Falling for Her Boss

“There’s nothing wrong with caring,” Cindy reminded her gently, her calm voice belying the crop of flame-colored hair that framed her face.

“If I had a daughter like Poppy...” Tessa shook her head. “Do you think I’m being judgmental because I’m jealous?”

“Are you feeling jealous?”

“I don’t think so.” Tessa thought of the sweet child. “What I keep feeling is the irony. Poppy’s mother had everything to live for and...”

“You don’t?” Cindy put a comforting hand on Tessa’s elbow. “Just because Karl’s a jerk doesn’t mean you won’t have a full future with everything you want in it.”

“Because there are so many men out there who want to marry a woman who can’t bear his children.”

“I want to believe that sort of thinking is in the past, Tessa. You just have to pick the right man.”

“I thought I had,” Tessa replied dully. “And since I’m so good at picking them, we should have every confidence that I can find another winner.”

“Give it time. I never believed Flynn would come around. I still marvel that he ever did.”

Flynn had fallen in love with Cindy’s sister, Julia. They had married and were raising their triplets when Julia had died. It was a blow that shattered them all. Lacking any other family, Flynn had moved with his daughters to Rosewood so that Cindy could be in their lives.

Ironically, Cindy had initially moved to Rosewood to escape Flynn and her continued feelings for him. Cindy had met him first, fallen in love with him first, but Flynn had chosen Julia, the steady, responsible sister. It took time, faith and a depth of love to learn that Flynn had made that choice because of his family background and pain-filled past.

Once she had unraveled Flynn’s past, Cindy was able to understand what Flynn needed. Now they were raising a family together, and their love had only deepened over the years. But she could remember being on the outside as Tessa was now. How alone and unloved she’d felt.

“You and Flynn are perfect together,” Tessa was saying. “Your family...well, it’s perfect, too.”

“Now,” Cindy reminded her.

Tessa remembered all that Cindy had gone through, how difficult it had been for her to uproot her entire life in Houston and move away. She’d left behind the only family she had along with all her friends. At least Tessa had her family. Her parents lived close to Houston, but they were still in her life.

They had been supportive when Karl ended the marriage. Her parents hadn’t been thrilled that she’d chosen to relocate but tried to understand. Like most people, they thought Houston was big enough for her to avoid her ex-husband. But they liked Cindy and knew she would be a good anchor. Her father had extracted a promise that she would return to Houston if things didn’t work out in Rosewood, if she wasn’t happy.

Happy. A funny term. One she had taken for granted most of her life. She’d always felt pretty blessed. With her family, her job, finding a man she thought she could share her life with...

Cindy turned from the shoes. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a cup of tea.”

Tessa didn’t care about shoe shopping. She was really only tagging along. “Sounds good.”

“We’ll go to Maddie’s, the place I told you about.”

“The Tea House?”

“Tea Cart. But yes. Best tea in the world. Maddie mixes her own blends. And her lemon bars are to die for. She makes them with real shortbread.”

Still not having much of an appetite, Tessa nodded. “I do love tea.”

“I know.”

“Cindy, I’m sorry. I’m being a real downer. You’ve given up a Saturday and I’m about as much fun as a rain-soaked picnic.”

Cindy smiled. “I didn’t come out today to paint the town. I’m fine with having a low-key day. It’s great having you live so close again. I’ve missed you. You’re going to love Maddie. She’s a native to Rosewood. And she’s an inspiration. Takes care of her mother, who has dementia, and she has become a great mother to her husband’s niece.”

Tessa shook her head. “You don’t see it, do you? You’re an inspiration, Cindy.”

Predictably, Cindy protested. “Just living my life.”

“Which includes supporting and sponsoring the Children’s Home, raising your three nieces, adopting a parentless child, raising your own children, being a great friend...”

Embarrassed, Cindy’s ivory cheeks reddened. “Stop that. You make it sound like more than it is.”

“Afraid not. But I am happy about finding a new place for tea. Does she sell any of her blends?”

“Yes! I have three favorites, couldn’t pick just one.” Cindy opened the door and they stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Typical. We love things in threes.”

After college Tessa and Cindy had reconnected over tea. Both had been invited to a luncheon for women in the oil industry. Tessa had been new to Traxton, and Cindy was representing her family business. Squeezed together at one of the last tables, they had caught up over a pot of spiced orange pekoe. College had taken them in opposite directions. Destiny brought them back together.

Ironic that Rosewood had become a sanctuary for them both. Right now Tessa didn’t relish the thought of returning to Houston, something that worried her parents.

As though reading her thoughts, Cindy asked about them.

“They just want me to be happy,” she summed up, thinking she would have to invite them for a visit when she could handle it. The thought of entertaining anyone, even her parents, was exhausting.

“Natural.” Cindy hesitated. “If you’d like, I could invite them for a weekend.”

“The cottage has a spare bedroom.” Tessa took a deep breath. “I know you’re just trying to help, but I’m not quite ready for a weekend visit.” Especially because some days it was difficult just to breathe, to force herself to go to work, to interact with anyone.

“I remember days of curling up in bed, wishing the world would go away.” Cindy’s eyes darkened in reflection. “I just want to help.”

“This—” Tessa snagged her friend’s elbow “—this, spending time with me even though I’m not fun. It’s helping...more than I can tell you.”

Cindy squeezed Tessa’s hand in return. “Fun isn’t a friendship requirement. I don’t remember being much fun several years ago. But that didn’t stop you from being there for me.”

“It was all a plan so I could disappear from Houston.” Tessa dredged up a laugh. “And to find a new tea source.”

“That I can promise.” They had reached the Tea Cart. “And after today you’ll wonder how you lived this long without Maddie’s specialties.”

Meeting Maddie, Tessa tried to relax.

“I hope you’ll come here often,” Maddie told her.

The bell over the door jangled. Being Saturday, the shop was busy. They found a table by the window, affording a view of Main Street. Tessa had immediately taken to the Victorian town that still looked as though horse-drawn carriages could travel its cobblestone streets. Thriving businesses populated the original buildings. Unlike so many towns that had dried up because of a superstore’s dominance or that catered strictly to tourism, Rosewood maintained its own identity. On the sidewalk directly outside, café tables sat beneath a canopy of aged trees and nineteenth-century streetlamps.

A few young couples sat at these tiny tables, absorbed in each other. Just as young love, any love, should, Tessa realized. Had she and Karl ever stared at each other with such devotion?

It wasn’t something she remembered. Why hadn’t she noticed that back then? Had she really not paid attention to the details of her marriage? It was one of the questions that itched in her thoughts, robbed her of sleep, resonated in her loneliness.

“How do you like your tea?” Cindy asked.

Tessa pushed away the nagging thoughts and picked up her cup to taste. Surprisingly, the effect was immediately piquant. She took another sip. “This really is good.”

“I knew you’d like it.” Cindy put her own cup in a saucer. “It doesn’t seem like it today, but the time will come when little things like this will make you smile again.”

Tessa didn’t think they would.

“I know you don’t think so right now,” Cindy continued, echoing Tessa’s thoughts. “But I wouldn’t try to convince you if I didn’t believe it.” Her cell phone rang and she glanced at the screen. “Sorry. I have to take this.”

Tessa sipped her tea while trying not to listen, but she couldn’t miss the distress in her friend’s voice.

“Something wrong?” Tessa asked as Cindy clicked the phone off.

“An inconvenience really.” Cindy’s face filled with regret. “It’s the Children’s Home,” she began, referring to the organization she had founded that fostered children. She had established the home as an outgrowth of a class she taught at church. It all began with one unwanted child, which led to forming the Rainbow class for kids who needed extra attention. The group had grown, then taken on a life of its own. Cindy’s house had been adapted as a permanent home for children without homes of their own.

“Something you need to take care of now?” Sensing her friend was feeling bad because their outing was about to be cut short, Tessa made an impulsive offer. “What if I come with you? That is, if I can help at all.”

Cindy’s face brightened in an instant. “What a wonderful idea! I’m sorry to cut our tea short, but the kitchen at the home is stocked with Maddie’s goodies, so I can brew us a pot of fresh tea. I make a run at least twice a week.” She reached for her purse and pulled out some cash. “This is mine.”

Seeing how pleased her friend was at the offer to join her, Tessa swallowed the regret her impulse was now causing. Surely she could take herself out of her own worries to help. Feeling ashamed of herself for the regret, she picked up her own purse.

Cindy left a generous tip on the table. She acted so naturally that Tessa often forgot that Cindy came from wealth. As they drove toward what had once been Cindy’s home, Tessa guessed much of her inheritance had been spent on the children she took in.

It didn’t take long to reach the neighborhood, which was just on the perimeter of Main Street in one of the oldest areas in the town. The house was an aged Victorian that wore its years well. Tessa could picture Cindy at home here, taking on a dozen tasks as she was wont to do.

Children spilled out of the doorway like errant sunbeams. Tessa felt the tugging ache of knowing none would ever be hers. As a single woman, she understood the difficulty of adoption, reluctantly acknowledging that if possible every child deserved two parents. Certainly more than a lone parent who worked sixty-plus hours a week.

However, it was nearly impossible to hold on to the pain as children rushed toward them, toward Cindy.

“So many smiles!” Cindy greeted them. “Saturday smiles?”

“Miss Cindy!” the voices chorused. Several hands tugged at hers. Tessa swallowed, wondering at these little ones who were so fond of her friend.

The door stood open and slowly they traveled up the walk and inside. It was impossible to hurry with so many little bodies pressed close.

“Who wants to run and get Miss Donna?” Cindy asked them.

“Me, me!” was shouted as several headed toward the kitchen.

“Do they all live here?” Tessa asked when there was a semiquiet moment.

“No. Some are here for the day. It’s one of our programs to help single and/or working parents. And the full-time residents enjoy the company.” Cindy hung her purse on a tall coatrack in the hall.

Tessa followed suit, noticing the exquisite detail in the moldings and woodwork. The floor appeared to be made of rare longleaf Texas pine. “This is just as pretty as you told me.”

“You should have come and visited while I lived here,” Cindy replied. “It made a wonderful home.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Not really. I still see it so often. And my heart is with Flynn and the kids. Wouldn’t matter if we lived in a bamboo hut. Wherever they are, it’s home.”

Genuinely glad for her friend’s happiness, Tessa didn’t feel any envy. Just puzzlement. Why did some people get it so right the first time?

Cindy caught her gaze. “Something heavy weighing on your mind?”

“Didn’t realize I was so transparent. Just wondering how some people choose the right person first time around.”

“If you’re thinking of me, remember I was on a very twisted path for a very long time.” Cindy’s green eyes darkened. “I was basically in love with what should have been the worst person possible—my sister’s husband. I can remember that feeling of wondering if I’d ever be part of a couple. Seemed as though the whole world had paired off. Except for me. To me it looked as though I was going to have a lifetime of being alone. Don’t compare yourself, Tessa. Your situation is unique. You are unique. And that’s a good thing. I don’t know why the Lord has given you this challenge. I don’t know why He gave me mine, but I trust it’s for the best. Mine has turned out to be.”

“My faith isn’t in question,” Tessa replied quietly.

“Of course not! But sometimes it’s hard not to question what happens. I did.”

Uncertainty seized her. “You did?”

“Constantly.” Cindy’s eyes were steady. “I couldn’t understand why the Lord wanted me to be alone, to love someone I couldn’t have.”

“You never said...”

“It seemed so wrong. Julia was happy. I loved her. I didn’t want to do anything to change her happiness. But I couldn’t get Flynn out of my heart.”

Tessa nodded, remembering the sweetness of her own romance when she was young. “Karl seemed so different at first. I never dreamed...”

“Which is why you can’t stop dreaming. I don’t think you have to marry to be happy, but I do think the Lord has someone for you.”

“Hiding in plain sight?” Tessa tried to joke.

The determination in Cindy’s gaze didn’t waver. “Just might be.”

Sounding like a thousand little footsteps, the kids returned. Cindy reached down to pick up the shortest child.

“This little sweetheart is Sandy.”

“Hi, Sandy.”

The little girl looked at Tessa steadily. “Who are you?”

Surprised at the child’s grasp on language, Tessa smiled. “Wow. How old are you?”

“Four.”

“We’ve had some challenges, didn’t we, Sandy?” Cindy responded, giving the child a hug.

Challenges that had stunted her growth, no doubt. She looked no more than two at the most. Tessa swallowed, wondering if the little girl had been malnourished. Over the years, Tessa had donated small amounts to the home. It was what Cindy always requested in lieu of birthday and Christmas presents. It hit Tessa why supporting the home was so important. Immediately she felt guilty for her own self-pity. These kids had real problems. Problems that a move or new job could never fix.

“Who are you?” Sandy repeated.

“I’m Tessa.” She smiled, pleased when Sandy smiled back. “A friend of Cindy’s.”

“Me, too,” Sandy replied with utter sincerity.

A youngish woman swept into the room, holding a baby. Tessa guessed the little one was perhaps a year old. “Thanks for coming, Cindy. I’m sorry for the short notice.” She smiled in Tessa’s direction.

Cindy made the introductions. “Don’t worry. We can’t control accidents.”

“My daughter took a tumble,” Donna explained. “My husband’s with her at the ER and it looks as though her arm is broken. And she’s wanting Mommy.”

“Of course,” Tessa murmured. “I’m free today and can help.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Donna exclaimed. “We have a lot of kids today, so all hands are appreciated.”

“Donna’s one of our best volunteers,” Cindy said. “And we couldn’t manage without her. Today she should have had backup.”

Tessa realized that taking the day to spend with her had been a real sacrifice on Cindy’s part. Shopping and tea didn’t rate on the same scale as helping children. “Oh.”

“Normally I could handle it. Just didn’t expect a broken arm.” Donna untied her apron. “I’ll grab my purse and take off, then. I don’t know how long I’ll be.”

“I do,” Cindy replied. “We’ll see you on your next volunteer day if that works. Your daughter needs you. Flynn has the kids and they’re fine.”

Tessa watched the exchange and an unexpected seed of determination sprouted. If these women could devote time to help the kids, she could, too.

Chapter Four

Tessa closed the book, finishing what must have been the dozenth one she’d read. In an instant another landed in her lap as a young boy handed her a Berenstain Bears book.

“Another?” she questioned, having already read two tales of the bears’ exploits.

“Uh-huh.” He nodded his head earnestly.

“Time to get to sleep,” Cindy said over her shoulder. “Miss Tessa is spoiling you to pieces.” There was fondness in her voice.

“I think word got out that I read more than one book each,” Tessa admitted.

“I think you’re right.” Cindy laughed, not sounding a bit tired despite the hours she’d spent organizing, cooking, playing, reading, supervising and getting children ready for bed.

Pitching in, Tessa hadn’t felt tired. Usually at the end of the day she was exhausted. The result of depression, she suspected. She’d done enough reading on the subject to recognize the symptoms. But today, tonight, reenergized, she felt she could easily go on for another eight hours. The young boy snuggled down after she read him another story.

The McNabs, the couple who lived at the house and worked full-time for the Children’s Home, had returned from a weekend away. Most of the volunteers worked daytime hours. A few could be counted on for occasional night shifts but the bulk of that time was covered by the paid staff.

Tessa pulled the blanket up over the boy’s arms. So sweet. He had been relentless during dinner, teasing the girls. Now, though, there was something about the peacefulness of a sleepy child... Swallowing, Tessa abruptly stood. Out of nowhere her breath caught, coming with difficulty. Everything was suddenly too much. Too close.

The boy’s hand tugged hers. “Are you coming back tomorrow?”

Tessa tried to sound normal, not as though she felt pinched from the inside out. “I’m not sure.”

Cindy apparently recognized her discomfort. “We can finish up. The McNabs have everything under control.”

“Good.” Tessa nodded. “Yes.”

Cindy took her elbow, guiding her to the stairs. “It’s been a long day.”

Tessa swallowed, hating that the hurt was attacking in waves. She’d conquered it for hours. It had even seemed to go away. But now every poignant moment was an assault.

Blindly, she navigated the stairs. Cindy was close behind, grabbing their purses from the hall tree. She didn’t really remember how, but she was in the car, Cindy driving.

“Would you like to stay over?” Cindy was asking. “Tomorrow we could have a nice breakfast before church.”

Tessa shook her head, knowing instinctively that she needed to be alone.

“Okay, well, I’ll take you home. But if you change your mind I can be over in a tick. It’s no trouble.”

Sanity returned. “You’ve been gone from your family all day. You really don’t have to babysit me.”

Cindy took her gaze from the road for a moment, staring. “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that you don’t have to be alone. We’re here for you.”

“I know. And it’s truly appreciated. But I need to be able to handle an evening alone.”

“I shouldn’t have thrown you into the middle of the kids,” Cindy fretted.

“I volunteered,” Tessa reminded her.

“Yes, but I know it’s a tender subject. I wasn’t thinking.”

Seemed they were each determined to take the blame.

Tessa dug deep and found a tiny smile. “At least we’re not blaming each other.”

Cindy saw the smile and laughed. “I have days when I feel that I’ve jumped in the deep end before I learned to wade in the shallows.” She turned, heading toward Morgan’s home, which was close. “Will you promise me something?”

Tessa took a deep breath, still feeling the twitchy beat of her heart. “Depends on what it is.”

“If you’re lonely or just bored, call me. If you don’t feel like coming over or having company, we can talk on the phone.”

“I can’t promise to do it every time,” Tessa replied truthfully. Most days she felt she used up all her words during working hours and had few left for anything else. It was why her cupboards were relatively bare, her cottage virtually unchanged since she moved in. Talking required an energy that she couldn’t seem to sustain. Her parents had commented on her sparse communications. Tonight’s pain was subsiding, nearly extinguished. Suddenly exhausted, she rubbed her eyes. It seemed as if years had passed since her divorce.

“Okay,” Cindy conceded. “I hope you’ll feel like going to church tomorrow.”

“I’ll see.”

Sensing Tessa’s reluctance, Cindy was silent as she drove the short remaining distance.

Morgan’s broad driveway was empty, all the cars enclosed in the garage, so it was difficult to determine just who was home. But it didn’t matter. After saying goodbye to Cindy, all Tessa wanted to do was disappear into her cottage. Skirting the front of the house, she took the shortcut that led her past the rose arbor.

“You’re home early for a Saturday night,” Morgan spoke from the darkness.

Startled, she jumped.

“Sorry. Thought you saw me.”

“No, I wasn’t looking out into the yard.” Tessa collected herself, gazing into the night, finally seeing that he sat on a curved stone bench. What is he doing out in the dark alone? Should she ask? Undecided, she hesitated.

“The smell of the roses,” he explained, apparently sensing her curiosity. Morgan stood, moving into a patch of moonlight. “It’s more distinct at night when it’s still. The heat of the sun brings out the aroma and the cooler air seems to capture it.”

It was a romantic notion, one she hadn’t expected of him. “Oh.”

“Did you have a good time?”

“A good time?” she echoed. “It wasn’t exactly that kind of day. I was having tea with Cindy when she got called to the Children’s Home. Wound up working there this afternoon...well, and this evening.”

“What did you do there?” he questioned.

“Cooked, read stories. Stuff with the kids.”

“Oh.” He looked perplexed.

She wondered why. “Is that so amazing?”

“You don’t have kids.”

Tessa stiffened. “No, I don’t.”

He held up one hand. “It wasn’t an accusation. Just seems like an unlikely way to spend a Saturday.”

“Don’t you want to spend Saturdays with Poppy?”

“I do as often as I can. Not as often as I want.”

The day’s ventures emboldened her. “Why not?”

“My job doesn’t end at five o’clock on Friday. Pipelines leak, trucks break down. You know that.”

Tessa still didn’t understand why he insisted on such hands-on management. “Surely you can hire someone to help with your workload.”

“Do you know how many small enterprises like mine are gobbled up every year? I have to make sure that doesn’t happen to Harper. If I delegate away all the problem solving, I might not know if we’re facing a major obstacle.”

“Is it really that likely?” she questioned.

“Adair Petroleum built a large regional office here several years ago to handle their pipeline and trucking operations. The recession hit. Now one of the majors owns it. And most of the local people who worked at Adair found themselves out of jobs. I took on the ones I could, but I didn’t have enough jobs to go around. If something happened to Harper, it would be devastating to this town. I won’t let that happen on my watch.”

“Oh.”

“Yes. Rosewood thrives because we, the community, made a conscious decision to keep it alive, to keep out big business and superstores that shut down local mom-and-pop operations. The bed-and-breakfast has been in the same family for generations, the same for the café, bakery, drugstore, hardware... Well, you get the idea. This community takes care of its own. And I’m part of that—I have to be, with so many employees dependent on me. It’s not easy, but if it’s important it’s worth the effort.”