Heartfire by Karen Rose Smith

Author:Karen Rose Smith [Karen Rose Smith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-10-06T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

On Friday evening, Max and Ryan gazed inside the glass and chrome jewelry case in the New Haven department store. Max remembered the chain around Tessa's neck when she'd shown him her mother's ring. It had looked old and worn. The chain he spotted inside this case was shiny, fourteen carat and sparkling as it caught and reflected the light.

"When are we gonna give Tessa her presents?" Ryan asked as he pressed his nose up against the glass case.

"When she gets back on Sunday."

"She marked it on the calendar so I'd know she was coming home that day for sure." Ryan's hands joined his nose on the glass. "I miss her."

Max couldn't believe how much he did, too. He'd picked up Ryan at the sitter and they'd come home to an empty house. It was an odd feeling. For the past month, Tessa had been there every day. Some days she was cooking, some days on the phone, some days typing on her laptop. But she'd always been there.

"Dad, Tessa's gonna have her birthday alone."

"When she gets back, we can have a cake."

"But her birthday's tomorrow. She'll be all alone."

The idea didn't sit well with Max, either, especially after Tessa's latest revelation about her childhood. He crouched down beside Ryan as he always did when he wanted to talk to his son about something important. "What do you think about me going to New York and keeping Tessa company?"

Ryan forgot the jewelry in the case and turned toward Max.

"I can't go?"

"New York is mostly for grown-ups. But they do have a museum with dinosaur bones. Maybe another weekend you and I could go look at them."

Ryan scrubbed the toe of his sneaker against the tile floor. "What are you and Tessa gonna do?"

"Probably get all dressed up and go to dinner."

Ryan wrinkled his nose in distaste. Then he said thoughtfully, "New York's not very far away. Tessa showed me on the computer."

"Not too far. Only about two hours."

Ryan thought about it. "I think you oughta go and make sure..."

"What?"

Ryan ducked his chin. "Nothin'."

"Ryan, you're sure it's okay with you if I go?"

"Can Flo and Scruffy come over?"

"We can ask."

Ryan took a few moments to decide. "Yeah, you go and bring Tessa home soon."

***

Tessa sat in the most luxurious suite of the best hotel in New York City. Linc Granger always reserved the best.

They were sitting in the sunken living room area on the beige and blue beautifully covered yet comfortable furniture. Linc’s wife Emma was sitting on the plush carpet with her daughter helping Becky dress an American Girl doll. "She loved the store," Emma said. "I think she would have spent all day there."

Emma was a pretty woman. Since she married Linc, she had a glow about her that made her absolutely stunning. And Linc… He was staring at her and Becky as if they were his world.

"Talk shop if you want, " Emma said. "I don’t mind. Who have you interviewed lately that I might know?" she asked Tessa.

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