Tessa #2
We head inside and find Jake seated on his knees on one of the mismatched wooden chairs surrounding the kitchen table.
Mom has always enjoyed thrifting and is a firm believer that bringing life back to something old and loved is better than purchasing something brand new.
Obviously, this doesn’t apply to everything, but most of the furniture in my childhood home came from second-hand stores or yard sales.
The table is stained a honey oak, but the six wooden chairs around it are all different colors and styles.
Growing up, the light purple one was always my favorite, while Jake’s has become the sage green one.
“Make sure you eat some fruit with that,” I remind him as he uses his fork to spear a piece of waffle and shove it in his mouth.
Mom smiles at me before she adds a few strawberries to his plate.
Though it’s only the four of us, she always makes enough to have leftovers for a few days or to throw the extras in the freezer.
My eyes catch on the plate of banana walnut waffles, and I smile. “Thank you for making all of this. You know I’m always happy to bring something,” I say, adding a spoonful of strawberries and a few strips of bacon to my plate to go with the waffles that have been my favorite since I was a kid.
“You being here is more than enough,” Dad chimes in, sending a warm smile my way as he takes one of each kind. “How’s everything going, Tessie? Still enjoying the diner?”
He asks me this almost once a month, as if I’ll suddenly wake up and decide I want to do something else with my life.
But truth be told, I don’t know what else I would do.
Working at Lori’s was never my dream, but when I lost Ryan and found out I was going to be a mom, she was kind enough to offer me a job and let me work as little or as much as I wanted.
At the time, it was the escape I needed.
Now I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Lori, her husband Hank, and all the diner regulars have become like a second family to me.
“I know it’s not what I ever thought I’d be doing, but I’m happy there.
I don’t know what else I’d do that would work with being able to get him”—I tilt my head toward Jake—“to and from school every day or give me time off whenever I need it.” Not that I’ve ever taken much time off, but Lori hasn’t minded when I’ve had to take a few days off here and there because of Jake being sick.
“As long as you’re happy, that’s all we care about.” Mom’s smile is tight, the look in her eyes saying everything she’s holding back.
“Can I go play?” Jake’s fork clatters against his plate as he drops it and slides out of his chair, earning a laugh from all of this. He’s been a fast eater since he first discovered food, and even though he’s done for now, he’ll likely be back in twenty minutes asking for more.
I smile and place a hand on his back. “Sure, buddy. Just make sure you wash your hands first, okay?”
He nods and heads for the hallway, pausing as Dad adds, “I think there’s some new toys in your room.”
Jake gasps excitedly before he disappears down the hall, and I turn my attention back to my mom, who is pointedly keeping her eyes off of me and on her plate. Dad reaches over and places his hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze of encouragement.
“What’s wrong?” My brows furrow as I glance between them.
Her hazel eyes, a mirror of my own, lift to mine. “We just worry about you, honey. That’s all.”
“Worry about me? Why?” This is news to me. I can’t recall the last time either of them expressed any kind of worry.
“It’s been a long time, Tess. We’re worried that you’re so focused on working as much as possible and raising Jake that you’re forgetting to actually live.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, stealing the breath from my lungs. “Jake is my life, Mom. He’s been all I have—”
“Of course he is, honey, and you’re doing an amazing job, but I just wish you would take time for yourself outside of being a mom.”
I wasn’t sure how I was going to find a way to bring up Logan in conversation, but she just gave me the perfect opening.
“Actually, I’m… seeing someone.” I don’t know why I sound hesitant or unsure.
Maybe in part because I’m not sure how they’re going to react.
Not that I think they would react negatively, but it’s not like I can tell my parents that I had a one night stand with this guy and I’ve been hooked on him since.
It sounds so mediocre when phrased like that.
Mom gasps, covering her mouth with her hand as Dad’s brows raise in surprise. “You are?” The question flies from their mouths at the same time, and they look at each other, then back at me.
I can’t help the laugh that bursts free at the shock written on their faces.
“I am. It’s new, but I really like him.” My dad looks like he wants to say something overbearing and protective about how whoever I’m dating better be treating me and Jake right, but Mom reaches over and plants her hand on his leg, keeping him silent.
“How did you meet him?” she asks, a soft smile spreading across her lips as she picks up her fork and spears a bite of waffle.
“We met at The Stampede a few weeks ago, the first night Liv and Tilly had the bull and line dancing.” Thanks to the incredible turnout, it’s something they’ve decided to do once a month.
“Does he know?”
She doesn’t have to elaborate for me to know what she’s asking.
“Yeah, he knows. And he’s already met Jake, though that wasn’t exactly planned.
” I shake my head with a laugh. “Logan works for the Hartridge Fire Department, and he was one of the ones at Jake’s school for the fire safety demonstration.
We ended up running into him at the grocery store after school.
” I slide my plate to the side, folding my arms on the table in front of me as I lean forward.
“Jake got a kick out of seeing a ‘community helper’ out in public. He’d been learning about first responders at school, but I don’t think it really registered that they live regular lives just like we do until he got to see them out and about. ”
“And he’s okay being with someone who has a child?” Dad cuts in, his dark eyes full of concern as they settle on me. “Tessie, I’d hate to see you gettin’ involved with a man who’s just gonna up and leave when things get tough. Being a parent ain’t easy.”
Pulling my shoulders back, I cross my arms over my chest and fill my voice with as much confidence as possible as I say, “I know it isn’t easy, but you have to have faith in me and trust that I know what’s best for us.
I would never knowingly put us in a position that I thought could bring more harm to our life.
Things may be new, but Jake adores Logan, and the feeling seems to be mutual. ”
Logan says he’s all in, and I’m choosing to believe him. There’s no way of knowing how he’ll handle it all unless he’s given the chance.