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“Yeah, Dad’s working straight through the lunch rush like usual.”
“Perfect. If you could bring us a list of what he’s cooking up today, that would be great. My guest and I will be having brunch following our coffee. We’ll choose from his specials.”
Even after he gave their order, she didn’t move away from their table. He could tell that it was on the tip of Sally’s tongue to ask about Tessa. Considering how rare it was for outsiders to find their way into Hamlet, especially in such a scandalous way as Tessa had, there was no doubt in his mind that the teen knew exactly who she was. But gossip was currency in such a small village. By bringing Tessa to the coffeehouse, Lucas had just made Sally rich.
He leaned back into the uncomfortable seat. “Thank you, Sally. The coffee, if you could. We’ll go with the house special. The Danish, please.”
She knew a dismissal when she heard one. Already planning on telling her mother everything she had gathered about the doctor and his outsider friend, she scurried back through the Employees Only door into the smaller kitchen.
Lucas watched the teen go, knowing full well what she was going off to do. He turned to Tessa, prepared to warn her that even this table hadn’t managed to hide her. He cocked his head, though, when he saw that she was looking at him strangely.
“What?”
16
“Your name is De Angelis.”
“Yes.”
“And the sheriff… that’s her name, too.”
He knew where she was going with this. To be honest, Lucas was surprised it took her this long to say something about it. It wasn’t like he had ever hidden it. “That’s right.”
“Maria is your only sister, but Caitlin has your name. So you two—”
“We were. A long time ago.” It was important to him that she understood that point. “Stupid kids got married before they realized it would be work. We got divorced years ago but she always says that my name is one more thing she got in the divorce.” He shrugged. “It wasn’t worth the argument. You’ve met Caity, you know what she’s like. If she wanted it, she could keep it.”
The young waitress came back with their coffees. Lucas took his black, watching curiously as Tessa dumped in three creamers and two sugars before stirring it all up with the flat of her knife. She took a sip, added one more sugar, then sipped again.
Satisfied, she remarked, “I don’t know why she would bother.”
“Bother what? In keeping my name? I’ve always like it.”
Tessa grinned. It was about time he finally saw such a light-hearted expression cross her face. Lucas was struck by the simple beauty of it. He knew she was more than seven years younger than him but, at that moment, she seemed soft. Youthful. Innocent. He found himself grinning back.
She flicked the discarded lid from one of her creamers at him. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just…” Her grin lost some of its shine. “It feels so weird to think of myself as Tessa Sullivan now that Jack’s gone.”
“Were you married long?” Lucas tested his coffee. Finding it too hot, he set it to the side.
“Just a year. Actually, this was supposed to be a second honeymoon thing and—I’m sorry. Talking about him seems to help, but then I… I don’t know. Just. Sorry. You probably don't want to hear about him after what happened and… yeah.”
“Don’t apologize.”
Her brow furrowed. “Did I?”
“You did. And it wasn't the first time. Seems like that’s all you do, saying the word sorry over and over again.”
Tessa took another sip. If it was a nervous tactic to stall the conversation, it didn’t work. Lucas watched her closely, waiting for her answer. He didn’t say anything. The silence eventually forced her to continue.
“It’s still really hard for me to get it, to get that he’s gone. I mean, I know I signed that form for the cremation. I didn’t want any ceremony and maybe that was a mistake. Without seeing it, there wasn’t any closure for me. Then again, I think I saw enough in that hotel room, right? I don’t know. I guess it didn’t hit me that he was… that he was actually murdered until I got that note last night.
“I was so stupid, too. I mean, what was I thinking? Running out into the night like that, nearly getting myself killed, all because somebody thought it would be funny to mess with the… what do you guys call it?”
His lip curled. The smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Outsider.”
“Right. I’m an outsider who brought death to Hamlet, whether I meant to or not. Of course they would want me gone. The note, while crude, almost did the job.” Her laugh was forced. “I don’t think I’ve ever ran so fast in my life, and all because someone tried to turn my own husband’s murder against me.”
Lucas had come to the same conclusions himself. Nobody ever locked their doors in Hamlet which was what had gotten his sister into so much trouble last year. That was why he insisted so strongly on the dual system on the rooms in Ophelia. The front door might be open. The rest of them wouldn’t be.
