Chapter 6
TESSA
One Year Later
Tessa looked around the cabin, which she had just finished tidying up. It looked all ready for the next guests. Spring break was this week, and Hickory Cove at Lake Yonah was full of vacationing families.
The past year had been a whirlwind, but the resort was doing well, and Tessa was proud of her success.
Her relationship with Landry was going strong.
It was like they were never apart, but all new at the same time.
Tessa smiled as she thought of him. Who would have thought that eight years after their breakup had devastated her, they would find their way back to each other? It was so romantic.
Speaking of romantic. Tessa looked at her phone to check the time.
Four o’clock. Plenty of time for her to go and get ready for her date with Landry.
She was a little giddy. They were going to Hudson’s again.
They had been to the restaurant several times over the past year, but this was the one-year anniversary of their reconciliation, and Landry had hinted that he had something important to talk to Tessa about.
She smiled again. Could this be the day? Was Landry proposing?
Tessa thought of her grandmother’s letter.
She had barely thought of it in the past year.
Not only would being engaged to Landry be a dream come true, but it would also secure her future at The Hickory.
Not that Landry was aware of that little detail.
Tessa had not told anyone about her grandmother’s stipulation.
Back at her house, Tessa carefully got ready for her date with Landry.
For tonight, she chose a flowy green dress, which set off her red hair and green eyes perfectly.
She twisted her hair into a loose bun with tendrils framing her face.
She knew Landry liked her hair this way.
She was fastening her strappy heels when Landry knocked on the front door and came in.
“Tess? You ready?” he called.
“I’ll be right there!”
She breathlessly hurried down the stairs and into Landry’s arms. They shared a lingering kiss.
“My Tessie,” Landry smiled, looking a little melancholy. “You know I love you, right?”
“Of course,” Tessa said, slightly confused at his attitude. “I love you, too.”
Landry smiled and his mood quickly shifted. Tessa thought maybe she had imagined the melancholy. “Let’s go.”
At the restaurant, the hostess led Tessa and Landry to the same table they had occupied last year. Tessa smiled to herself. Landry had really thought of everything.
They placed their order, the same entrees of course, and Landry looked deeply at Tessa.
“What?” she smiled, thinking she knew.
“Tessa, this past year together has been wonderful, and I really do love you,” Landry began.
“I know,” Tessa grinned. “And I love you.”
Landry grimaced slightly, “I would never want to hurt you again.”
Tessa kept smiling, even though she thought that was an interesting way to start a proposal.
“I have been offered a promotion,” Landry announced.
“Oh, Landry! That’s wonderful! Congratulations!”
“It is a great promotion. It’s huge for my career,” Landry looked uncomfortable. “The job is in New York City.”
Tessa’s smile slipped from her face. “New York,” she said quietly. “Do you think you will accept the job?”
Landry looked very serious now. “I have already accepted it. I leave for New York next week.”
“What?” Tessa was stunned. “You didn’t even want to discuss it with me first?”
“Well, I didn’t think of that, actually. We have pretty much kept our careers separate.”
“We have been together for a year! You didn’t think you might need to run it by me that you were thinking of moving 800 miles away?” Tessa asked.
“Tess, you had to know I wasn’t going to stay in Hickory Falls,” Landry said gently.
“No, as a matter of fact, I didn't. I thought you were here for good. And you didn’t do or say anything to indicate otherwise,” Tessa said, indignantly.
“My feelings about small towns haven’t changed,” Landry said. “I can’t stay here.”
“So, what has this past year been?” Tessa accused. “You just passing time? I thought what we had was real. You said you loved me! I thought it was you and me for good.”
“I’m sorry I let you believe that,” Landry replied. “I do love you. I wanted to enjoy our time together without thinking about the future.”
“That’s all I thought of,” Tessa said bitterly. “It was so romantic that we found our way back to each other after all our time apart. I truly love you, Landry. Well, the you I thought you were.”
“Tessa . . .”
“Just how did you think this was going to go, Landry?” Tessa whispered angrily. “That I was just going to understand? I thought we were on our way to marriage.”
Landry had the decency to look chagrined. “I am really sorry, Tessa. I do truly love you, but this promotion is a dream come true.”
Tessa felt like Landry’s words punched her in the stomach. She rose from her seat. “Goodbye, Landry,” she said.
“Tessa . . .”
Tessa ignored him and walked with her head held high toward the door.
Once she was out of Landry’s sight, she rushed to the bathroom.
What in the world had just happened? How had she misread the situation so horribly?
She looked in the mirror at the tears silently running down her face. What did this mean for her future?