LITMIR.BIZ

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Tessa replied dully. “And since I’m so good at picking them, we should have every confidence that I can find another winner.”

      “Give it time. I never believed Flynn would come around. I still marvel that he ever did.”

      Flynn had fallen in love with Cindy’s sister, Julia. They had married and were raising their triplets when Julia had died. It was a blow that shattered them all. Lacking any other family, Flynn had moved with his daughters to Rosewood so that Cindy could be in their lives.

      Ironically, Cindy had initially moved to Rosewood to escape Flynn and her continued feelings for him. Cindy had met him first, fallen in love with him first, but Flynn had chosen Julia, the steady, responsible sister. It took time, faith and a depth of love to learn that Flynn had made that choice because of his family background and pain-filled past.

      Once she had unraveled Flynn’s past, Cindy was able to understand what Flynn needed. Now they were raising a family together, and their love had only deepened over the years. But she could remember being on the outside as Tessa was now. How alone and unloved she’d felt.

      “You and Flynn are perfect together,” Tessa was saying. “Your family...well, it’s perfect, too.”

      “Now,” Cindy reminded her.

      Tessa remembered all that Cindy had gone through, how difficult it had been for her to uproot her entire life in Houston and move away. She’d left behind the only family she had along with all her friends. At least Tessa had her family. Her parents lived close to Houston, but they were still in her life.

      They had been supportive when Karl ended the marriage. Her parents hadn’t been thrilled that she’d chosen to relocate but tried to understand. Like most people, they thought Houston was big enough for her to avoid her ex-husband. But they liked Cindy and knew she would be a good anchor. Her father had extracted a promise that she would return to Houston if things didn’t work out in Rosewood, if she wasn’t happy.

      Happy. A funny term. One she had taken for granted most of her life. She’d always felt pretty blessed. With her family, her job, finding a man she thought she could share her life with...

      Cindy turned from the shoes. “I don’t know about you, but I could use a cup of tea.”

      Tessa didn’t care about shoe shopping. She was really only tagging along. “Sounds good.”

      “We’ll go to Maddie’s, the place I told you about.”

      “The Tea House?”

      “Tea Cart. But yes. Best tea in the world. Maddie mixes her own blends. And her lemon bars are to die for. She makes them with real shortbread.”

      Still not having much of an appetite, Tessa nodded. “I do love tea.”

      “I know.”

      “Cindy, I’m sorry. I’m being a real downer. You’ve given up a Saturday and I’m about as much fun as a rain-soaked picnic.”

      Cindy smiled. “I didn’t come out today to paint the town. I’m fine with having a low-key day. It’s great having you live so close again. I’ve missed you. You’re going to love Maddie. She’s a native to Rosewood. And she’s an inspiration. Takes care of her mother, who has dementia, and she has become a great mother to her husband’s niece.”

      Tessa shook her head. “You don’t see it, do you? You’re an inspiration, Cindy.”

      Predictably, Cindy protested. “Just living my life.”

      “Which includes supporting and sponsoring the Children’s Home, raising your three nieces, adopting a parentless child, raising your own children, being a great friend...”

      Embarrassed, Cindy’s ivory cheeks reddened. “Stop that. You make it sound like more than it is.”

      “Afraid not. But I am happy about finding a new place for tea. Does she sell any of her blends?”

      “Yes! I have three favorites, couldn’t pick just one.” Cindy opened the door and they stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Typical. We love things in threes.”

      After college Tessa and Cindy had reconnected over tea. Both had been invited to a luncheon for women in the oil industry. Tessa had been new to Traxton, and Cindy was representing her family business. Squeezed together at one of the last tables, they had caught up over a pot of spiced orange pekoe. College had taken them in opposite directions. Destiny brought them back together.

      Ironic that Rosewood had become a sanctuary for them both. Right now Tessa didn’t relish the thought of returning to Houston, something that worried her parents.

      As though reading her thoughts, Cindy asked about them.

      “They just want me to be happy,” she summed up, thinking she would have to invite them for a visit when she could handle it. The thought of entertaining anyone, even her parents, was exhausting.

      “Natural.” Cindy hesitated. “If you’d like, I could invite them for a weekend.”

      “The cottage has a spare bedroom.” Tessa took a deep breath. “I know you’re just trying to help, but I’m not quite ready for a weekend visit.” Especially because some days it was difficult just to breathe, to force herself to go to work, to interact with anyone.

      “I remember days of curling up in bed, wishing the world would go away.” Cindy’s eyes darkened in reflection. “I just want to help.”

      “This—” Tessa snagged her friend’s elbow “—this, spending time with me even though I’m not fun. It’s helping...more than I can tell you.”

      Cindy squeezed Tessa’s hand in return. “Fun isn’t a friendship requirement. I don’t remember being much fun several years ago. But that didn’t stop you from being there for me.”

      “It was all a plan so I could disappear from Houston.” Tessa dredged up a laugh. “And to find a new tea source.”

      “That I can promise.” They had reached the Tea Cart. “And after today you’ll wonder how you lived this long without Maddie’s specialties.”

      Meeting Maddie, Tessa tried to relax.

      “I hope you’ll come here often,” Maddie told her.

      The bell over the door jangled. Being Saturday, the shop was busy. They found a table by the window, affording a view of Main Street. Tessa had immediately taken to the Victorian town that still looked as though horse-drawn carriages could travel its cobblestone streets. Thriving businesses populated the original buildings. Unlike so many towns that had dried up because of a superstore’s dominance or that catered strictly to tourism, Rosewood maintained its own identity. On the sidewalk directly outside, café tables sat beneath a canopy of aged trees and nineteenth-century streetlamps.

      A few young couples sat at these tiny tables, absorbed in each other. Just as young love, any love, should, Tessa realized. Had she and Karl ever stared at each other with such devotion?

      It wasn’t something she remembered. Why hadn’t she noticed that back then? Had she really not paid attention to the details of her marriage? It was one of the questions that itched in her thoughts, robbed her of sleep, resonated in her loneliness.

      “How do you like your tea?” Cindy asked.

      Tessa pushed away the nagging thoughts and picked up her cup to taste. Surprisingly, the effect was immediately piquant. She took another sip. “This really is good.”

      “I knew you’d like it.” Cindy put her own cup in a saucer. “It doesn’t seem like it today, but the time will come when little things like this will make you smile again.”

      Tessa didn’t think they would.

      “I know you don’t think so right now,” Cindy continued, echoing Tessa’s thoughts. “But I wouldn’t try to convince you if I didn’t believe it.” Her cell phone rang and she glanced

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