Crashing Into Tess (23 page)

The sun was streaming in Jake’s picture window when
she tiptoed back to his room the next morning in fleecy
leggings and a turtleneck.
Cassie was buried in the comforter, still sound asleep.
Haggard and unshaven in worn jeans and a sweatshirt, Jake
dozed in the easy chair, his wool stockinged feet up on the
ottoman. The sunlight caught his profile, and Tess was
reminded of the stunning cowboy she’d seen that first day
in Green Junction.
Jake roused, and glanced her way. “Tess, your feet will
freeze on this cold floor,” he whispered. Opening the
bottom drawer of the bureau that ran the length of his room,
he tossed her a pair of woolen crew socks.
“Thanks,” she said, taking the leather ottoman. “I forgot
to bring clean socks.”
He leaned over her, touching her back. Quietly, he
whispered, “I heard Tilda making breakfast, down there. I
don’t want to leave Cass alone, though. How ‘bout I go
grab a tray for us and bring it up? Will you wait here?”
“Sure.”
By the time Tess heard Jake’s soft tread come up the
stairs with breakfast, Cassie had woken. “Dr. Tess, you’re
here!”
“You didn’t think I’d leave, did you?”
Rhiannon padded into the room behind Jake. As he set
the tray on his dresser, the plump collie retriever mix
circled the bed, taking a spot on the rug closest to Cassie,
groaning a little as she flopped down.
Jake flashed a smile. “We don’t usually let the dogs
upstairs, but I thought this might be a special occasion,
considering the company.”
Turning onto her tummy, Cassie stuck her head over
the bed, dangling a hand down to pet the dog’s silky coat.
“How are you feeling, Rhiannon?”
“Probably better than you are, darlin’,” Jake answered.
“Tilda sent up cinnamon toast and weak tea, with a little
sugar and a splash of milk. How’s your tummy?”
“Okay, Daddy, I just think it was that yucky medicine.”
“Oh, I think it was more than the medicine.” Jake
handed Tess a mug of hot coffee, a warm, honey-soaked
half grapefruit, a cloth napkin and grapefruit spoon.
“I didn’t eat much yesterday. I’d like some toast
please,” Cassie said, in her company voice.
“Okay, but only if you take it real slow. Sit up, and keep
this napkin in your lap.” Jake set a plate of toast on his
nightstand, holding the mug for Cassie while she sipped.
Taking up his own mug, Jake carried a plate of walnut and
raisin sticky buns to the small table near Tess.
“Yum, Tilda’s sticky buns?” Cassie asked.
“The buns will be here after lunch, Miss Tummy-ache.
Tilda’s making some chicken soup down there, too. Let’s
see if you can keep the toast down, first.”
Cassie downed two pieces of toast, brushed cinnamon
from her hands, wiped her mouth on the napkin, and asked
Tess for her puppy books. She found them, and took the
spot next to her on the bed. Cuddling up, Cassie attempted
to read aloud to Tess. Afterward, they played checkers, then
Candyland.
After a lunch of chicken soup and another game of
checkers, Jake walked Tess to her truck. His sober eyes met
hers. “There’s no way I can thank you, Tess, for what
you’ve done for Cassie and I.”
“It’s alright Jake. I’m just glad I was on the other end of
the phone when you called the clinic yesterday.”
She hugged him quickly and climbed into the truck,
which he’d warmed while she’d said goodbye to Cassie and
Rhiannon and Tilda. “There’s no place else I would ever
have wanted to be.”
Holding the handle of her door, his tired eyes gazed into
hers, a little lost. He reached in, touched her cheek,
brushing away a stray curl. Straightening up, he put his
hands in his pockets and cleared his throat. “I love you, you
know.”
Tess did a double take. “What?”
His face bereft, he smiled, a lost half-smile.
Like the
boy who lost his mom when he was only ten.
“I know you
think I’ve behaved like a cad, so I’m coming clean. I love
you, Tess. I have, for a long time. I ache for you. Every
morning I wake up, wishing you were in my arms. Back
when Cassie was at her mom’s, I was relieved to be
thinking about you and not her so much anymore, until I
realized what it meant. I swear, I fell in love with you that
first morning, when I saw you coming out of the garage
with Dave. I couldn’t tell you the other day, with the cows,
but I wanted you to know. Maybe I have been protecting
myself, but mostly, I wanted to protect you.” He leaned in,
and kissed her cheek. “I can’t keep you here, and I won’t.
At least, not right now.”
She found his lips, and fell into him, then, her arms
around his neck, pulling him into a real kiss. His lips were
gentle at first, but she pressing against his, letting him
know what he meant to her. Pulling away, he dropped his
head, then looked up, meeting her eye. His voice low and
earnest, he said, “You have no idea how much I want to
adore you, Tess, like nothing I’ve ever wanted before.”
“I’ve wanted that, too, Jake,” Tess stammered, utterly
blown away.
He kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Sure,” Tess said. With his sad, half smile, he closed the
door. She watched as he walked towards the house,
shoulders hunched against the cold, hands in his pockets.
On her way back to the apartment, Alice called to offer
Tess a ride to the Tree Lighting. “Sure, Alice, that sounds
like fun. I can’t imagine Ron is still up for the dance. I hope
not, anyway. Is it okay if I tag along with you and Lotts?”
There were two emails in her inbox, one from Penn,
and one from Colorado State. Smiling with satisfaction, she
wrote to her father, filling him in on the upsetting scene
with Cassie and Vicki. “
I’d like to try to help make her
world safe again, like the world you and mom created for
me. Her little face lights up when she sees me, Dad, and if I
could help, even just a little, it would be worth it.”

Slipping into snow pants, Tess grabbed the snowshoes
Jake had left her all those weeks ago. The snow pack on the
trail was almost a foot deep, and Tess climbed briskly,
trying to clear her head. In the afternoon sunlight, the little
town below looked like a Christmas village. The sun
bounced off the bright snow and colorful rooftops,
sparkling off of doors and windows already decked with
wreaths.

Stunned by Jake’s admission, she remembered the
words he’d spoken, when they’d first gotten close.
“You
may not know how it feels to have your life turned inside
out by someone you tried to love.”
He’d been right, she
hadn’t known how it felt, then.
Maybe that’s the hard part
of love, staying vulnerable, willing to trust. Even when it’s
turning you inside out and upside down, you have to stick
around, see it through.

After her visit with Jake and Cassie, the evening at the
dance alone, or, god forbid, with Ron, was a bit daunting.
I’ll muddle through it somehow. Alice and Lotts will be
there, after they close the bar at ten.

From:
[email protected]
To:
[email protected]
Date: Saturday, November 20, 5:46 PM

Sounds like you’ve found something very special there.
The opportunity to be a parent has been the most precious
gift of my life, and I’m both humbled and thrilled that you
are thinking the way you are. Bide your time, keep your eye
on the prize, and one way or the other, you’ll know if it’s
right. Sure is nice thinking there is still a way for me to
make it all better for you~ I’ll always keep trying. And
don’t worry about me. I’m on the mend.

PS. Your sister has struck up a friendship with Archie
Lawson, and there seems to be a real spark between them.
Glad some good has come of her time here, nursing dear
old dad.

Tess went to her closet. The dress her mother had
chosen was strapless, a gold satin sheath, with a sparkly
beaded tulle overskirt in a paler gold, that hit just above the
knee, with a matching bolero jacket, encrusted with gold
and crystal beads. Noelle had talked her into patent gold
sandals with four inch heels. They were completely
impractical, but Tess had not even bothered to argue.

She’d also insisted Tess borrow the heavy, crystal
encrusted, faux-sapphire jewelry she’d always dressed up
in as a little girl. Tess loved the way the striking deep blue
sparkled against the gold, like ice on fire. She fussed with
her hair, clipping it up loosely with a barrette that matched
the earrings and choker, curling bits with an iron, allowing
tendrils to fall.

After she pulled on sheer sparkly gold hose, the dress
and jewelry, she looked in the mirror, glad that the bolero
jacket mostly covered her cast. She’d agreed to the outfit to
make her mother happy, knowing that if she had the chance
to wear it with Jake, she’d feel like a goddess.
Even with
the cast, this is way over the top for Green Junction.

Dreading the prospect of an evening with Ron, Tess
stroked her cheeks and eyelids with pale, sparkly gold
powder, rimmed her upper lids with dark blue, and tucked a
sheer lipstick in the little gold evening bag she’d borrowed
from her mother. Slipping her sandals into a bag, she pulled
on her white faux fur boots and white wool coat and
wrapped a scarf around her head. At the first sight of
Alice’s little blue wagon, she was out the door. The note
with the tickets had simply said,“Meet at Green Forks after
Tree Lighting”. She’d just have to keep hoping Ron
wouldn’t dare show up.

The dark night was cold, but the evergreens in the
square in front of Town Hall sparkled with lights and
ornaments. They’d been decorated by various civic groups
for Tree Lighting. With everyone milling around, dressed in
their holiday finery, it looked like a magical village.

Tess caught a glimpse of Jake in his long grey overcoat,
and her heart skipped a beat.
Cassie must be doing better,
but why would he leave her?

He waved, flashing an eager smile, the heat in his eyes
bolstering her spirits as he walked towards them, reaching
for her gloved hand, squeezing it as he stood next to her.

As they watched the high school chorale perform, Tess
glanced his way. His mouth twitched, but he broke into a
grin, and wrapped his arms around her waist. Unable to
help herself, she snuggled against him. After the music was
over, Jake walked them to Alice’s car. “I have to go check
on Cassie,” he said, running a gloved finger down her nose.
Nodding, she smiled back at him.

As they hung their coats at Green Forks, Alice gasped,
“Zowie, Tess, I didn’t see your dress, you look gorgeous.
Ron’s eyes are going to pop out for sure.”

“If he shows up, I sure hope nothing else pops out. It’s a
bit much, but it was my mom’s choice. Do you think he’ll
get the wrong idea?”

“Ah, you can set him straight. You look like an angel,
absolutely scrumptious. You do that ethereal mystic look so
well.”

“Thanks, sweetie. I might fool some, but you know the
real me.” Tess squeezed Alice’s shoulder. “You look pretty
smokin’ yourself. I love the mink.” Alice had accessorized
her deep blue velvet dress with blue sheer stockings, skyhigh, navy sued pumps, and vintage mink choker and cuffs.
It hit just above the knees, long sleeves clinging to her
arms, and the v at the front showing off her plump
cleavage. “Not many girls would think of wearing mink as
jewelry that way. It’s very chic.”

“This was from my grandmother’s coat. My
inheritance. You got Grandma’s Angliotti’s Italian linens,
and I got Grandma Rustevik’s Russian mink. Lotts happens
to thing mink against bare skin is very, very sexy.”

Tess was floored to see Lotts behind the bar in tails and
a deep blue velvet bow tie and cummerbund that matched
Alice’s dress. “Wow, Look at you.”

“We turn it up around Green Junction every once in
awhile,” Lotts joked.
“I’ll say,” Tess grinned. “Nothing very ‘green fork’
about that penguin suit, especially next to your lady in
velvet and mink.”
“I don’t often get to dance the night away with the
woman of my dreams, you know,” Lotts answered breezily,
laying an arm on Alice’s shoulder. He turned to Tess.
“What will it be, tenderfoot? Jake called. He said he’d be
here any minute.”
My date is with Ron. Why is Lotts
bringing up Jake?
Tess didn’t miss the ‘shut up’ look Alice
gave Lotts.
“How ‘bout a champagne cocktail with cognac, Tess?”
Alice asked.
“Sounds delish.”
“Open some champagne, Lotts,” Alice said, with a wink
for Tess.”Let’s get this party started.”
Seated at the bar, Tess watched nervously as people
began to meander in from Tree Lighting. Brett and Stuart
came in with their dates, gathering at the bar near Tess.
Neither of the girls were Vicki’s friends from Jackalope
dinner, Tess noticed with relief. The girls introduced
themselves and made small talk, and Tess was happy for
the company.

*****
When Jake saw Tess
at the bar in her gold dress and
sandals, he felt electrified. “Look at you,” he said, bursting
with pride. Even her toenails were painted pale gold.

“Hi, Jake,” she smiled nervously, fussing with her
purse.
He kissed her cheek. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Tess.”
She flashed a look of surprise as he folded his coat over
the back of her barstool. Leaning into her, he tucked his
nose in her curls, speaking softly. “Cassie’s doing just fine,
and I couldn’t wait to be with you.”
Lotts poured him a whiskey and slid it over the bar, and
Jake took the barstool next to hers. She looked around
apprehensively as he sipped a whiskey.
God, she’s so
beautiful.
He’d always been stunned by his attraction to
Tess, but dressed like this, she was mesmerizing.
“How about another cocktail, Crash?”
“Mmm, thanks, I better not.”
“Waiting for someone?” he joked.
Her eyes wavered, but she smiled resolutely. “Ron
Karachek sent tickets to the office. Are you going to the
dance?”
His brow furrowed. “I thought I was your date. I mailed
tickets to the office when you were in Philadelphia. Didn’t
Alice tell you?”
Tess jaw dropped. Her eyes got round as saucers,
sparkling like the jeweled choker around her neck. “
You
mailed tickets?”
“I did.” He could barely hide his annoyance. “The
message said, “Meet at Green Forks after the Tree
Lighting.” You’re seriously going to this dance with Ron?
How’s that going to work? I just saw him in the cruiser
over by town hall.”
“Alice called me at my parents to tell me there were
three tickets in an envelope, marked Lotts, Alice and Tess.
The card wasn’t signed, and since Ron had mentioned the
VFW Dance at Jackalope, we assumed they were from him.
My date is with the guy who wrote, “Meet me at Green
Forks after Tree Lighting.”
Jake grinned, shaking his head. “Oh, Crash, we crossed
signals again. I figured you didn’t mention the dance today
because you were still annoyed with me. I didn’t want to
push it.”
He watched Tess’s smile get bigger. As the tension
between them melted, he put his arm around her shoulders.
Kissing her sheer, sparkly lips, he murmured, “Will you be
my date tonight, darling, ravishing Tessie?”
*****