Chapter 5
TESSA
Was she willing to give him another chance? Was this even what this date was about? The doorbell interrupted her musings. She guessed it was time to find out.
She opened the door to her grandmother’s house–her house, she corrected–and there was Landry looking as charming as ever in a perfectly tailored dress shirt and dark dress pants, his blond hair shining under the porch light. He smiled at her, “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she said, blushing slightly at the compliment.
“Ready?” Landry asked, offering his arm.
Tessa took his arm, conscious of the butterflies in her stomach. Obviously, she still found Landry attractive. He was a handsome man.
“Where are we off to?” she asked, as she slid into his sports car.
“Hudson’s,” Landry answered. “I know it is your favorite.”
“Oh, yes, I haven’t been to Hudson’s in ages!”
Landry smoothly navigated the driveway onto the main road. It was a short drive to Hudson’s. Most everything in Hickory Falls was centrally located.
“I was sorry to hear about Mrs. Ruby,” Landry said. “How are you doing with everything?”
“I’m okay,” Tessa said quietly. “I will miss her always, but I know she had a strong faith, and that she is exactly where she wants to be.”
“Yes, her faith was a tremendous example for all of us,” Landry replied. “How about The Hickory? Are you ready for all of that?”
Tessa bristled slightly at the insinuation that she might not be ready for all of her new responsibilities, but she ignored it because she was sure Landry didn’t mean anything by it.
“I’m good. I have pretty much been training for this my whole life.
Nana and I spent lots of time working together after I graduated from college until she got sick. ”
“Oh, I know,” Landry said. “I just wondered how it felt now that it is all yours.”
Hopefully, all hers. Tessa thought back to her Nana’s letter. She pushed the thought of potentially losing The Hickory to the back of her mind. Nervously, she tapped her fingers on the car door. Luckily, they arrived at the restaurant, and the conversation about The Hickory was interrupted.
The hostess led Tessa and Landry to a secluded table in the corner of the restaurant overlooking the lake. It was a beautiful spot and very romantic. Tessa gulped nervously. Obviously, this was a real date.
Landry pulled out her chair and then sat opposite of her.
“This is really nice,” Tessa complimented.
“Yes, it is,” Landry answered. “I am so glad we did this.”
“Me too,” Tessa replied.
The waiter came and took their orders. Tessa ordered her favorite seafood pasta while Landry stuck with his usual steak and baked potato.
“I see your tastes are the same,” Tessa teased.
“Ha! You’re one to talk. I think you ordered some sort of pasta at every restaurant we ever went to,” Landry laughed.
“Some things never change, I guess,” Tessa smiled.
“You are right about that,” Landry said, suddenly serious. “Tessa, I’m sorry for how things ended.”
“Landry,” Tessa waved him off, “that was so long ago. We have grown up since then. It’s all in the past.”
“Yes, I know,” Landry admitted. “Do you think everything is in the past?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Landry paused, looking thoughtful, “I don’t want everything to be in the past. I don’t think I ever fully got over you, Tessa.”
Tessa sat across from him, stunned. She started to speak, but Landry stopped her.
“Wait, please, before you say anything,” Landry pleaded. “No one has ever compared to you. I know we were young, but I don’t think that makes what we had less real. I am relocating to Hickory Falls, and I was wondering—hoping—that you might be willing to give me another chance.”
Landry looked at Tessa with the sweetest look, and Tessa melted. This was the man she had always loved. She knew she had never gotten over him. She thought about a conversation she had with Hayes the other day. Why am I thinking about Hayes now? she wondered.
“Tessa?” Landry questioned.
Tessa looked into Landry’s eyes. She knew him. She had always loved him. Wasn’t it time to tear down her walls just a little bit?
Tessa smiled, “I think giving our relationship another chance is a wonderful idea.”