Chapter 3
TESSA
Tessa collapsed, distracted, into a chair at the coffee shop.
She saw Hayes at the counter talking with Willow.
She was still stunned about the letter her grandmother had left her.
She knew, just knew, her grandmother wanted what was best for her, but she had to admit, she was a little bit mad that she would go to such great lengths to play matchmaker.
Really, Nana, Tessa thought, you don’t think this was a little bit much?
She tried to tune into the conversation that was going on around her.
Most of the family would be heading home soon.
They would get back together sometime during the summer for a big family reunion.
One thing was sure, they all wanted to preserve the family legacy Ruby and Bennett Sinclair had instilled in them.
Tessa decided that she wouldn’t tell her family about Nana’s extra caveat about The Hickory.
She thought back to what Mr. Prescott had said.
Could she tell them? She wasn’t sure. She would have to check, but for the time being, she definitely wanted to keep it to herself.
She looked up as Hayes exited the coffee shop and smiled. He looked a little flustered. She wondered if he was all right. She would have to call him later.
“Is everything all right, Tessa?” her mother asked, looking at her thoughtfully. “Why did James want to see you?”
“Oh, uh, yes. Everything is fine. He, uh, just wanted to make sure everything was going smoothly at The Hickory.” Tessa hated lying, but she didn’t feel like she had another choice at the moment.
“Oh, good. I know he will be able to answer any legal questions you have. He was so good to your grandmother over the last few years.”
Tessa smiled weakly. Then looked away when the door chimed yet again. Tessa's smile dropped, and a look of shock replaced it. “Is that Landry?” she whispered.
Her mother glanced at the doorway. “Oh, my goodness, it is! Landry!” she waved at the tall, blond man in the entryway. “Landry Williams, it is so good to see you!”
“Mom!” Tessa whispered urgently. She didn’t understand her mom’s excitement at seeing Tessa’s ex-boyfriend.
As far as Landry was concerned, he and Tessa had parted amicably, but Tessa had been heartbroken over their breakup for years.
She had seen him off and on over the eight years since their breakup, but they hadn’t really talked more than obligatory small talk.
Tessa thought back to a time when she and Landry were inseparable.
Hickory Falls High School’s golden couple.
They had grown up with a close friend group along with Willow, Hayes, and others.
As their group began to couple off, Landry and Tessa started to date and eventually fell in love.
Real love, or so Tessa thought at the time.
Everyone expected them to get married, but Landry had other plans.
They hadn’t been able to make their relationship work through long-distance in college, and Landry’s desire not to return to Hickory Falls finished off their fairy-tale romance.
Landry assumed Tessa felt the same way about going their separate ways, and she never bothered to correct him.
He moved away for good after college, and Tessa was left devastated and started building that emotional wall her grandmother had mentioned in her letter.
Focusing on the present, Tessa resisted the urge to groan as Landry made his way over to their tables with a bright smile on his face.
“Hello, Sinclairs! It is so nice to see you all again,” Landry shook Tessa’s dad’s hand and gave her mother a brief hug.
“I was so sorry to hear about Mrs. Ruby. She was a pillar of our community.”
“Thank you, son,” Tessa’s dad said warmly. “Please, join us. What brings you back to town?”
“I came to see my parents, of course, but I also had an interesting project to research for work.” Landry grinned. “I may be around Hickory Falls for a little while now.”
Landry looked right at Tessa when he said that. She tried to look unaffected by it, but she knew Landry could read her face. She was never good at hiding her emotions.
“Really?” Tessa managed to squeak out, not sure how she felt about it. “How long will you be staying?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but I think it will be a long-term project,” Landry said, flashing his winning smile at her.
Tessa felt the butterflies in her stomach. She hated that she still had that reaction to him, but they didn’t break up because they fell out of love, at least not on her part.
“Interesting,” Tessa said, trying to play it cool, pretty sure she was not succeeding.
“Maybe we can talk about it more over dinner sometime?” Landry asked.
“Okay,” Tessa found herself agreeing.
“Great!” Landry replied, looking excited. “I will call you. Do you have the same number?”
“Yes,” Tessa replied.
“Okay, then I will talk to you later,” Landry said. “Sinclairs, it was great to see you all again.”
Tessa’s family came back into focus; she had momentarily forgotten they were there. Landry had that effect on her. Her family said their goodbyes, and Landry left the coffee shop grinning at Tessa as he walked away.
Tessa was somewhat stunned. Had she really agreed to go out on a date with the man who had shattered her heart all those years ago?