“Thanks, Dad,” she spoke through her bites, relishing the meal.
“Anytime,” her father replied, popping her shoulder.
Family members and friends poured in gradually, and the barbecue was in full swing by midafternoon. Tessa spotted her daughter on the back porch, and her eyes followed her as she descended the steps and joined her cousins down by the waterfront.
“Hey.”
She looked over her shoulder at Kerry, who gave her a small smile. “Hey,” she replied, turning to her.
Kerry came closer. “I was wondering if Mom and Dad are going to break the news about Mom’s illness,” she spoke softly.
“I don’t know.” Tessa sighed and buried her chin in her chest, casting her eyes downward. “I honestly don’t know,” she repeated, shaking her head.
Her sister released a heavy breath. “I just wish there was a way to help her— to reverse this,” she spoke lowly.
Tessa looked over at her sister, who wore a somber expression. She reached over and ran her hand up and down Kerry’s arm. Her sister lifted her eyes to her. “Everything will be okay. Mom is a fighter,” she encouraged.
Kerry’s lips curved into a small smile. “She is,” she agreed, placing her hand atop Tessa’s.
The day progressed well into the evening, with the family having a good time.
“Can we have everyone’s attention?”
Tessa and Kerry turned to the porch where their cousins Cora, Andrea, and Josephine stood on the bottom step.
“We’re happy you all could make it today,” Cora said. “The Fourth of July has always been a time to come together as a family. Despite our differences, we have persevered to this point and are grateful. We are also highlighting the work of my father, Samuel Hamilton. His work also speaks for itself, and being able to celebrate him has been great. Today, we are unveiling the statue we made of him and would like it placed in the courtyard between the Inn and the gazebo.” The sisters walked toward the covered structure a few feet away. After counting to three, they dragged the sheet off.
Tessa gasped in surprise at the structure before her. It was a beautiful marble sculpture that bore a resemblance to her uncle. There were murmurs of approval as everyone else took in the sculpture.
“Mom.”
Tessa swiveled on her heels. Her daughter stood looking at her with caution.
“Hi, sweetie,” she greeted with a bright smile. Her daughter attempted to smile, but it came up as a grimace.
“Um, I wanted you to know that I’m still going through with the expansion of the bistro.”
“Oh,” Tessa responded in surprise. “How will you finance it?”
“I’ll find a way. I’m gonna go.”
Tessa watched helplessly as her daughter walked away. The first set of fireworks exploded against the night sky. More whizzed into the air before bombarding the sky with a mixture of blue, red, and white light. Tessa released a long breath before walking to the waterfront to watch the rest of the display with her family.
ChapterFifteen
Diane
“Hey, ready to go?” Diane asked her cousin, who’d just let her in the house.
“Does it look like I’m ready?” Nikki asked, her eyes moving down her body before settling on Diane with one slightly raised.
Diane took in her outfit. She had on a blue T-shirt and blue leggings. “What’s wrong with what you have on now?”
“I can’t wear this.”
Diane looked at her cousin like she’d grown another head. “We’re going to a carnival, Nikki. What could you possibly want to wear?”
“Give me a few minutes,” Nikki requested, bolting down the hall toward her room.
