Dance Away with Me - Susan Elizabeth Phillips Page 0,125
for me to want what you can’t deliver.”
His shoulders dropped. He looked out toward the horizon. He had no counterargument, and he didn’t even try to come up with one. Instead, he drew back his arm and flung the stone as far as he could. “Have it your way.”
She left the clearing, silently begging him to stay away until she didn’t love him anymore.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Tess gazed out the back window at the tree house and imagined it gradually rotting away, forever unfinished. Ian was gone, taking all his clothes with him, and she’d hauled her things back to the schoolhouse, but only temporarily. As soon as it was officially up for sale, she’d move out, but for now, she’d leave the cabin to Kelly.
Letting Ian go had been the right thing to do, no matter how sick she felt inside. One look at his unhappy face had proven that. She wanted him desperately, but she only wanted him whole and happy, free to love with an open heart. And that was something she couldn’t have.
She pulled herself away from the window before she fell into a full-on pity party. She needed to attend to something, and now was as good a time as any.
The schoolhouse’s WiFi was working for a change. She settled on the couch with Wren asleep in the sling and pulled up FaceTime to make the call she’d been thinking about for days.
“Tess?” Diane looked awful. She wore no makeup, and her blond bob lay flat against her head. It seemed as though a lifetime had passed since Simon had shown up at the schoolhouse, but it had been only four days.
Diane sneezed and pressed a tissue to her nose. “Sorry. Simon left this morning, and I have a cold.”
“If this isn’t a good time—”
“No, it’s fine. I don’t have anything else to do except feel sorry for myself.”
Tess knew exactly how that felt. “I should have called you earlier, but I didn’t know what to say.”
“It was a shock.” Diane’s voice began to tremble. “When I think about Wren . . . About all we put you through . . . And for what? For nothing.”
“Diane, this is awkward.”
“I have another word for it.” She dabbed at her eyes. “It was lovely having a grandchild, even for a few weeks.”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about.”
“Wren? How is she? Is she all right?”
“Yes. She’s fine. She’s asleep right here. But I was wondering . . . I know it’s a lot to ask, and I don’t want to put you on the spot, so promise me you’ll say no if you think this is a stupid idea. I was wondering if . . .” The words came out in a rush. “Would you and Jeff consider being Wren’s grandparents?”
“Her . . . ?”
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but—”
“Yes!”
“Really?”
“Oh, yes! I never dreamed you’d want us to do this.”
“There’s nothing I want more for her.” She told Diane what they’d learned about Wren’s conception and then reminded her of a complication. “Simon’s still young. Regardless of what he says now, you could end up with real grandchildren.”
“Don’t say that! Wren is our real grandchild. We took her into our hearts. That’s why we’ve been so upset.”
“But if Simon has children . . .”
“Do we seem like the kind of people who’d couldn’t love more than one grandchild?”
Tess’s heart lifted for the first time all morning. “No, you don’t.”
“Oh, Tess . . . Let me see her. Jeff! Jeff! Tess is on the phone with Wren. Our granddaughter!”
* * *
Paul and Rebecca brought Eli to the schoolhouse that afternoon. The boy burst into tears when he saw Tess. She wanted to cry, too, although not for the same reason.
Eli was so distraught that she didn’t have the heart to lecture him. Besides, what would she say that he didn’t already know? She gave him a hug. “I think Wren understands, and she forgives you.”
Rebecca’s lips were dry and cracked. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I have to pull myself together. I know I do.”
“You’ve done your best,” Paul said with rough kindness. And then, to Tess, “We’ve found a doctor. A woman.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“She’s supposed to specialize in this kind of thing.” He wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “We’re going to see her tomorrow.”
Before they left, Eli personally apologized to Wren. “I’m really, really, really, really, a hundred reallys sorry I scared you last night.”