She stood to join him many feet away from the ledge.
“Simon, we should do it now, before it gets too dark.”
He took a deep breath and grabbed her hand. She grimaced from the pain of his fingers crushing hers.
“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” she said gently, her hand numb from the strength of his grip.
“No, let’s go,” he said, inching his feet up toward the end of the platform.
She nodded her head and moved forward with him.
“Wait! Tessa!” he wailed. “What if I die now? What if—”
“Do you have to be so morbid?” she shouted. The wind was getting stronger and stronger. All she could hear was its howling.
“Oh my god, I think I’m going to be sick!” Simon looked as if in prayer.
Tessa wasted no time in distracting him. “Let’s just do it! Let’s go!” With all her might, she raced toward the edge of the cliff, huffing and puffing, pulling him along with her. He was right. What if this was their only chance?
She loved him.
She loved him with all her heart.
“Let’s do it! Jump, Simon! Jump! Close your eyes, and jump. I love you! I love you, Simon!”
And together they leaped into the air and soared with the wind.
The timer went off just as Simon was placing the finishing touches on the strip of crown molding above the entryway. The smell of fresh paint infused the foyer, while the aroma of roasted meat filled the rest of his apartment. Simon neatly laid the brush on a thick pad of newspaper, washed his hands and slid the heat pads over his fingers. Time to get the food out of the oven. His family was due in any minute.
“We’re here,” Ashleigh’s voice rang merrily through the intercom. Simon pressed the button to let them in. He heard the pitter patter of tiny footsteps, as slower, heavier ones followed right behind.
“What’s that smell?” his mum asked as he opened the door and swooped Henry into his arms.
“I just repainted the door,” he answered, leaning over to kiss her on each cheek. “Do you like it?”
“Changed the color, huh? Yes, I like it,” she said, kissing him back. “I need to get Adrian and your father to do that for our kitchen.”
Adrian walked past them and began setting up Henry’s pack and play in the living room. “You’ve really fixed up this place. I was just here a…” He paused when he realized Simon was up to something. “Three weeks ago.” His voice trailed off. “Why the rush for all these changes? You’re not planning on selling, are you mate?”
Simon cocked his head to the side and grinned.
“There was no parking!” his dad announced his presence as he hurriedly shuffled in through the front door.
“Hi, Dad,” Simon greeted him with an embrace. “So glad you and Mum are here.”
Ten minutes later, dinner was on the table. Simon looked around, pleased with the happy exchange going on around him. Instead of traveling down to Braintree for the usual Sunday lunch, he had invited them over to see his new place. It was a far cry from his apartment in Chelmsford. Not only was he now living in Chelsea, he had also upgraded his lifestyle. The new patent had given him enough money to retire.
But that wasn’t the point. It was important he break the news to them about Tessa. She had finally come around, and he was counting on her promise at that last goodbye. The words she’d finally said to him had kept him buoyant, afloat, high, during the three weeks they’d been apart. He was back to his old self, the dude who lived every aspect of his life with a plan.
But this time, she was with him. She loved him. She’d said it herself when they’d taken the plunge from the cliff, when he’d kept his eyes open and they’d held hands until they’d landed in the water. He might have shed his fear of heights right there and then.
“You’ve been doing a lot of work to your place lately,” Ashleigh said, leaning over to clean Henry up, after he emptied his cup into a bowl of carrots. “What’s the rush?”
It was then or never. Simon wanted to give her the respect she deserved. Finally let the world in on their secret. “I’ve met someone,” he began. He paused to assess a reaction. There was none. His father continued to slice into his chicken and his mother continued to butter her roll. Henry banged his spoon on the table and Ashleigh was busy trying to grab it from his little hand.
His mum finally looked up from her food. “Oh?” Her tone flat. It told him she wasn’t about to indulge him.
“That’s good, son. Did you meet her at work?” his father added.
Simon shot his brother a look of concern, his eyes narrowed, and his lips pursed. It wasn’t going to be easy to convince them she’d become part of his life. In all fairness, they’d never even known she’d existed.
Adrian nodded and encouraged him to continue. When this all started, Simon had made him promise not to tell a soul.
“Well, not exactly. But the reason I wanted to let you guys know is that she will be here soon to meet you,” he said with pride, rubbing his hands together before looking around the table for a reaction.
“Hence, the sprucing up around the house,” said Adrian.
“When did you have time to meet someone with all that traveling?” Ashleigh asked.
Adrian coughed.
“Well, I kind of met her during one of my trips,” Simon admitted while looking pointedly at his brother.
Silence again.
“It’s not what you think, guys,” he stressed. “I’ve been seeing her for eight months.”
“Eight months,” his mom echoed.
“Eight months,” his dad confirmed.
“Eight months?” Ashleigh asked.
“It’s pretty serious,” Adrian chimed in.
“Define serious,” Ashleigh said, glaring at Adrian and clearly upset he had kept this secret so well.
“He loves her,” Adrian answered.
Why was it when Adrian said it, everyone listened? Ashleigh lifted Henry off his seat and placed him on her lap. His mother took a sip of water and laid her utensils on the place mat. His father crossed his arms on the table and leaned forward.
“Okay,” his mother began, her voice now calm and soothing. “Tell us about her, Simon. What is her name and where is she from?”
“Her name is Tessa Talman and she lives in Chicago. I met her at a convention in New York. We’ve been seeing each other exclusively ever since.”
“Not really exclusive, dear,” his mom inserted. “Maxine was still in the picture.”
“Thanks for the commentary, Mum.”
“Oh, Mother,” Adrian snapped. “Let him finish.”
Simon brushed over their comments. He knew he’d been wrong to continue with Maxine. He himself still wondered how he’d fallen for Tessa so quickly. “I want you all to meet her, I know you’ll love her as much as I do.” He smiled at his parents and turned to his sister-in-law. “Ash, she’s a writer—she writes romance books.”
“Oh,” Ashleigh responded. “Holy. Shit.”
“She’s famous,” Adrian said.
“That she’s famous isn’t important,” Simon explained. “But she does have obligations and commitments because of her career, so we never really had the time to introduce each other to our families.” He paused. “Well, she doesn’t really have a family. Her parents are deceased, but she has an older brother.”
“So, you left the other woman you were dating for this one?” his mother asked.
“Her name is Tessa, mum,” Simon snapped.
“Tessa,” his mom repeated.
“And yes,” Simon answered truthfully, avoiding her eyes. “I felt awful about it. The day I met Tessa, I found myself wanting to get to know more and more about her. I broke it off with Maxine as soon as I returned home.”
“What else do you know about her? Eight months is eight months,” his mother said
“I know enough,” he said defensively. He knew wher
e his family was going. He expected this from them. In a way, they’d only seen each other six times. Six reunions. Six goodbyes. And each time, he’d gotten to know a few snippets about her. About her life.
But he knew he was taking a chance. That she could bail at any moment. But he had to believe she loved him. “I know her enough.”
“Simon.” His mother shook her head.
“I love her, mother. And I want you all to meet her.”
“Of course,” his father reassured him. “When does she get here?”
Henry held his arms out to Simon, who didn’t hesitate to reciprocate. Soon enough, Simon was bouncing around the room with a sleeping baby on his shoulders.
“We were at the park all morning,” Ashleigh said.
Simon smiled and turned his attention back to his parents. “I don’t know yet. She’s tying up loose ends right now and will cross the Atlantic, hopefully soon.”
“And then what?” his father asked. His mother nodded and they both looked up at him.
“I think.” He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly, running his fingers through his hair. Everyone waited with bated anticipation. Henry began to stir but his parents ignored that development and focused their gaze on Simon too. “I’m going to ask her to stay for a while.”
Back home in Chicago, Tessa hurried into the topnotch sushi place in the River North neighborhood and stopped by the bar to collect herself. Jacob and Revete sat at a booth, the hustle and hurriedness of a work day all around them, loud and cacophonous, waiting for her to arrive. Jacob shifted uncomfortably in his seat and a moment later Revete did the same thing. A large bottle of cold Sake surrounded by plates of sushi and sauce platters cluttered the table.
Tessa hadn’t given them a clue as to why she had called them to a lunch meeting.
Tessa waved as she approached. Jacob stood up and embraced her, while she leaned down to give Revete a kiss.
“Hi!” she said cheerfully. “Sorry, I stopped by the washroom first.” She slid down to the end of the booth by the window. Jacob sat next to her. “Thank you for coming, guys.”
“I ordered you some uni,” Jake said.
“Thanks.” Tessa took his hand and squeezed it.
Revete smiled warmly. Her perfect white teeth and sun kissed hair flashing in the natural light. She was all Miami, all the time. Impeccably dressed and continuously plugged in. This was the type of person you always want on your side. But Revete didn’t love just anybody. And to her, Tessa was family.
“You look rested, honey,” Revete said. “Glowing.”
“It’s been great just being in town for once,” Tessa said. “I actually got a few chapters in. I may have a title change I want to discuss with you.”
“Is this why we’re here?” Revete asked. “Did your PA tell you there’s an event we should be attending the week of Thanksgiving?”
She adjusted her gold cuff to slip over the sleeves of her Emilio Pucci dress.
“No.” Tessa said. “And that’s not why we’re here.”
Her anxiety returned. Thanksgiving was in three weeks and she didn’t plan on being in town. She was going to be in London. With the man she loved. She loved him. Granted, she’d told him at the weirdest time, in the strangest moment, but it had unleashed a firestorm from inside her heart. Feelings she’d never known she could have, words she’d barely uttered to another human being.
When they’d separated the next day, she couldn’t breathe. It was never going to be the same again.
Jake noticed when she began to twist her fingers around each other.
“It’s okay, sis. Just tell us. What’s wrong?” He placed his hand on hers. Revete’s eyes searched hers for answers.
Tessa exhaled sharply. “I’m so happy, I can’t even begin to tell you!” she shrieked, bringing her hands in a praying position toward her face. “I’m going on an extended vacation. Take a break for a few weeks.”
“That’s great. But weren’t you just in Greece?” Revete asked. “Maybe we can squeeze in a tour if there’s a place you’d like to visit.”
“I’m going to London for a couple of weeks. Maybe longer. Depends,” Tessa said.
“On what?” Jake asked.
Jake and Riley had headed back to Athens the night of their trek to Amoudi Beach, leaving Tessa and Simon to themselves. Tessa knew Jake and Simon had exchanged a few words and her brother could see exactly what was going on that night.
“On where Simon and I decide to take this.”
“Take what?” Revete leaned forward, hands on the table.
Tessa turned to glance at Jacob. She knew her brother detested the way her agent handled her. She was kind and generous to a fault, but she also did not let anything get in the way of Tessa’s career.
“Tessa, I need to remind you that this is your year,” Revete said. “Your time to shine. Opportunities like this won’t wait for you. You need to be focused enough to set things aside temporarily. Andrew is a big part of the success of your book. The women who read your book read it because he was on the cover. You have book two due to the editor in just forty-five days. If it’s writing time you need, I—”
Tessa could see Jacob squirming. He lifted his hand up, palm facing away from him and pushed it toward her agent. “Revete!” he barked.
“Jacob, talk some sense into your sister. Now is not the time to go on a fuckfest with her lover.”
Jacob slammed his fist on the table. “Revete! Stop!” he shouted. “Apologize to my sister right this minute!”
“It’s okay, Jake. She means well. This is kind of out there, I get it,” Tessa protested.
“It’s never a good time, sis. If this is the time you need to get things figured out with Simon, then this is the right time,” Jacob said to Tessa before turning his attention back to her agent.
“Listen Revete, may I just remind you that all this”—he traced an imaginary giant circle in the air—“has nothing to do with the book. Tessa can survive well into her old age with the money from my parents. She writes because it’s her passion. Nothing more, nothing less. As her friend, aren’t you happy for her? Are you not seeing a remarkable change in her and does it not make you proud?”
Revete reached out to take Tessa’s hand, her eyes misting, her tone soft and quiet. “Yes, of course. I have always been proud of you. I just thought this was what you wanted.”
“It was,” Tessa answered. “Maybe it still is. But I can’t lose him. I’ve pushed him away enough and he’s not going to wait forever for me to get my act together. I promise to keep you posted on what our plans will be as soon as I can. We don’t have to cancel any of my appearances next year. I just need these next two months.”
“Two months,” Revete repeated to herself, as if verbalizing it would actually make it better. And then her face lit up. Tessa could tell she had turned the corner. “Tell me about him,” she said.
“Well,” Tessa lovingly turned to her brother, “Jake’s been able to spend more time with us. But I met him in March in New York, as you know. And—”
“He’s been there at every signing you’ve done after that,” Revete finished her thought.
“Yes.”
“What was the big secret? I get that we had to play up the Andrew angle, but you never told me anything about him either.” The challenging began before too long. “And the three-date limit?”
Tessa laughed. “That’s the million-dollar question. I guess the fourth date should have been a sign it was going to be more than that for me. And as far as the secret goes, at first it was for the fans, but afterwards, I was afraid more than anything to change my lifestyle. He’s very stable—even his profession isn’t like mine at all. And I didn’t know how it would work. But as time went by, he really put himself out there for me. And then it was my heart. I didn’t know how to give it away. It just got harder and harder to say goodbye.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie. For what I said earlier,” Re
vete said.
Tessa tipped her head forward.
“So, what’s next, sis?” Jacob asked.
Tessa heaved a sigh of relief. It felt good to stand up for herself, to speak of plans and goals and to be able to share her feelings with the people close to her. “I love him!” she exclaimed. “I love him, and I need to spend some time making it up to him. He’s loved me all this time and I want to love him back.” She leaned her head on Jacob’s shoulder and he pulled her close.
“Tell your best friend to plan her Paris trip in the next few days so we can join you while we’re there.”
“Deal!” Tessa answered, her smile reflecting the happiness and peace she felt in her heart.
Simon stood by the arrival gate at Heathrow, questioning his decision not to bring a bouquet of flowers. He figured he would do that later. His focus was on keeping his arms free to hold her, touch her, squeeze the bejesus out of her. And when he caught a glimpse of her exiting the gate, a light among the ordinary people, the excitement, the anticipation—all felt as thrilling as it had when he’d first met her. The difference this time was that he knew those earlier reunions would lead to excruciating goodbyes.
Today would be different.
“Hi!” Tessa ran up and folded herself in his arms. He held her tight, swearing to never let her go again. She stood on her toes and kissed him. “I missed you,” she whispered before taking his hand and leading him away from the gate. “We need to go to Baggage Claim 10.”
It surprised him. “You have checked baggage? In addition to this carry on?”
Please, God. Make it mean she’s staying.
She rolled her eyes at him. And then she smiled. “I’m going to be here for a while.”
“Wow! This place!” Tessa squeaked, wandering into his apartment while he held the door open for her. He saw her reaction as she reached the hallway. Ashleigh had done a great job. Where she found one hundred long stemmed yellow roses, he had yet to ask. “Oh my god, Simon!” she cried, as he came up from behind to wrap his arms around her.
“I was being selfish at the airport. Wanted both arms free to hold you, so I’m making up for it here.”
Eight Goodbyes Page 16