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Tess took a few deep breaths, wiping the tears away before Mathias could see them. She could cry when she was alone, not in front of people. Once she got home, she could call Ilya, maybe on the way.
“Are you scared?” Math teased as he approached her.
“Nothing scares me,” Tess said, trying to sound normal, trying not to think about how scared she was of losing her dad.
“What’s wrong? Have you been crying?” He pulled her into his arms and hugged her once he reached her.
“No, I have not,” she argued, resting her head on his shoulder. She needed to be held, and he calmed her just by holding her.
“If you need to keepnotcrying, go ahead.” He tightened his hold on her and rocked her gently for a long time.
Finally, she was able to get her emotions under control and stuffed her memories back in her past where they belonged. Pushing away from him, she said, “I am fine now. Thank you.”
Math released her from the hug but held on to her hand. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, just a bad day at work,” she whispered her lie.
“I really don’t think so. Tess Thorn doesn’t let things at the bank make her sad. Is it your family?” His blue eyes pierced hers. How had he figured it out so quickly?
“I do not want to talk about it,” she whispered again.
“Okay, I’ll let it go. For now.” He kissed her cheek.
“Thank you.” She tried to compose herself again. It was all too much. She should have stayed home today.
“Let’s walk to the house. I’ll have Cora drive your baby up,” he said, pulling her away from her car.
“She is only fifteen! She cannot drive yet,” Tess argued as she followed him reluctantly. But he was still holding her hand, so she went.
“She can drive it down the driveway. If she crashes it, I’ll buy you a new one.” He squeezed her hand. “She’s mad that I invited my girlfriend, as she calls you, to have a meal with us.”
“I am sorry I am causing tension between you and your daughter.” She looked out at the field along the driveway. It was still black with nothing growing yet.
“You are not causing anything. She’s always mad at me for something.”
“You love your children a lot,” she replied, knowing he would love their baby just as much as the three he already had. She then realized she couldn’t deprive him of a child to love.
“Everybody loves their children, but I do enjoy mine a lot. I wouldn’t trade any of them for anything.” He was walking slowly, letting her get her emotions together.
“I know.” The big farmhouse was just across the yard from them. Mathias’s house, home. Is this what her daughters future would be like? Dropping her baby off here to visit her father? Would she get a bedroom here? Tess knew she would; she would get everything she ever wanted here. Her baby’s life would never mirror her own. Her baby would have clothes, toys, and food. Her baby would never know what it feels like to not have anything. It would all be right here.
“If you don’t want to meet them today, you don’t have to.” He must have felt her tense up.
“No, my thoughts are too much today. I need a distraction,” she admitted as she noticed a teenager on the porch, watching them. The girl who looked so much like her father was pretending to be on her phone as she leaned against the porch railing until they got closer.
“Did your girlfriend finally show up?” the teenager yelled at her dad as they approached the house.
Once they were close enough for normal conversation, Math replied, “Mila, this is Tess Thorn. Tess, my daughter, Mila.”
Tess looked from father to daughter again. Without a doubt, this was his daughter. The teenager looked just like Mandy, only younger. What puzzled Tess was that Mathias hadn’t corrected Mila. But what was he to her?
“Hello, Mila. Your dad says good things about you. He is very proud of you,” she said to the teenager, who barely looked up from her phone.
“He hasn’t said much about you,” Cora stated flatly.
“Mila,” Math warned.
“He probably does not. I do not talk much about him either,” Tess said because it was true. So far, she hadn’t told many people about him. And by many, she meant nobody but Tasha.
