"Hey, wait up," Jimmy called.
Alli paused as Jimmy joined her. He said something to her, and she laughed. Tessa felt her body stiffen again. Damn Alli. She always wanted what Tessa had. Not that she wanted Jimmy, Tessa told herself quickly. In fact, this was perfect; she would have Sam and Megan to herself.
"Are you going to help us fly our kite on the Fourth of July?" Megan asked Tessa.
"Oh, I don't think so," Tessa replied, wondering if she'd still be here on the Fourth of July. She supposed she could leave once Grams came home from the hospital, but she didn't know when that would be. And maybe Grams would need help. But how could she stay in Tucker's Landing when her life was far, far away? Yet, how could she leave and let Sam go once again?
"I'm going to Mommy," Megan said suddenly. "You're both walking too slow."#p#分页标题#e#
"Should I be insulted?" Tessa asked Sam, feeling the space between them vanish with Megan's abrupt departure.
"Megan moves at the speed of light."
"You like being a dad, don't you?"
"I love it. Megan is the best of me, the best of Alli. But most of all, she's her own person with her own strengths, her own weaknesses. Every time I look at her I'm amazed."
"You had her when you were so young. It can't have been easy suddenly becoming a father at age twenty."
"I doubt it's ever easy, though it's true that sometimes I think Alli and I are growing up right alongside Megan. I just hope she doesn't beat us to adulthood," he said with a grin.
"I don't think there is any danger of that. Alli always liked kids," Tessa said idly. "I have to admit I think Megan is cute as can be, but other people's children just aren't that appealing."
"You have more tolerance for your own child than others."
She drew her sweater more tightly about her as the wind came off the ocean. "It's chilly today, but I'm glad the sun is out," she said, changing the subject.
"Were you all right during the storm?" he asked.
"Yes, fine," she lied.
He nodded. "It never bothered you as much as Alli."
She stared at him in surprise. Had he really not noticed all those years ago how much the storms bothered her?
Before she could ask him, her foot caught on a rock, and she felt herself stumble forward. Sam caught her by the arm and held her until she regained her footing. By the time she straightened, she realized that Alli, Jimmy, and Megan had disappeared beyond the next rise and she and Sam were alone.
"Thanks," she said shakily.
"No problem."
He was too close. She was too close. Somebody was too damn close. She took a deep breath and began to walk again. "Are you and Alli really getting a divorce?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because—because I do."
"What difference could it make to you? As soon as Phoebe is better, you'll go back to the life you've been living."
"Maybe not. Maybe I could live here some of the time." She couldn't believe the words had come out of her mouth. Sam looked as shocked as she was.
"What are you saying, Tessa? What exactly are you saying?"
"You and me, Sam, a second chance. That's what I'm saying."
* * *
Chapter 19
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"Tessa—"
"Daddy, Daddy," Megan interrupted, running back up the path to them, her face flushed with excitement as she held out her hand. "Look, I caught it with my hand."
Sam cleared his throat, turning his attention to Megan. He slowly peeled her fingers apart to reveal a small gold butterfly fluttering against her palm.
"It's beautiful," he said. "You have to let it go now. It needs to fly."
"But I want to take it home and keep it in my room."
"I don't think the butterfly would be very happy in your room."
"I would play with it every day, Daddy."
Tessa smiled as Sam flung her a frustrated look. But she couldn't help him out with this one, for the butterfly trapped in Megan's hand could have been herself.
"It would miss the other butterflies, honey," Sam said gently. He stooped down to look into Megan's eyes. "It would be lonely no matter how much you loved it."#p#分页标题#e#
"Okay," Megan said reluctantly, opening her fingers and freeing the butterfly.
Tessa watched it soar into the sky with mixed feelings, because the moment of truth between her and Sam had just flown away with that butterfly. Maybe it was better that way. Was she really ready to commit to staying in Tucker's Landing? What would she do here? A vacation was one thing, but a life? It would be nice to be with Grams. But Alli would be nearby as well. And it was such a long drive just to get to an airport. She had to work. She couldn't just do nothing. And her work took her all over the world.