A Bayberry Christmas: A Bayberry Island Holiday e-Novella (The Bayberry Island Series Book 5) by Susan Donovan

Author:Susan Donovan [Donovan, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Susan Donovan
Published: 2016-10-12T21:00:00+00:00

* * *

When she looked up, Leo nearly gasped. Tears had begun to form in her pretty hazel eyes. Her cheeks had flushed and her chin was trembling.

Tess had been terribly hurt. The ladies in the kitchen had been only partially right — the man who did this to her was not only an idiotic fool, he was a dick.

“I appreciate the offer, Leo, but I don’t want to come across as…” she shook her head. “Look, it’s an awful story, but not very unique, I’m afraid.”

Tess raked her fingers through her hair, knocking her glasses from where they’d been perched on top of her head. Leo caught them before they fell in the popcorn, then placed them on the back of the couch for safekeeping.

Since Tess didn’t say more, Leo chose to do the talking for a bit.

“After I got hurt, my feelings were nothing but a giant, black, tangled mess. I couldn’t get a handle on it at first. It was too overwhelming to name. But once I started talking about it, things got clearer.”

Tess was listening.

“Eventually I realized that at the center of everything was a false assumption — a lie. I’d told myself that what happened that night was my fault. That I’d failed. That I was to blame for my injury.”

Tess blinked. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Yes, but it took a while to convince myself.”

“So how did you?”

“I kept talking, and I kept stripping away at the layers. I don’t think the negative thoughts will ever disappear completely, but at least I can put a name to them these days. I call them on their bullshit and remind myself of what’s true.”

When Tess lowered her head, those curly blond bangs fell over her eyes. Leo did it without thinking — brushed her hair from her face. She looked up, her hazel eyes challenging him. “So tell me something you know to be true, Tess Curry. Just one true thing.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, well, that’s kind of the problem. I’m not sure what’s true anymore.”

Leo gave her an encouraging smile. “Then tell me what isn’t.”

Anger flared in her eyes. Had he pressed too hard? He sure as hell didn’t want to push her away.

Tess nodded with a sudden burst of conviction. “Like I said, my story’s boring. It happens to people every day and they get over it. I will, too.”

Leo nodded. “You have to know what it is before you can get over it.”

Tess’s laugh was full and tinged with bitterness, then she produced another deep sigh. “You want to hear my sob story? Fine. I’ll tell you what happened. I’m leaving in two days and I’ll probably never see you again? So why not?”

Leo knew she might be right. They could go their separate ways and never see each other again, if that’s what she wanted. But it stung to hear it.

Two days? She was leaving in just two days?

“His name was Jake.”

Leo gave her a nod of encouragement.

“We’d been together for four years and lived together for three.

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