” Cora informed her, rubbing the tummy of a calmer Becca. “Get me a bottle of water.”
Jules left then, and she was back with a bottle of water in less than a minute. Cora took it and inserted the nipple into her small mouth. Becca began to draw on it but made a face and attempted to dislodge it. Cora started rocking her once more and encouraged her to drink.
Tessa’s lips turned up in a smile as she watched. Her mind transported her to when Diane had an upset stomach as a baby and how stressful it had been trying to determine the problem. It had been hard as a new mother, and a bit of trial and error and a lot of help from her mother before she finally got it. As her mind ran on Maria, the smile dissolved.
“Are you okay?” Andrea asked, her brows furrowed in concern.
