Tessa's Wishes (Whispered Wishes #3) (7 page)

“Ava, hi.” Tessa felt flustered, yet relieved to hear her sister’s voice. After leaving that message, she was no longer in a hurry to talk to Brandon.

“Hey, are you busy?”

“No, I’m on my lunch break. How’s everything?”

“Everything is fine. Max is already off again on another flight. It’s international this time, so he’ll be gone until Sunday. ”

She could hear the sadness in her sister’s voice. It had to be so hard on her and the kids having him gone so much.

“Do you need some help?” It was time for her to return some of the favors she’d burdened Ava with lately. “I can take Logan and Jenna for a few hours this weekend if you need to get some things done. I’m sure Sophie would love the company.”

“Thanks,” Ava replied, “but what I really need is a date.”

“Excuse me?”

“Let me rephrase that,” she started to explain. “I received an invitation to a gallery exhibit for this Friday night. It’s been so long since I’ve been to an event like this. I’d really love to go, but I hate to go to these things solo.”

“So you want me to find you a date?” Tessa asked, confused. “I don’t know, Av. I can’t even find myself a date. Does Max know about this?”

Ava laughed. “No, silly. I want
you
to be my date. I’ve already arranged for a babysitter. You can bring Sophie to my house. She can even sleep over if she wants. You both can. What do you say? It’s a chance to get all fancied up for the night. It’ll be fun. Promise. They’ll have free food and drinks …”

“Well, when you put it like that. It sounds great. Thanks.”

Chapter 12

It was almost time to leave for the day, and Tessa was in the middle of compiling reports for a client, when her cell phone started to ring. She was so wrapped up in her work that she nearly missed the call.

“Hello, hello?” she said into the phone, hoping she’d grabbed it in time before the person on the other end was sent to her voicemail. She hadn’t recognized the number off hand and hoped it wasn’t Sophie’s daycare or Mr. Abbott calling from a client’s office.

“Hi Tessa. It’s Brandon.”

Startled by the sound of his voice, her heart instantly began beating faster. She put her file to the side and tried to calm herself. “Brandon … hi. How are you?”

“I’m good,” he replied. “I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to call. That flu really took its toll on the staff at the hospital, and I’ve been pulling double shifts to cover for sick doctors. I’ve barely been back to my house since I saw you and haven’t had a moment to myself to do much of anything.”

“Wow, that’s awful,” she told him, now feeling bad she’d bothered him with her desperate sounding phone call.

“Yes, but we’re finally starting to get back to normal. I got your message, and I’m so glad to hear Sophie’s doing better. I was hoping you’d get in touch with me to let me know how she was feeling … and to let me know how you were doing, as well.”

Feeling her cheeks starting to flush, Tessa tried to think of something interesting and witty to say. “I’m doing okay. I’m back to my regular work schedule. You know, getting paid pennies to count other people’s millions.”
Crap.
Now she sounded desperate
and
poor
.

“So, I promised you a dinner if I remember correctly. Are you free Saturday night?”

“I am,” she replied, feeling tinges of fear creeping back in.

“Great. How about I pick you up at seven?”

She’d never hear the end of it from her sisters if she said no and already knew Holly would watch Sophie for her since all of this was her idea. “Seven is good.”

“I’ll see you then. I’m looking forward to it, Tessa,” he said in his swoon-worthy voice that both made her heart melt and bring forward her insecurities all in the same breath.

The line went dead before she was able to respond.

~~~

“Tell me again how Dr. Steam-worthy looked into your eyes and instantly cured Sophie?” Ben mocked while helping himself to a third helping of Holly’s lasagna.

Tessa and Sophie had stopped over to their place for dinner. It used to be a regular Wednesday night thing, but with school conferences and Sophie getting sick, it had been a while since they’d all seen each other.

Holly playfully swatted her husband across his head with her napkin. “It’s swoon-worthy, not steam-worthy, and he didn’t cure Sophie by staring into Tessa’s eyes. He’s an emergency room doctor, not some quack magician.”

Tessa shook her head and smiled before taking another bite of her dinner. She so adored Ben. He was like the big brother she never had. Of course she loved Max, too, but she never really had a chance to get to know him. She was only sixteen when he and Ava got engaged and moved across the country. Now that they were back here in Forest Hills, Max was hardly ever home because of his job as an airline pilot. They just didn’t hang out much, or at least not the way she hung out with Ben. They’d been close since before he and Holly even started dating. In fact, she was the one Ben relentlessly texted to get advice about her sister. Their relationship was special. Maybe it was because he was just a big goof … constantly in a good mood and always interested in what was going on in her life.

“Come on, Ben. It wasn’t so long ago you gave Holly the same look. You know what I’m talking about. I saw it at Ava’s wedding. You even kept it up after she kicked your ass playing pool. Just out of curiosity, have you won a game yet, Benny boy?

Glancing at his wife, he scowled. “She refuses to play me anymore.”

Tessa started laughing and looked over to her sister. “Hol? Is this true?”

“Yup. That’s right. I cut him off after he accused me of cheating. Can you believe that? I ask you, who in their right mind would call their own wife a cheater? I’ll tell you who, someone afraid to admit that they suck at pool, that’s who.”

Tessa dramatically drew in her breath. “Benjamin Oakes! How could you?”

“Now, hold on a minute,” he began, holding his hands up to stop the onslaught from the sisters. Having one sister on his case was bad enough, but having two gang up on him at the same time was something Tessa imagined he wanted to avoid at all costs. “I never called Holly a cheater. I only made a comment that I found it
interesting
that she’s gone so many years now without losing, that’s all. Some may have taken that as a compliment. I personally find it fascinating she got defensive over it. However, for the record,
never
did I use the word cheater. Am I right, oh lovely wife whom I adore with all of my heart and soul?”

Putting her arms around her husband’s neck, Holly nuzzled her face into Ben’s hair. “It’s okay, babe. You do what you have to do to make yourself feel better. We all understand. I know it can’t be easy to have your wife beat you at pool … what, like about five hundred times now?”

He rolled his eyes and smirked. “How did we get on this subject anyway? I thought we were talking about Tessa and her new boyfriend, Dr. Spark-worthy.”

“Swoon-worthy!” Tessa and Holly both corrected before breaking out into a fit of laughter.

“And he’s not my boyfriend. We’ve only been on one date … not even a date, really. It was more like a house call.”

Ben opened his mouth to make a comment, but Holly quickly put her hand over it before he could get the lewd, sarcastic words out.

Tessa raised her eyebrows and shook her head. “What is it with you men? Pigs, all of you. The house call was for Sophie.”

“Aw, come on, Tessa. You set me up for that one,” Ben responded, making sad puppy dog eyes.

She laughed. “Yeah, the good doctor made that look, too, when I shut him down.”

“Shut him down? Ugh. That’s just cruel. I’m surprised he’s agreed to see you again,” he remarked.

“She’s a Haines,” Holly interjected. “Of course he wants to see her again. Don’t listen to him, Tessa. Brandon will wait until you’re good and ready.”

“You know I’m just teasing, right?” Ben asked, suddenly changing to a more serious tone. “Holly knows what she’s talking about. If he doesn’t wait until you’re ready, he’s not the guy for you. Lord knows your sister made me wait,” he grumbled, looking at his wife. “A man’s got needs you know.”

Holly swatted him with her napkin again. “A man’s got two hands, and I was worth the wait. So is Tessa.”

“She’s right,” he said, looking at his sister-in-law. “You deserve his respect and so much more. Don’t ever doubt that.”

Tessa nodded. She hoped Holly realized just how lucky she was. “Don’t worry,” she said. “He knows what the deal is … dinner, that’s all. If he tries that fast hands crap again, I’ll really show him what
shut him down
means.”

Her sister sighed with a worried look. “Just try to have a good time, okay?”

Chapter 13

“You look beautiful.” Ava put another safety pin into the back of the dress Tessa had borrowed for the gallery event that evening. She hadn’t worn a dress this fancy since Holly’s wedding three years ago. “It’s too bad that doctor can’t see you in this. Maybe you can wear it again on your date tomorrow night.”

“I doubt we’re going somewhere requiring me to wear anything this swanky … but I do look hot,” she agreed, admiring her reflection in the mirror. Deep purple always was a good color on her, complementing her dark brown hair and blue eyes, and accentuating her flawless porcelain skin.

While twisting her body to get a better look would probably be the most lady-like thing to do in this situation, it was just not going to cut it. Instead, she stood on her toes and twirled—
twice
. It was the only proper way to fully appreciate the ensemble. She was so sick of wearing business attire every day. Her wardrobe was so pathetic: conservative suits and ill-fitting comfort clothes. It was no wonder she felt so down on herself most of the time. She twirled around a third time.

 “Watch those sudden moves. You don’t want these pins to pop.” Ava watched her sister in the mirror and smiled. “You do look hot, though. Just how did you manage to give birth and still keep your hips so tiny? I should hate you, you know.”

Turning around, Tessa looked at her sister. Ava looked fabulous in a Kelly green velvet dress. Her long, auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her hazel eyes sparkled with flecks of green that matched the gorgeous fabric she wore. Of course, Ava would look spectacular in a potato sack.

“What are you talking about? You’re stunning. You always have been.” It’s true. Ava was always known as the gorgeous one when referring to the Haines sisters. She was tall and elegant—a natural beauty—while Tessa was often referred to as the cutest of the three sisters. A bubbly, cheerleader type, she had a slender frame, long brown hair with perfect natural waves, a little button nose, bright blue eyes, and an engaging smile that could light up a room—when she smiled that was. Holly, the only blonde in the family, had more of a wholesome girl next-door look to her with warm brown eyes and freckles.

“It feels odd to wear something without stains on it,” Ava teased, examining the front of her dress as if she were double-checking. “I’m just glad I never got rid of these clothes from my old life in the art world.”

Tessa watched her sister’s expression, examining it for sadness or regret. “Do you miss it? The excitement of having a career in something you were once so passionate about?”

 “Sometimes, but I’m doing something else I’m really passionate about right now, and it’s even more fulfilling.”

“Mom!” Jenna yelled from downstairs as if on cue. “Logan just spilled all of his juice on his new pajamas!”

Shaking her head, she let out a breathy sigh. “At least most of the time it is. I’m thinking I may need to add in more nights like tonight, though, so I get to do both.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Haines!” the babysitter yelled. “I’ve got it!”

“Come on, we’d better get going before the babysitter changes her mind and bolts. The art world awaits!”

~~~

Walking through the front doors of the gallery, Tessa was instantly captivated. Unlike her older sister, she’d never been to an event like this before. In fact, she was embarrassed to admit she’d never even been to an art gallery. Opening nights at the university and community theaters where she’d worked were really the only openings she was used to. Those types of events were completely different. Dressing up meant wearing your good jeans. Pizza and beer were the norm, with maybe a bottle of cheap champagne to spray over the cast and crew afterwards to celebrate. Here, people were in formal gowns and tuxedos, sipping what she assumed was not so cheap champagne. There was no pizza to be found; instead, fancy appetizers were passed around on silver trays by men and women wearing white gloves. At theater openings there were bear hugs and slaps on the back. Here there were fake air kisses on cheeks and formal handshakes. Guests tonight acted as if they were in a library rather than at a party, talking in hushed tones as they mulled about looking at paintings tagged with numbers priced with many,
many
zeros after the dollar signs. Did Ava really enjoy hanging out with these pretentious snobs?

“You’re not here to buy something, are you?” Tessa asked, unable to take her eyes off the prices. She knew Max made a decent salary, but she didn’t think he made
that
much. One of these paintings could pay a year’s worth of her rent, including utilities, and possibly gas and groceries as well.

Ava laughed. “No, I’ve just always loved this artist, Claudette Rayne. She held several exhibits at the gallery I ran in California. I haven’t seen her in years. There she is. Come, let me introduce you.”

Barely able to keep her balance on her heels, Tessa accidentally bumped into a woman as her sister grabbed her hand and hurried her across the room.