“We needed to leave town,” I tell her as Dad walks into the kitchen. “Hey, Dad, this is Tess; Tess, this is my father, Benny.” They shake hands and Dad comments on Tess’s outfit.
“Is that what the kids are wearing these days?”
“Just me. And Roscoe.” My parents laugh as Tess explains that she didn’t pack for the trip and had to buy some things at the grocer’s.
I cut in on the conversation. “Is dinner ready? We’re starved. Have you had that roast yet?”
“You came snooping in my kitchen?”
“We got here a few hours ago, but you were out on the boat.”
“Well, kids, come sit down,” Mom instructs. “Benny, grab some more plates, won’t you? The food is already on the table. Jack, get the lady a beverage.” She tsk-tsks me as she takes Tess’s arm and leads her into the dining room.
Once seated at the table, I remember to breathe in a way I never do in Vegas. Mom and Dad want to know everything. When we got here. How we got here. How I know Tess. What Tess does in Vegas.
It might be overwhelming to some people, but I have come to learn that Tess is not some people. Just when I think I have a part of her figured out, she surprises me.
I’d have guessed the interrogation would shut her down, but she seems genuinely chill as she passes around a bowl of roasted potatoes and adds slices of pot roast to her plate.
“I’m a waitress at Ace’s casino. It’s a good job—I mean, I’m grateful for it and it keeps a roof over my head and food in my fridge. Can’t really ask for much more.”
“That’s great,” Dad says agreeably. “Keep it simple, right?”
“Seems like so many young people these days just want bigger and better, keep looking for the next thing.”
Tess laughs. “That isn’t me, that’s for sure. I never had any big aspirations. Like, a childhood dream. That’s why Jack is so impressive to me, though. Like right now, with this potential contract? He could have the next ten years of his life mapped out.”
Mom and Dad share a look across the table.
“What aren’t you saying?” I ask them.
Dad shrugs. “We want you to be happy. You seem to be coming home more and more often, and maybe there’s a reason for that.”
“You think I want to move back to my parents’ house?”
Mom cuts her roast, not meeting my eyes when she speaks. “Maybe not in with us, but maybe you want to focus on music again. Your first love.”
“Don’t be so hard on him, Judy,” Tess says without censor. “Jack plays music at the clubs. Everyone loves it.”
Mom pats Tess’s hand. “I bet everyone does. But does Jack?”
“Can we not do this now?” I ask.
Dad nods, then claps his hand and stands. He takes a bottle of wine from the rack and, as he opens it, he does his best to change the subject. “So, Tess, where did you grow up?”
She stops eating and dabs her mouth with a napkin. “Um, in Arkansas.”
“Really?” Mom says. “I’d never have thought it. You don’t have an accent hardly at all.”
“Right, well sometimes some references to sweet tea slip out, but for the most part I try to fit in with the locals.”
“Your folks still out in Arkansas?”
“Yeah,” she hesitates, and I’m fucking glad I brought her to this table. My parents can ask her the questions that seem to shut her down. I want the answers, but I don’t want her pissed at me for asking. “Well, I’m not close to my family. It wasn’t the best childhood, so I left when I was able. I don’t plan on ever going back.”
My mom pats Tess’s hand tenderly. “I’m sorry, Tess. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be to navigate life on your own.”
Tess brushes her off. “No, I’m pretty lucky. I met really wonderful friends this year. You’ve met some of them, I’m sure, or heard of them at least? Ace and Emmy, and Claire and Landon. McQueen and JoJo. Our mutual friends are why Jack and I have become close.”
“All those whirlwind romances,” Mom says, shaking her head. “I can hardly believe it. Every time Jack tells us about a new one, I just smile, remembering when Benny and I were young.”
“How did you meet?” Tess asks softly.
Dad raises his wine glass to Mom’s. “We met here, born and raised. My parents raised chickens and Judy’s father taught at the school. We grew up together.”
“Then they had me and their lives were complete,” I can’t help but add.
“Jack always makes it about him, in case you haven’t noticed,” Dad says jokingly.