Just The Way You Are(13)

"Grams said I was like her?" Alli asked in amazement. "She never told me that. Everyone says Grams looked just like Tessa when she was young."

William stood up and came around the bed. He puts a hand on Alli's shoulder. "Phoebe was blond and beautiful when she was young, same as Tessa. But she had fire in her heart, too, same as you."

Alli smiled back at him. "Thank you."

"Now, why don't you go home or go to work? I'll call you when Phoebe wakes up or if the doctor has any news."

Alli hesitated. "If you're sure. I can pick up Megan and take her to school, then come back."

"I'm sure. And Alli … whatever you may think, I know your grandmother loves both you and Tessa. That's why I called your sister. Because Phoebe needs all the support she can get."

"I know. And I can handle seeing Tessa again," Alli said, wishing she felt as confident as she sounded.





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Chapter 4



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Tessa. Alli felt the word reverberate through her brain as she stopped and stared at the scene in her husband's living room.

It was Tessa, all right. Tessa of the long, glorious blond hair and the bombshell body and the seductive blue eyes. Her sister hadn't changed at all. If anything, she was more beautiful than ever. And Alli was nowhere near ready to see her.

Alli glanced at Sam. His jaw was set in granite, his eyes dark and unreadable. She wondered what had gone on between them before she'd arrived. Had they talked? Had they run into each other's arms like long-lost lovers? An old intense jealousy grabbed hold of her heart and squeezed.

"Mommy?" Megan asked in confusion.

The one word pulled her together like nothing else could. "Megan," Alli said quickly, trying to catch her breath. She'd known this moment was coming. She'd anticipated Tessa's arrival. But not like this. She'd thought to meet Tessa at the hospital, in cold, clinical surroundings, not here in the Tuckers' old house, and most definitely not with Megan in attendance, listening to every word.

Seeing the three of them together tore at Alli's heart. They looked like a family—the mother, the father, the child. It struck her that this was the way it would have been, maybe should have been.

Alli wondered if Sam was thinking the same thing, the way he was looking at Tessa, the way Tessa was standing with Megan's brush in her hand. Megan's brush? Tessa was doing Megan's hair. Oh, God!

Alli struggled to hang on. She didn't know how she felt—angry, sad, ashamed, embarrassed, left out? The emotions flew through her so fast she couldn't keep track of them. She knew she had to say something, but she was almost afraid to open her mouth, completely uncertain of what words would come out.

"Aunt Tessa is making a French braid," Megan said uncertainly, picking up on the tension in the room.

"Maybe your mother should do it," Tessa said.

"Mommy doesn't know how to do it very well." Megan sent her mother an apologetic glance.

Alli's first inclination was to grab the brush out of Tessa's hand and take Megan as far away from her sister as she possibly could. Because Megan was hers! And Alli couldn't take a chance on Tessa's stealing Megan's affection the way she'd taken everyone else's.

Despite the childish emotions swamping her, there was a part of Alli that remembered she was an adult, a mother, and she couldn't lose control with Megan in the room.

"Alli, can I talk to you for a minute—in the kitchen?" Sam asked.#p#分页标题#e#

She looked at him in confusion and saw something in his eyes she hadn't expected—understanding. He knew she was about to blow, and he was offering her a way out. For Megan's sake, she had to take it. Mumbling something, she headed to the kitchen. She sat down at the table and desperately counted to ten. "When did she arrive?" Alli asked finally.

"A while ago," Sam said warily.

"I didn't expect her until later."

"She flew all night to get here as fast as she could."

"But she didn't go to the hospital. No, she came here instead. I wonder why."

Hearing the words fly out of her mouth, Alli knew they sounded like an accusation, but she couldn't help it. Why was Tessa here—brushing Megan's hair, chatting it up with Sam—when Grams was in the hospital fighting for her life?

"She thought it was too early to go to the hospital. She didn't realize they'd let family in at any time." Sam took the seat across from her. "Alli, you knew she was coming. Why are you so surprised she's here?"

"I thought I was ready. But it turns out I wasn't. She's still beautiful, isn't she?" Sam didn't look away, but he also didn't give anything away. "Isn't she?" Alli persisted.