Just The Way You Are(33)

Sam held out his hand to her and, after a momentary hesitation, she took it.

"She's going to make it," he said, wrapping his fingers around hers.

She looked into his eyes and saw a kindness that reminded her of the boy she'd first fallen in love with. "You're being very supportive about Grams. I appreciate it."

"I care about her, too. Listen, I have a whale watching trip in an hour with a newlywed couple. Why don't you come with me?"

"Come with you?" she asked in surprise.

"They'll want to be on their own. You can keep me company. Fishermen I can deal with. Young lovers are another story."

"I'm working," she said, even though she was tempted to say yes.

"You can't spare an hour or two? Mary Ann can mind the store."

"You never wanted me to come on your tours. Why now?"

"I told you, I'd like the company."#p#分页标题#e#

"My company?"

"Do you want me to take it back?"

"No, but there's Grams, and…" She waved her hand in the air, trying to give voice to the million reasons why she shouldn't go with him.

His smile faded. "Say no if you don't want to go. Say yes if you do. You don't have to make an excuse either way."

Oh, God. He was killing her with his eyes, with his question. She was supposed to be breaking away from Sam, but he so rarely invited her out on the boat, preferring to keep that world his and his alone, that she didn't want to say no.

"Look, we're leaving in an hour," he said. "If you want to come, I'll see you on board." He started to leave, then paused. "You never used to think this much, Alli. I don't believe I like it."

* * *

"I like the new you," Jimmy said as he sat down across the table from Tessa with a heaping portion of clam chowder in a bread bowl. He eyed Tessa's own smaller cup of chowder accompanied by a green salad with approval. "You're actually eating. I'm impressed."

"I shouldn't be," she said, then closed her eyes in delight as the first spoonful of clam chowder slid down her throat. "But this is so incredibly good. Tomorrow I will eat only lettuce, I swear."

He laughed, reaching across the table to wipe a drop of chowder off her chin with his napkin. "You could use a pound or two."

"No, I couldn't, and you know how hard I have to work to keep them off. Still … maybe just a few more bites," she said guiltily. "It must be the sea air."

"It's certainly all around us," Jimmy replied.

Tessa followed his gaze to the railing just a few feet away from them, to the harbor and the ocean beyond, the sails blowing in the breeze, the sound of sea lions mingling with the chatter of tourists. She shook her head, thinking how incongruous it all was, having lunch with Jimmy at a beat-up picnic table, dented with the carvings of a thousand teenagers who had sat at this point and looked out at the sea.

"What?" Jimmy asked.

"I was just thinking that four-star restaurants are more our style."

"But you've never enjoyed a meal more. Must be my company, huh?"

She laughed. "Must be. I still can't believe you're here."

"How's your grandmother?"

"A little better, I hope. I stopped in this morning. She said a few words to me, but the stroke has robbed her of her personality, her spirit. She seems to be struggling to just stay awake, to even say hello." Tessa pushed her bowl of chowder away, suddenly losing her appetite. "I shouldn't be this happy while she's in there, not for one second. It's not right."

Jimmy pushed the bowl back to her. "Not eating won't make your grandmother better. Tell me about her. What kind of woman is she? Is she like you?"

Tessa smiled again. "In looks maybe, but not in personality or in height. She barely comes up to my chin, but she's indomitable. She has a heart so big it crosses continents. When life knocks her down on her back, she gets right up again. She never feels sorry for herself, and she never asks, why me? She says, why not me? I've tried to be like her, but I just don't think I have it in me to be so brave, so courageous. It doesn't take much in the way of guts to strut down a runway."

"I don't know about that. I'd be terrified at the thought."

"You could do it. You're good-looking enough."

"Yeah, right. I'd trip and land in some matron's lap."#p#分页标题#e#

"More like a busty brunette."

"I've given them up for Lent."

"It isn't Lent."

"You know, you look tired," Jimmy said abruptly. "Let me take your picture now with those gray shadows under your eyes."

"Don't you dare. My career will be over. And I was serious before—you are not shooting a day in the life of a supermodel here. You'll have to wait until I can get down to L.A. Promise me."