Tess by Fayrene Preston

Author:Fayrene Preston [Preston, Fayrene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781408990537
Google: TSuaYbD3MPQC
Goodreads: 23468777
Publisher: Mills & Boon Vintage Desire
Published: 1999-08-01T00:00:00+00:00

Six

Frail arms warmly enfolded Tess in a hug; then Nick’s grandmother stepped back and beamed at her. “How lovely to meet you, my dear.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Trejo. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“Oh, please, call me Alma. We don’t stand on formalities around here.”

“Alma, then.”

Alma was a tiny lady, wearing navy polyester pants with a neatly ironed pink flowered blouse. Her gray hair was cut short in a soft, flattering style, and her skin had its share of wrinkles, both from age and, Tess guessed, the Texas sun. Alma’s wedding picture flashed into Tess’s head. It had shown a pretty but shy young woman, shining with happiness and hope. Today Alma no longer seemed shy, but the happiness was still with her, along with the hope.

Amazing, she reflected. Alma had suffered a hard life and had known the pain of losing a son. Now she had to cope with the knowledge that her husband might not be with her much longer. In addition, she had health problems herself. Yet she hadn’t lost the capability of feeling happiness and hope.

Remarkable.

Alma’s brown eyes sparkled with pleasure. “Now come over here and meet Ben. He’s been waiting all day for this.”

“Damn right,” a breathy voice said. “Come over here, Tess, and let me get a look at you.”

She followed the voice to a hospital bed set up in an alcove where a big bay window offered a view of flowers, trees and a sky so blue it looked as if it had been painted. On the window ledge there was a picture. In the center of it, Nick’s grandfather was sitting in a chair. Nick and Alma stood on one side of him, Kathie and her husband on the other, and two little girls sat on the grass at their great-grandfather’s feet. Another important picture to add to the legacy of their family.

“Mr. Trejo?” She held out her hand to the wizened old man, who was breathing with the aid of oxygen.

He shook her hand with surprising strength. “Ben. Name’s Ben. Nick, pull her up a chair so I can talk to this pretty young lady.”

Without a word, Nick did as his grandfather asked and motioned to Tess to sit down.

“I’ll be right back with some iced tea for all of us,” Alma said, still beaming.

Tess started to say she didn’t want anything, but Alma had already disappeared. She returned her attention to Ben. “How are you feeling? I understand you had something of a bad spell this morning.”

Ben waved a dismissive hand. “It was nothin’. No matter what the doc says, I’m not ready to go yet.”

“That’s good to hear.” She’d started off with pleasantries, but from here on out, she decided, it would be best to let him lead the conversation.

“Nick, come rearrange my pillows so I can sit up straighter.”

“You’re at the angle your doctor wants you to be, Grandpa.”

“Damn it, Nick.” Ben looked at Tess. “You know you’re old when your pup of a grandson won’t do what you say.

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