“Leave it, Da. It doesn’t matter.”
My dad sipped his creamy liqueur. “Suit yourself. I won’t pry, but you know we’re here for you.”
My taste for ale gone, I tore strips from the label. “Thanks. I know that.” I pushed my chair back from the table and stood with a stretch. “I’m knackered. Think I’ll head to bed for a while.”
My mother lowered her phone. “I’ll make the bed for you in a minute.”
I placed a kiss on her head. “I’m almost thirty, Ma. I can make the bed.”
She nodded and returned to her phone call. When she thought I was out of earshot, she said, “Something’s not right. He looks as if he hasn’t slept in days. I haven’t seen him like this since Grace.”
“Leave it, love,” my dad replied. “He’ll tell us when he’s good and ready. You pushing him for an answer isn’t going to make him tell us anything.”
“I should talk to his brothers.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” My dad’s voice rose, something that only happened if he was annoyed. “We’ve never poked around in our children’s business before, and we won’t start now. He’s a grown man.”
“You’re right. I just worry about my boys being so far away.”
I tore upstairs. Grace. Why did it always come back to her?
Chapter Seventeen
Tessa
When I opened my eyes, late evening darkness surrounded me, and an emptiness leaked into places that, until earlier, had overflowed with happiness. It’d been seven hours since Keegan stormed out. Seven hours since I’d discovered he’d been in cahoots with Shane the entire time.
How could he betray me like that? And how could I have fallen for another sweet-talking Irishman? I balled up the covers and pulled them over my face. My head throbbed in time with my heartbeat, and my eyes stung, grainy from crying. Why was I so upset over a man I’d met five days ago? Five unimportant days. Not five months. Not five years. One-hundred and twenty insignificant hours. He wasn’t my dream man. He was a stranger. A fabrication. Make-believe.
A sob fell from my lips. Who was I kidding? He was everything I’d dreamed of. The piece of tin engagement ring I still wore strangled my finger. It had to go. I yanked the trinket off and threw towards the fire. Good riddance.
Curling into a ball, I pulled a pillow over my head in an attempt to silence my thoughts. I might stay hidden away forever. Pretend nothing else in the world existed. I could live in this bedroom for the rest of my life. If only. I’d have to face everyone eventually, plus if Barb hadn’t already fired me, I still had a wedding to plan.
There was a knock on the door. “Tessa, sweetheart, you in there?” Brendan called.
I peeked from beneath my fabric fortress. “Give me a few minutes, and I’ll come downstairs.”
“You okay? It’s been a few hours since… well, you know…”
Since I committed personal and professional suicide.
“Is Barb still here, or has she left?”
“I’m going to come in,” he said matter of factly. “Are you decent?”
“Apart from looking like I’ve been dumpster diving, I’m fine.”
The door opened with a creak. The light flicked on, smarting my eyes, and I tunneled beneath the blankets again.
“Come out, chicken.” Brendan tugged at the covers.
“I’d rather not.”
“Barb’s still here.” He sat at the edge of the bed. “You need to talk to her.”
“Does everyone know how I ruined Violet Hale’s wedding?”
“Why would you think that?”
I moved the blankets down, so my eyes were visible. “I’m sure Barb has already been on the phone to Violet.”
“You’ve got her all wrong. Whenever you’re ready, come down and talk to her.”
“I don’t think I can face the world right now.” I never wanted to face anyone ever again.
“No matter what happened, no matter what’s true and what isn’t, you and Keegan care about each other. You have a connection.”
“We don’t. He destroyed everything. He was in league with my ex.”
“Destroyed everything, did he?”
“If he hadn’t lied to me about Shane, things wouldn’t be the mess they are now.”
“Tell yourself whatever’ll make you feel better, but you have a job to do.” He lowered his head and interlaced his fingers as if in prayer. “Take it from someone who’s been there, lying in a bed of your own sweat and tears isn’t the way to get things done.
“The airport’s opening as soon as it can and will be fully functional by tomorrow. If you want this to work for both of us, then you need to get your arse in gear. You committed to a job that needs finishing. If you give up now, we’ll both be in trouble.” He left the room without looking back.
I kicked off the covers and stared at the ceiling. Brendan was right. I couldn’t hide away piecing back my shattered heart and feeling sorry for myself. It wasn’t as if I’d die if I never saw Keegan again. It wasn’t as if the world had ended. It wasn’t as if there weren’t other men who would make me weak with one glance.
****
Barb sat on a fireside chair in the kitchen with her legs tucked beneath her, and a fishbowl-sized glass of red wine cupped in her hand. Max snoozed by her feet, his ears and legs twitching every few seconds.
“Well, well, well, look who decided to grace us with an appearance.” She eyed me and grinned. “You look like shit.”
“You’re so sweet.” I nodded toward her yoga pants ensemble. “The soccer mom look suits you. You should wear yoga pants more often.”
Peals of
