This is the second of a double update.

Tessa was glad when Patrick stopped contacting her. David had sent her a sign to tell her what she did was wrong. She was angry with him for making all three of them sick. She had a harder time recovering than the girls. It was probably emotions more than a physical illness that was dragging her down, but she refused to acknowledge it.

The first of May, she spent a day reading scholarship essays. Her fear of not knowing which one was Hannah's was immediately eliminated. Hannah had written about her mother and who she really was. Tessa cried when she read about her mother's illness and death.

She felt guilty for tainting Hannah's family with an affair. She had sex with the girl's father. The husband of the woman the scholarship was honoring. She swept those thoughts aside. She could only go forward and hoped she wouldn't run into him soon.

She read all the essays but planned to recommend Hannah. Rachel offered her house for the meeting. Tessa agreed it was best not to have their discussion in public. She didn't know the other woman because her son was in fifth grade.

As soon as they sat down, Julia said, "I knew Erica. Not very well, but I remember that poor man and those children at her funeral."

"I'm friends with Patrick. He and Korra work closely. I knew her slightly, but she was already sick when we moved here."

Tessa felt the need to say something. She couldn't confess that she knew him intimately and had been in Erica's bedroom. "I just met the Bennett's, recently. I have talked with Dr. Bennett several times. I have also met the younger two, but not Hannah." She didn't technically lie.

Julia sat up straighter. "I'll just say it. We should choose Hannah."

Tessa nodded. Rachel put her hand up. "We need to justify our decision."

"But." Julie whined.

"I'm not against Hannah, but I know Patrick would want her chosen fair and square."

Tessa couldn't argue. They narrowed it down to three and spent an hour documenting why Hannah deserved it better than the other two.

Hannah's essay systematically laid out each trait the scholarship was looking for and explained how those traits differed from her mother and how she was like her.

According to Hannah, she may have excelled in math, but hated her career of analysing numbers at the insurance company. She only worked to support her husband through medical school. 'My mother was proud of his profession, so I plan to become a doctor to make her proud.' Hannah wrote, 'She may have been a true friend and a selfless individual, but her real priority was family. She is praised for contributing even when she was sick. She did that because she was in denial. From the beginning my parents knew that treatment could buy her time not recovery. They kept it a secret from everyone, including me and my siblings. She didn't want to ruin her children's lives, so she pretended. I never want to face the challenges my mother faced, but I am one reason she was who she was.'

As Rachel read it aloud, they all had tears. Rachel finally spoke. "She debunked the qualities we were looking for. She's not wrong. Rachel and I were there for Patrick when she was the sickest, and it was true. They lived three years with a death sentence hoping her days wouldn't run out."

Tessa thought of his heartfelt admission of his helplessness. "Does anyone have a reason it shouldn't be Hannah?"

Julia shook her head. Rachel paused. "The only thing this other offers is the goal of finance, but that was not what Erica loved."

Tessa added, "Apparently, it was just her skill."

As she left Rachel's she thought Kristi would be happy.

Tessa had a new dilemma. Megan had invited them to a big party. If she went she would see him and if she didn't Chloe would never forgive her. The past few play dates, Abbie had come to their house, but she didn't have a beach. At least when school let out she could go during the week, but not on Wednesdays.

She told Kelsey her problem and her friend offered to visit. "So you won't need to face him alone."

Tessa didn't want to face him at all. She knew she couldn't avoid him forever, but she really preferred to keep sweeping her problems away.

Kelsey arrived on Thursday before the long weekend. The two women greeted each other with a hug.

Kelsey pulled back. "What happened to you? You look like shit."

"Thanks." She teased but knew it was true. She hadn't slept well for a few nights.

"Seriously. You need to tell me everything about this guy who has you tied up in knots."

"When we get home. We have hours before we need to pick the girls up."

Tessa needed to talk to someone, and she trusted Kelsey. When they arrived at the house, Kelsey looked around.

"It's cute, but so different from your apartment."

Kelsey had been to visit before. Tessa said, "It really hasn't changed."

"I know, but I keep forgetting you live like this. Do you miss the city at all?"

Tessa couldn't imagine living with the crowds and the noise. "This is a better place for the girls."

Kelsey patted the sofa next to her. "Sit and dish. Do you like this guy?"

Tessa shrugged. "I hardly know him."

"He must like you."

Tessa shook her head. "He knows me even less."

"The last I knew you were going on a hot date. What happened?"

"Sex."

"Was it that bad?" Kelsey looked sympathetic.

"It was amazing."

"Now I'm confused."

"I came home and Chloe woke me in the middle of the night. She was sick and then Maya and me. It was five days from hell. David was angry because I cheated."

Kelsey choked on her water. "Don't blame this on David. Germs are everywhere. Besides, David would want you to be happy. He loved you."

"Not enough." She regretted the words as soon as they were out of her mouth.

"Don't tell me you still believe that! That man didn't choose to leave you. Do you know why I'm still single at thirty? Because I have not found a man who loves me like David loved you. He loved you enough to want you to be happy."

Tessa was reminded of what Patrick had promised his wife. "Fine." She would humor her.

"So what's wrong with this guy, since it isn't the sex?"

"How about it was only supposed to be casual?"

"Why do you think that?"

"His kids are older. He's done with little kids."

"Is he divorced?"

"No. His wife died. Everyone loved her. She was perfect."

"Says who?"

"Anyone who knew her."

Kelsey waved her hand. "And anyone who knows you feels that way about you. Even Mrs. Simon and that woman didn't like many people."

Her mother-in-law would make unannounced visits while Kelsey was watching Maya. Tessa feared Kelsey would quit. Thankfully, David intervened.

"But here I am just Tessa Simon, single mother. My past is private and some whisper behind my back."

"Your husband died. It's tragic, but nothing to be ashamed of."

"Except he..."

"Stop! We are not circling back. He didn't choose to leave his pregnant wife and daughter. You were his life. I bet in the end the two of you would have ended up right here together. He was fed up with your life too and you know it."

She laughed at the thought. "David Simon would never live in this house."

"No, but a bigger one. Maybe on the water."

She imagined living with David on The Point. Who would he be friendly with? Peter? Patrick?

"Back to this guy. So his kids are older, if he loves you enough he would welcome your girls into his life."

"Love. He doesn't know me."

"He could if you opened up. As for the girls, it's only another eleven years."

She shook her head. "That's where you're wrong it's closer to nineteen, because there's one more who is technically his responsibility."

"Shit!"