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She was just grateful the little girl was safe.
There would be time to talk and try to figure out where they all went from here, but for now Tess was home, where she belonged, and that was all that mattered. She’d give father and daughter the time and space to talk and solve this issue before they discussed anything else. She just hoped that Oliver would give her a chance to explain everything, to clarify so much...
When Oliver glanced her way and their gazes met, there was a look of hope reflected in his eyes that made her heart feel a little less heavy as she waved, then turned and headed back toward Main Street.
AHOTSHOWERand fresh clothes later, Tess sat at the table, devouring a sandwich and a glass of milk, which she was sharing with the kitten, and Oliver struggled with the patience to wait until she’d finished her lunch to get to the bottom of what had happened.
Finally, she wiped her mouth and reached for a chocolate chip cookie.
Oliver moved the bag of cookies out of reach. “Start talking.”
“You said you weren’t mad,” she reminded him, having seen his text messages now that her cell phone was recharged.
He took a deep breath. He wasn’t mad. He was relieved and grateful...but he needed to understand why Tess had lied and why she’d thought her actions were okay. He sat across from her and handed her a cookie. “I’m not mad,” he said calmly, shoving a cookie into his own mouth. He chewed quickly and swallowed hard. “Why did you go out alone without telling me? Why did you lie about staying at Darcy’s?”
Tess stared at the cookie in her hand.
Something was definitely bothering her. Something serious had made her act this way.
Oliver’s stomach tightened. Was it the new relationship with Carly? Tess had said she was happy about it, but maybe it was too much too soon. Knowing they were dating was one thing, but seeing him kiss another woman, hold another woman’s hand, was quite another, despite how much Tess adored Carly. That had to be it; there had been nothing else that could have triggered this in recent weeks. He cleared his throat when her silence was prolonged. “Tess, are you sure you’re okay with me dating Carly?” Not that he even knew where they stood anymore after their argument. That day, standing together on the docks, waiting—it had brought back a lot of old memories, and having her support once again had meant a lot. He realized he’d been focused on all the wrong things, but was it too late? And if his daughter was struggling with the relationship, that would also need to be considered as they all moved forward.
But Tess’s head shot up and she nodded quickly. “Yes, of course. I love Carly and I’m happy that you’re happier now,” she said, her voice soft.
“But maybe it’s too soon?” Was he looking for his daughter to confirm it to help solidify his own conflicting thoughts? A week before, he’d been all in. He’d been 100 percent certain that Carly was what he wanted for his future. For their future.
But then, standing on the docks, every ounce of hurt and pain and sadness that he’d moved past as best he could had come spiraling back. The haunting memories, then memories of the love he’d lost, the family he’d lost... It made his heart ache. As though the wound had reopened. The seal had been ripped off and now he was left even more vulnerable and conflicted.
But Tess shook her head. “It’s not too soon. It’s been a long time and Mom and Catherine would want us to be happy, to start a new life. I know they’d be happy to know it was with Carly.”
Okay, so this wasn’t about him and Carly. That should make him feel better, but it didn’t. Both because now the whole Carly thing was on him—his decision alone—and also because something else was upsetting Tess. Enough to have her lying to him and sneaking off dangerously.
He took a deep breath. “Okay, well, if that’s not it, what is it? Something going on with your friends?”
He’d been hoping to have a few more years before teenage hormones and issues with peers started to play a major role in his daughter’s moods and actions.
Again, she shook her head no.
Oliver repressed a deep sigh. “Tess, sweetheart, you’re going to have to work with me here. What’s going on?”
She looked up at him and the tears brimming her eyes made his chest tighten even more. His little girl never cried. Hadn’t in so long. She was so tough and brave. Seeing her upset twice that day, to the point of tears, had his mind reeling even more.
If anyone had done anything to hurt his little girl...
“I heard you talking to Sebastian,” she said, the words sounding strained over a sob. “About us having to move, about turning the lighthouse into a B and B, and I was upset. I decided to move out to the island so I wouldn’t have to leave Port Serenity.”
His stomach dropped. He should have suspected she’d have eavesdropped on that conversation. He stood and moved to sit on a closer chair. He turned hers to face him and sighed.
Tears ran down her cheeks and he struggled with the right words. He wasn’t entirely sure what was going to happen with the lighthouse, with their home. He wasn’t sure if the decision was even up to him. The community could vote for the B and B idea and they’d be forced to move. He wasn’t even sure if he was still completely opposed to the idea himself. In recent months, he had been considering whether it was time to move on, let go... Being with Carly had also played a factor in that. If they did move forward together in a relationship, what would that look like? What would that entail? There was no rush to move in together or anything, but eventually, that was where things would be headed. At least, that was what he would want.
The apartment above the bookstore and museum wouldn’t be big enough for the three of them, and he wasn’t sure living in the lighthouse with her, starting over, rebuilding a new life, new future, was the right move. There were already far too many family memories in this home. Reminders of Catherine and Alison everywhere, and while he knew Carly would never voice it, it would have to be difficult for her to simply move into the life he and Tess had created, one that still held all traces of the past. Of Oliver’s first love.
But it wouldn’t be fair to Tess to remove those memories. This was her home...
He had no idea what the right thing to do was. Which was something else giving him pause and making him wonder if he was truly as ready as he thought he was.
“Is it true?” Tess asked in his prolonged silence. The apprehension on her young face broke him. She’d already been through so much more than any child should have to deal with. He hated that this was hurting her.
“I’m not sure. Sebastian does want to present that option to the town at the next community meeting. He thinks it will help tourism and, apparently, he had success with converting another lighthouse in California...”
