Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Tessa slid the pie from the oven and set it on the cooling rack she’d pulled out. Gus wandered by, sniffing the air. “I know, it smells good.”
Now all they needed were a few certain people here to enjoy it.
She was trying to pray and not worry, but it had been days and she hadn’t heard anything about Nathan Kessler being taken down on the news.
Nothing.
Her father wandered in, wearing sweatpants and a ratty old sweater. She’d bought him a new one for Christmas, but they couldn’t open presents until everyone was here.
“Smells good.” He grabbed the coffee pot and got himself a refill. “More?”
“I’m good.” She was jittery enough as it was.
“Listen…” He didn’t go for the milk, he turned to face her.
She could see the remnants of the injuries he’d sustained to keep the Rourke family secret, safeguarding whatever Caleb’s parents were doing.
“I know things have been different between us since you found that safe. But I hope you’ll see that I was honoring a friend, and perhaps be able to forgive me.
It’s bigger than both of us, Tessa. It’s national security, international spy business.
Maybe that’s hard to believe, but you know what Caleb does. ”
“And you had to keep their secrets safe, even from me?”
He nodded. “I would’ve told you if I was allowed. The protocol is there to keep people safe, and it’s the reason they didn’t come after you in the first place. Because it worked.” He let out a breath. “But I’m still sorry I lied to you.”
“I forgive you.” She didn’t want anything between them, causing strain, and the fact was that forgiving him would help her release the hurt.
“Thanks, honey.” Her dad opened his arms and she gave him a hug.
Tessa didn’t pull back.
“He’ll be here soon. I just know he wouldn’t miss Christmas.”
She nodded, sniffed and pulled out of his arms. Went to the hall so she could find something else to do to keep herself busy…like move over the laundry or mop the hall.
That only reminded her of the first day she’d bumped into Caleb at Pops’ house. The day everything had changed, and her whole future seemed like it was put in motion.
Movement at the door caught her eye.
She spun around and saw him, standing there. Staring at her. Tessa looked down at her slouchy clothes. “I was gonna change. You were supposed to give me a heads’ up so I could change!”
Caleb smiled. “And miss this?”
Her father chuckled, crossing the hall between them with his coffee, going back to the living room. “I’ll be in here if anyone needs me.”
Tessa went to Caleb, but he beat her to it and made it to her first.
“I missed you.” He gathered her in his arms, and she held on, soaking in the nearness of him.
“I missed you, too.” She wanted to tell him what had happened here while he was on his mission, even though they were mundane things. And about the conversation she’d just had with her father. “How did it go?”
“It’s done.” Caleb nodded. “Kessler is behind bars and everyone who works for him is going to face justice.”
“And Noah? His team?”
“Interesting people.” Caleb laughed. “I’ll tell you more about them later. Noah is with Pops, but I wanted to come here first.”
She smiled. “I’m glad you did.”
“Merry Christmas.”
“Yes,” she said. “It really is.”
Caleb swept her up in his arms again and kissed her. He tasted like home. Like the first of many years to come, a life of laughter and love found right here at home.
With the boy next door.