“Well, I think that’s really romantic, and not at all what I expected,” Tess says, leaning back in her chair, taking us in. “In Vegas, Jack is this oh-so-handsome famous DJ, who used to date Ashley Fast. Seeing you guys here, as this picture-perfect family, I’m just trying to make it work out in my head.”
“We’re far from perfect,” Mom says.
“I don’t believe you,” Tess pushes back, playing along. “Give me one non-perfect thing.”
“Well,” Mom says, looking down again. “We didn’t want to mention it. And maybe now isn’t the time....”
“Judy, don’t,” Dad tells her.
“Don’t what?” I ask. “There are never any secrets between us. Are there now?”
“No, Jack,” Dad says, sighing. “It’s just not appropriate dinner conversation.”
“It’s not appropriate anytime conversation is it?” Mom asks. “But Tess asked me a question, and it would be wrong not to address it.”
“Stop talking in code. Just say it.” I don’t have the mental energy for an Ashley-Fast-style fight.
“We saw the videos,” Mom blurted.
Tess gasps. “Oh my God.” She closes her eyes, her forehead falling into her hands.
“Shit, you knew who Tess was when we walked in?” I ask.
“Well, I told you we got Wi-Fi,” Mom says, throwing her hands in the air.
“I’m sorry, Mom. You shouldn’t have seen that.”
“The article was one thing, and I don’t know why they care about who comes and goes from your place, Jack, but the videos were something else entirely. There is no privacy. No decency.”
“We didn’t know we were being taped.”
“Jack, sex in a car when you’re a high profile public figure?” Mom tosses her napkin on the table, defeated. “It’s like you don’t see the fire you’re playing with.”
“I’m not playing at all. I hate the scene, the bullshit. I didn’t want a fucking sex tape. Ashley’s the one who set all that up. She set everything up, has been since day one.”
“Really?” Dad asks. “Jack, if that’s true, that girl’s playing dirty.”
“I know. Kirby thinks we should sue, but hell, I don’t want her money.” I look at Tess who is crying softly. “And it really messed things up for Tess. She doesn’t want her family to find her, and now, after the article came out, followed with the tape, her face is everywhere.”
“I can understand why you needed to get out of town.” Dad taps his finger on the table, as if trying to work something out. “But Tess, why are you running from your family?”
All eyes are on her, and I know that might be overwhelming, but if she’s going to feel safe anywhere in the world, it’s in this room, right here, right now.
“Tess, you can trust us,” I tell her.
“I know I can, Jack,” she says, looking up, the tears filling her eyes spilling over to her cheeks. “It’s not about whether or not I can trust you. It’s about the way everything will change if I tell you.”
My mom speaks, her gentle voice reassuring all of us. “Look, Tess, you don’t need to share some deep dark secret to be welcome here. The truth is, maybe I shouldn’t have gone there with you both about the videos. But it felt like an elephant in the room.”
“I honestly was so focused on getting out of Vegas today, I didn’t even consider that you might know.” I take Tess’s hand in mine, and then I push back from the table and pull her into my lap. Wrapping my arms around her, I claim her as mine. “Thank you for welcoming us even though we’ve put you through all this.”
“Jack, enough. We’d do anything for you,” Mom admonishes me. “And hell, anyone who wants to talk trash is just jealous. My saving grace was that when I made a video in the eighties, no one had fancy cameras like you kids do today. The internet wasn’t even invented.”
“Judy,” Dad says, stifling a laugh. “Maybe TMI?”
“Since when do you know acronyms, Dad?” I ask.
I feel Tess smile against my chest. I pull her closer, wanting her to feel protected after what could have been a ruinous conversation.
“We’re hip to the hop, Jack,” Dad says, laughing.
“It’s true,” Mom says, smiling. “Did you hear we’re coming to your show in a few weeks?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I ask, laughing at the way my parents are rolling with the punches.
“We are,” Mom says, beaming. “Really. Landon’s parents are flying out, and so are McQueen’s. We all got rooms at Spades. Claire’s mom, too.”