“No. Did you think you had to be perfect for me? To be good and forsake your own feelings for me?”
I shifted uncomfortably. “Well…”
“No.” She shook her head. “Now you’ve made me angry.”
I stood. “Don’t be angry.”
She sighed and pulled me into her arms. “I love you. With no strings. And I will worry, no matter what you do.”
I gave a hiccupping laugh. “I like doing well and I like helping people and following the rules. It wasn’t just?—”
“I know, baby.” She hugged me harder. “I’ve worried that you’d never find a man to love. I’ve always known a part of you was holding back. Losing your mom and dad was so hard. I know losing those you love the most is the hardest thing in the world.” Her voice thickened. I knew she wasn’t just thinking of my parents, but Max too.
She pulled back to look at me. “It’s worth it. I’d never give up the years with Max or the babies he gave me. I’d never give up the time with your mom to avoid the grief.Everyprecious second was worth it.”
God, I was going to bawl. “Emily…”
“How do you feel about Ro?”
“I wasn’t supposed to fall in love,” I whispered.
“Feelings aren’t so easy to control, my smart girl. You can’t plan love, Tessa. Have you told him how you feel?”
I stayed silent.
Emily pulled a face. “Tessa…”
“The rules were we would keep it temporary, casual. No expectations. He’s leaving.”
“He looks at you.”
My heart squeezed painfully. “So I hear.”
“Like he just stumbled out of the darkness. Like he can’t believe you’re real. Like he sees forever.”
No. Ro couldn’t look at me like that. “His parents are not good people, Emily. He grew up without anyone loving him or caring for him. His dad is horrible. His mom is absent.”
“So you need to be the first to tell him how you feel. Give him your love, darling girl.”
“What if he still leaves?”
She hugged me. “Then he’s an idiot. And you’ll still be my strong, amazing Tessa. We’ll all be here for you. But if you don’t tell him, you’ll never know how he truly feels.”
I nodded. “Did I tell you that I love you?”
She smiled.
The radio on my belt squawked. “Tessa, you’re needed in the restaurant.”
“I have to go.”
She ran a hand over my hair. “We’ll talk later.”
I kissed her cheek. “Bye.”
Wasting no time, I wiped my cheeks on my sleeve and hurried to the restaurant. It was empty at this time of the day. As I walked through the tables, I sniffed and frowned.
I smelled…Smoke.
