Chapter 26
TESSA
Tessa tried to hide a yawn behind her hand.
The Fourth of July events kept piling up, and her mom had insisted on throwing her a bridal shower in the middle of it.
She felt both annoyed and guilty. Tessa had not wanted a bridal shower, but yet again she had yielded to his mother’s wishes because of her charade.
Charade, Tessa thought. At least be honest with yourself, you’re a big fat liar.
“Thank you all for coming to celebrate Tessa!” her mother said to the group gathered. “We so appreciate it.”
“Yes, thank you so much for all of your support,” Tessa echoed.
At event after event, most of the town had wished her and Hayes well, or showered them with sage advice or gifts to start their life together.
Every time they ran into someone, they were so happy for Tessa and Hayes.
And every time Tessa felt more and more like a deceitful worm.
She didn’t know why she thought presenting this fake marriage to the town would be simple.
Things had grown immensely complicated. She and Hayes still had not had a chance to talk about their feelings, and Landry being back in town and popping up everywhere just added to the strain.
As her guest milled about as they got ready to leave, Tessa’s mother approached her.
“Hi, sweetie, how are you doing?”
“Oh, okay, just a little tired. There seems to be so much going on right now.”
Her mother smiled at her sympathetically. “I know. I’m sorry that I might have added to your stress.”
“No, this was nice,” Tessa said, hugging her mother.
“Well, I do have one more present for you.”
“Mom, you’ve already done enough.”
“Your father and I wanted you and Hayes to have this,” she said as she handed Tessa an envelope.
“What is this?”
“Just open it.”
Tessa opened the envelope and took out a check. As she looked at it, her mouth dropped open. “Mom, this is way too much! I can’t take this!”
“Yes, you can. Your father and I want you to have it. I know the resort is doing well, but this is just for you and Hayes. Save it for a rainy day.”
Tessa broke down and started sobbing.
“Tessa, what on earth is the matter?”
Tessa tried to gather herself but couldn’t. “Nothing. I’m okay.”
“You don’t seem okay,” her mother said, hugging Tessa close to her.
Tessa relaxed into her mother and took a deep breath. Just hugging her mom made her feel better. She straightened up and took a deep breath.
“I’m okay. Really, I am,” Tessa said. “I just think I’m overtired. There is so much going on right now.”
“Just a few more days,” Mary Kate reassured her. “Then you will have your beautiful wedding, and you and Hayes will go back to normal.”
Tessa smiled and nodded. She was looking forward to being able to spend some time with Hayes without the whole town looking on, but she wasn’t exactly sure what normal between her and Hayes would be.
HAYES
Hayes bounded up the porch steps. He was running late to get changed for the boat parade. As he walked into the house, he saw Tessa sprawled on the couch.
“Hey!” he said. “I thought I was running late. Are you about to get ready?”
Tessa turned and looked at him. He could see she had been crying. Hayes rushed over and sat beside her on the couch.
“Hey,” he said softly. “What’s going on?”
Tessa heaved a deep sigh and handed him a piece of paper.
“What’s this?” he said as he unfolded the paper. “Whoa!”
“Yeah,” Tessa responded.
Hayes looked at the check in his hand. “What is this for?”
“My mom gave it to me as a wedding present,” Tessa cried. “For you and me when things get back to normal.”
She fell backwards onto the couch. “What even is our normal Hayes? What are we even doing?”
Hayes took a deep breath and looked into Tessa’s eyes. “Tessa, I—”
He was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. He patted Tessa on her knee. “Hang on. I’ll get it.”
He opened the door wondering who would be bothering them now. Everyone should be getting ready for the boat parade.
“Hello, Hayes,” Landry said.
Hayes’s eyes flashed for a second. “Hello, Landry, what do you want?”
“The mayor was getting concerned when Mr. and Mrs. Hickory Falls hadn’t showed up yet. He said y’all were supposed to be there a half hour ago. I offered to come and check. As a concerned citizen, of course.”
“Of course,” Hayes grimaced. “Either one of y’all every heard of a cell phone?”
“I wanted to see you in person,” Landry said, patting Hayes on the back as he sauntered into the living room. “Hey, Tessie, y’all about ready? Bob is waiting for y’all.”
Tessa jumped up off the couch. “Yes, let me run upstairs and change. I’ll be right back.”
After she left the room, Hayes turned to Landry. “So, you were ‘concerned’ about us, huh?”
“Of course,” Landry smiled.
“Sure,” Hayes frowned. “I have to run upstairs and change, too. Just stay right here.”
“Don’t worry about me, Hayes. I have been here lots of times. I’m practically family.” Landry smirked.
Hayes rolled his eyes and left the room rather than engage with Landry anymore.
He hoped that his so-called friend would be heading back to his new home in New York soon.
TESSA
Tessa sat awkwardly in the front seat of Landry’s rental car while Hayes was squished in the back seat.
She didn’t know what Hayes had been about to say when they had been interrupted—yet again.
She knew it would have been sweet and comforting, and he would have made her feel better.
But she also knew that this charade was getting out of hand.
First, there was no way she would accept that check from her parents.
However, she wasn’t sure what she was going to do beyond that.
Her and Hayes’s new wedding was tomorrow.
She just couldn’t figure a way out without everything blowing up in her face and her possibly losing her family’s resort.
Landry pulled into the marina and said with a flourish, “We have arrived, Mr. and Mrs. Hickory Falls. Your fans await.”
Tessa half-smiled. Great, she thought, more lying.
HAYES
As Hayes held Tessa’s hand at the front of the lead boat, he glanced over at her.
He knew she was still upset. He was sure that check from her parents had made her feel guilty.
He wished they could get a chance to really talk without getting interrupted.
He loved his small town, but sometimes everyone being involved in your business could be frustrating.
He pulled Tessa closer to him, hoping to give her some semblance of comfort. “You doing okay?”
“Mmm-hmm,” Tessa said. “I have to admit, though, it is pretty nice that the Fourth festivities are almost over.”
“Big day tomorrow, though.”
“Yeah,” Tessa said, then turned to look at him. “Do you think we should go through with it?”
Hayes looked around to make sure they were isolated from everyone else. “Tessa, you know I will do whatever you want to do with this situation, but I’m not sure how we don’t go through with it without arousing suspicion and you possibly losing the resort.”
“Yes, I guess you are right,” Tessa said, her brow crinkling.
Just then a spotlight shone on them.
“Oh, goodness, what now?” Tessa groaned.
The mayor’s voice came over a loudspeaker.
“Thank you everyone for joining us for all of our Fourth of July festivities. The fireworks will begin soon, but, first, I just wanted to say thank you to our inaugural Mr. and Mrs. Hickory Falls for being in the spotlight. Quite literally. Let’s hear it for Tessa and Hayes! ”
The crowd at the lakeshore and surrounding boats let out a big cheer. And somewhere a clinking sound rang out.
Tessa looked at Hayes and laughed. “I guess we should give them what they want one more time in the spotlight.”
Hayes gently pulled Tessa closer and she placed her arms around his neck. They kissed gently, then pulled apart smiling.
“Well, we made it! The Fourth of July is over!” Tessa laughed. “I will gladly pass Mrs. Hickory Falls onto the next victim, I mean, willing citizen.”
Hayes laughed with her. “Yes, here’s to the next Mr. and Mrs. Hickory Falls!”
They fell into each other laughing as they walked towards the parking lot.
Hayes was headed back to his own apartment with Sawyer, while Tessa was going back to The Hickory with Willow.
Even though they were already married, the wedding party thought it would be fun to enjoy the tradition of not seeing each other before the wedding.
“Tessa! Time to go. If you can break away from your man!” Willow called.
“Oh, boy,” laughed Tessa. “I think she is enjoying this a little too much.”
“I feel like she thinks we deserve all of this unwanted attention,” Hayes laughed.
“True,” Tessa answered. “Maybe we do. Penance for lying, I guess.”
Hayes took her hand. “You are only doing what you had to do. Don’t beat yourself up too much.”
Tessa blushed and ducked her head. “Thanks, Hayes. You have been the best through all of this.”
“And I’ll vow for better or for worse again tomorrow,” he said with a wink.
Tessa slapped at his chest. Then they looked at each other for a lingering moment.
“All right, love birds,” Willow said as she came up behind them.
Tessa and Hayes jumped apart. Willow smirked at them.
“Time to go your separate ways until tomorrow.”
Tessa blushed and squeezed Hayes’s shoulder. “See you tomorrow.”
Hayes smiled down at her. “See you tomorrow.”
Tessa watched him walk away. How could he be so calm about their second fake wedding tomorrow? She smiled a small smile as she thought about wearing a real wedding dress and walking down the aisle toward Hayes. Then she frowned when she remembered it was all fake.