by Mj Fields
���No Mom, no I���m not,��� she cried.
Maggie held her, ���Are you second guessing things?���
���No, I love Collin I���m going to Marry him. I just need Lucas to be okay,��� she cried.
* * *
Tessa woke to her phone.
���Hello,��� she whispered.
���Well, hello beautiful,��� Collin’s voice made her smile.
���Collin,��� she whispered.
He laughed, ���So I���m here. What plans have you made today?���
���Oh well, Lucas stopped here. He���s having a difficult time with me getting married,��� she laughed.
���Is he,��� Collin was short.
���Collin, he knows I love you. It���s just going to take some time for him to get through this,��� Tessa explained.
���Not your responsibility, Tessa. Unless you want it to be and if you do������ he stopped.
���Collin I. Love. You,��� she said sadly.
���So you say���.��� He snapped.
���Collin, please don���t do this,��� her voice broke.
���I didn���t,��� he said sharply.
���Neither did I!��� she snapped.
���Why was he there?���
���He just showed up, he was actually here when you called. I walked in the other room and talked with you and forgot he was sitting in the kitchen,��� she giggled, ���He heard our conversation, which hurt him. But I told him������
���Why didn���t you tell me he was there Tessa, when I called, why didn���t you tell me?��� he asked in a clipped tone.
���I was happy to hear your voice, happy to talk to you. Collin you can trust me,��� she said sadly.
���We���ll see, I have to go,��� he hung up.
Tessa tried to call him back, and he didn���t answer.
The next day she tried again three times before he finally answered.
���Hello,��� he said.
���Should I still be planning a wedding or is this it, Collin?��� Tessa snapped.
���Excuse me?��� he asked shocked.
���Forget it, have a great life Collin,��� Tessa hung up.
Her phone rang.
���Tessa, this is not a great time to have this chat. You told me I could trust you. I do, it���s him I don���t trust. The church is set. I���ve ordered flowers. I���m going to arrange a caterer. Our reception will be at the church. Invite who you wish. Money has been transferred into your checking account. I also ordered your dress, shoes, and undergarments!��� he snapped.
���Collin������ Tessa began.
���Do you still want this?��� Collin asked in a harsh tone.
���Forever,��� Tessa cried.
���Excuse me, please,��� Collin said and Tessa heard a door shut.
���Don���t cry. Tessa don���t cry. I am beyond pissed at the audacity of that��� You need to tell me if he so much as breathes in your direction!���
���I��� I������ Tessa was sobbing.
���I love you,��� he whispered softly.
���You have to������ Tessa began.
���I trust you Tessa,��� he sighed.
She sat breathing trying to calm herself down and he waited.
���Okay, I���m sorry if I hurt you,��� Tessa said and cleared her throat.
���Tessa, it���s just jealousy. I want to be there with you. I asked you to marry me and left. That���s inexcusable. So let���s throw in some guilt as well. This emotional shit is for the birds,��� he said exasperatedly.
���Tell me about it.���
���I Love you,��� he said sternly.
���I love you,��� Tessa spoke softly.
���I have to get this wrapped up so I can get back to you. I���ll call you soon alright?��� he asked.
���Please,��� she said.
���Goodbye Tessa,��� he sighed.
���See you soon.���
CHAPTER ELEVEN
It had been a busy week for Tessa and Collin. Lucas had left her alone, after several failed attempts to get her to message him back.
���Hello beautiful,��� Collin said with a smile.
���Collin it���s Thursday,��� Tessa giggled as she held the phone tightly to her ear.
���It is, and tomorrow��� it seems like I should remember something I have to do, hmm. I can���t seem to remember. Tessa could you tell me, do you remember what I will be doing tomorrow?��� he teased.
���Me,��� she laughed.
���You? What will I be doing with you?��� he asked softly.
���I have a few things in mind,��� she whispered.
���I want to hear all about them,��� he said softly.
���Well, I would prefer to show you, and my family will be here any minute so you���ll just have to wait,��� she giggled.
���I can���t wait for you to ��� show me. I have a few things I want to show you as well,��� he chuckled.
���I Love you. Fly safe, see you tomorrow,��� Tessa said and hung up.
���If not sooner,��� he laughed when he realized she hung up.
* * *
Tessa walked outside and to the water and kicked her shoes off. She watched Leia splash in the cold ocean water and smiled.
���Tessa Ross,��� she heard from behind her.
She turned and saw Lucas walking towards her. Leia growled.
���Lucas what are you doing here?���
���We need to talk,��� he jogged towards her, ���Well hello, Dog.���
���Lucas no we don���t,��� she said sadly.
Lucas looked at her and took a deep breath and turned towards the water as Leia splashed around.
���It���s beautiful here,��� he stood next to her and crossed his arms across his chest.
���It is. Lucas��� you shouldn���t have come here,��� Tessa said looking at him deeply concerned.
���I needed to tell you a few things, and I heard he was not around until tomorrow. If what I tell you don���t change your mind I���ll let you be Tessa,��� he smiled softly at her.
Leia shook off and soaked them both.
Tessa laughed and so did Lucas.
���Do you have any dry clothes?��� Tessa laughed as they walked into Ann���s house.
���No, wow, this is amazing. Not what I expected. No plastic covering furniture huh?��� he smiled.
���Not anymore,��� Tessa laughed as she ran up the stairs to grab him a sweatshirt. He followed.
���All I have is this one,��� she rolled her eyes.
He took off his shirt and smiled at her, ���It looks familiar.���
She looked away from him quickly, ���I guess I forgot to give that one back.���
���Or you just wanted to hold onto it for old time sake. I get it,��� he laughed.
She turned around, and he still stood shirtless.
���You like what you see Tessa?���
���You���ve always been a lot of fun to look at Lucas. Put that shirt on boy,��� she handed him a pair of sweats and walked out the door.
���Did you forget to give these back too?��� he laughed as she walked down the stairs.
���Would you like some?��� she asked over her shoulder.
���I would love some,��� his smirked and looked her up and down.
���Are you high?��� she asked as she handed him the tea.
���Maybe, why did you want some of that��� too?��� he laughed and drank his tea.
���No, I���m good thanks,��� she laughed, ���You shouldn���t drive like that, Lucas.���
���Okay Mom, I won���t do it again,��� he nodded, ���Do you know everything reminds me of you Tessa, everything.���
���Lucas we������ she began.
���No, let me talk, please. I hate that I did this to us, more than you���ll ever even begin to imagine. We were so good together baby, so perfect. I know I messed it all up. So much happened,��� his voice broke and tears began to fall.
Tessa held his hand, and tears fell from her eyes as well, ���We���re both going to be fine.���
���Tessa what we lived through that first year together, it still hurts so bad������ he began.
���I know Lucas��� it was hell. I hated seeing you hurt. I still do,��� Tessa hugged him, and Leia barked alerting her to company.
���My family is coming,��� she wiped his eyes and then hers.
���Please give me a few minutes, leave them a note��� I really need to talk to you and I don���t want them pissed that I���m here,��� he pleaded.
���Okay Lucas,��� they walked out the back door and ran down the beach.
They walked to the lighthouse and stood on the rocks.
���I looked into your��� Collin Abraham. I feel like you���re not thinking clearly with him Tessa. He has a very dark past baby, and you can���t marry him,��� Lucas looked at her.
���I know everything about Collin������ Tessa began.
���You can���t possibly Tessa. You���re not stupid,��� he grabbed her hand, and she pulled it back.
���God Damn it Tessa Ross,��� Lucas snapped, ���I won���t let him fuck you up!���
Tessa stepped back away from him and saw someone running towards them. It was Collin.
���I know everything I need to,��� she smiled, and he followed her eyes to see what she was smiling at.
���Bullshit,��� Lucas grabbed for her hand, ���Tessa you���re going with me!���
���No, I���m not!��� she stepped back.
Tessa began to slip, and Lucas grabbed for her and watched in horror as she fell to the rocks below.
���TESSA!��� he screamed as he made his way to her.
Lucas slipped and hit his head and scrambled to grab Tessa, ���Wake up baby!���
���Get your fucking hands off of her,��� Collin said grabbing him and Tomas pulled Lucas away.
���No, I don���t think so you piece of shit,��� Lucas screamed as blood poured from the wound on the back of his head.
Tomas had Lucas���s arms behind his back cuffed before dragging him to the house
���Tessa wake up, come on Tessa open those beautiful blue eyes for me,��� Collin whispered in her ear as he checked for her pulse.
He picked her up and ran down the beach towards the house.
���Tomas! Call an ambulance!��� he screamed.
Tessa���s families were all watching from the deck. When they saw Collin carrying Tessa, Maggie started running towards them.
He lay her on the couch, ���Come on Miss Ross we have a big day tomorrow wake up beautiful.���
John watched as Tomas put Lucas in a car, ���What happened?���
Collin didn���t respond, ���Tessa I love you wake up, please!���
* * *
Collin sat in the emergency room holding and caressing her hand.
���Any word?��� Maggie asked as she handed him a cup of tea.
���Not yet,��� he kissed her hand gently.
���Why don���t you take a walk? You���ve been sitting here for three hours Collin. I can stay,��� Maggie said rubbing his back.
���No, thank you,��� Collin kissed Tessa���s hand.
The doctor came in and checked her chart, ���She should wake up soon, Dr. Abraham.���
���I know.���
Maggie walked out and gave the family the update.
The police brought Lucas from the exam room in handcuffs and walked him towards the door.
���Is she okay?��� he yelled.
Ryan looked at John who said nothing. He stood up and followed Lucas out the door.
���She���s going to be, you need to let this go Lucas. Please man. That girl loved you forever and it didn���t work. Now look at you. Lucas get it together, for yourself, your God children for me man. I���ll call your father,��� Ryan hugged Lucas quickly and walked away.
* * *
���Her eyes are fluttering,��� she heard Collins voice, ���Maggie she���s waking up. Come on Tessa Ross open those beautiful eyes, please!���
Tessa wanted to open her eyes, she wanted to see him, to explain about Lucas. She couldn���t lose him��� he was probably hurt, and she didn���t want to ever hurt him. She fell back into the rocks.
���Stop giving her those pain meds. Just let it go half an hour. She almost woke up before and then you put that shit in her IV! Tessa has a low tolerance you should have seen her the first day I met her��� well met her again. Just trust me please,��� Tessa wanted to laugh when she heard him talking.
���Hey, are you smiling at me beautiful? Open your eyes please Tessa. I haven���t been able to see them in four days. I���m back now Tessa and you���re making me wait even longer,��� she felt him kiss her lightly, and he laughed. ���You seem to like to make me wait,��� he whispered in her ear.
���No, damn it ten more minutes, does she look like she is in fucking pain!��� he snapped.
Tessa heard another voice.
���I don���t give a fuck what the orders say, I���m a doctor, and I say if she is in pain she���ll tell you,��� Tessa squeezed his hand. ���Hey, now you���re playing with me Tessa ��� open your eyes before this��� nurse��� shoots you full of drugs again. Watch her eyes she is fighting to wake up, are you watching!���
Tessa heard an irritated voice, ���You are not her husband yet Dr. Abraham, we could ask you to leave this is a courtesy.���
���You can ask, but it won���t happen,��� he sneered.
Tessa tried to clear her throat, and she squeezed his hand harder.
���Please just once Tessa before I end up in jail? I love you please Tessa,��� he pleaded.
Tessa blinked and whispered, ���I��� love��� You���
���You love me? Prove it, open your eyes Tessa now damn it,��� he insisted.
Tessa opened her eyes and rolled them, ���Water.���
���Get her some water!��� he snapped.
Tessa closed her eyes and felt the straw between her lips she drank and coughed a little.
Collin sat her up and climbed behind her in the bed.
���Dr. Abraham!��� the nurse scolded.
���WHAT!��� he snapped.
Tessa let out a breath, ���Please excuse him. Sometimes he can be difficult.���
���Sometimes?��� the nurse laughed, ���Welcome back Miss Ross. And by t
he way that one is known for being an ass to nurses.���
���Really do tell,��� Tessa giggled as she felt his lips on the back of her neck.
���Well, he thinks he knows everything, and even if he does he should not be so damn self- righteous,��� she laughed and put the blood pressure cuff on Tessa.
���Does he hit on them?���
���Are you kidding? He hates nurses,��� she laughed.
Tessa smiled, ���That���s going to cause problems than for us Dr. Abraham.���
Collin continued kissing her neck, ���Tessa is a nurse.���
They all laughed, ���Well good luck with that honey, the doctor will be in shortly.���
Tessa turned and looked at him, ���You were not nice to her.���
���SHE did not listen,��� he kissed her and ran his nose down her cheek.
���I love you,��� Tessa ran her hand through the side of his hair; ���You came home early.���
���I wanted to surprise you. I couldn���t spend another night without you. God I don���t know what I would have done if he������ he shook slightly.
���He didn���t hurt me Collin.���
���Tessa we���re not going to discuss him right now. You���re alive, and I thank God for that,��� Collin kissed her again.
Tessa relaxed into his embrace and held his arms tightly around her.
���You���ve got to get me out of here. I have a hot date tomorrow,��� Tessa smiled and closed her eyes.
Her entire family walked in the door. Collin read the report from his perch behind her.
They released Tessa against doctor���s medical advice and went back to the beach house.
* * *
���Hey, I���m staying at Ann���s house Mr. Abraham,��� Tessa laughed as he carried her towards his house.
���No, you���re not,��� he rolled his eyes.
���It���s the night before my wedding Collin,��� she whispered shyly, ���I would prefer to stay out of my marital bed on the night before my fairytale starts.���