Tessa wasn't sure why she was so adamant about giving Hannah a gift. She should have discussed it with Patrick first, but knew he would tell her not to. He had been angry when Hannah returned her graduation gift. A gift belonged to the receiver, so it was Hannah's right. She did it to send a message, but Tessa had already received her message loud and clear.

Patrick surprised her when he threw his hands up. "I'm sorry. I just don't want her to hurt you again."

"She'll probably complain if I didn't give her a gift. She may think this is not enough or even too much. Until she accepts me, this is just one of the many storms we'll weather. Until we don't and she wins."

"Don't say that. I refuse to let a child decide my future for me."

Tessa put her hand on her belly. "One is. I need to go."

He leaned over and kissed her. "Let me know how things go with your sisters." She nodded. "We're good, right?"

She smiled. "Enjoy the party."

She had been making decisions on her own for so long. Aside from this involving his daughter, they weren't at a place where they consulted each other, or were they? As they spent more time together, their lives were becoming more intertwined.

She couldn't be angry with him. She had her own problems - her two sisters. Her mother would not take no for an answer. She even suggested she bring Patrick. Her sisters had complained David was too old. Patrick was older. He was too rich. Patrick didn't come from money, but he earned a healthy salary. He worked too much, Patrick didn't, and he didn't bring his job home with him.

As soon as she walked into the house, Sarah approached her. "You look good. Have you finally gone back to work?" Her middle sister couldn't understand why she gave up her career.

Sarah dressed in business casual. Tessa wore a summer dress, but it was not as long or flowing as Paula's natural fiber skirt.

"No. I'm focusing on the girls. They've been enjoying the beach this summer."

Maya looked at her aunts cautiously from her grandmother's arms. Chloe, who lacked shyness, said, "We go to Doc's beach."

"What beach is that?" Sarah asked.

"Who's Doc?" Paula asked.

Kim said, "Chloe's talking about Tessa's boyfriend, the doctor."

"Boyfriend!" Paula said.

"Doctor?" Sarah looked interested.

Tessa nodded. "I've been seeing a man, and he's an oral surgeon."

Paula said, "I don't believe in all these kids getting their wisdom teeth out. It's a gimmick created by the orthodontists and the oral surgeons. They're in cahoots."

"Patrick performs important surgeries to repair injuries after accidents and other deformities."

Sarah said, "Is he divorced? Divorced men can be trouble. Good luck to the woman who ends up with my ex."

Kim said, "He's lost his wife."

"Mom, how come you know so much about him and didn't tell us."

"It was up to Tessa to tell you." She patted Maya's head. "Girls, go find your cousins."

Maya pointed. "They're on their phones."

It surprised Tessa Paula allowed her son to have a phone with corporate greed and all.

"Go find your grandfather. He's in the garden with your uncle."

They ran off, as comfortable here as they were at Patrick's house. She felt her sister's eyes on her. "Sarah, I'm guessing you don't tell us about every man you date."

"I would if it was a big deal. Finally, dating after living in a cave for six years is a big deal."

Paula kept eyeing her, and she felt naked. "Fine. It is a big deal. I like him. Is that what you want to hear?"

Paula said, "It's a good thing."

Tessa glared at her. "Glad you approve. The girls love him. Maya was slow to warm up, but that's Maya. Chloe was a different story."

Paula said, "Did you have surgery or maybe it's a new bra?"

Tessa felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Paula's braless boobs hung halfway to her belly button. Tessa had always had less in her bra than Sarah, but she looked bigger.

Sarah said, "I want that bra!"

Paula exclaimed, "My money isn't on the bra."

"You girls. What's all this talk about bras. You are not in high school anymore."

Paula said, "It's a good thing. Right, Tess?"

"I wasn't in high school when you were." Paula was five years older than her.

Sarah threw up her hands. "I'm lost. Paula, leave Tess alone. She deserves some happiness."

Their mother said, "Let's go see the garden. Paula, you like gardens."

Tessa smiled. Her sister made her living off gardening. Outside, the girls ran around with Chance, her father's mut. He told the story of how they took a chance on each other. That was what she and Patrick were doing.

She took a seat in an Adirondack chair in the yard. She found them uncomfortable, but she was tired from staying up late talking.

Sarah sat next to her. "You look tired. Full-time parenting is hard."

"Parenting isn't the reason. They go to bed early. It's dating. I stayed up too late."

"Is he sexy and hot? How old is he?" She blushed again. "I'll take that as a yes."

Paula sat down beside her as she answered, "He's forty-four."

Paula looked shocked. "Why in the world does he want a kid at his age?"

Tessa turned to her. Could she deny it? They would find out eventually. She whispered, "No one knows. It was a faulty condom." Sarah started laughing. "Seriously, he and I are the only ones who know." And his daughter's therapist.

"The girls can't keep secrets and it would be a royal disaster if his kids found out "

"Kids!" Sarah said, "How old are his kids?"

She sighed. "Fourteen, sixteen and eighteen. His oldest turned eighteen today."

"Wow! Did he flip out?"

"Patrick doesn't flip out. He rarely raises his voice to his kids."

"How long has the wife been gone?"

She answered their questions, but kept repeating not to tell anyone.

"You can be the wicked stepmother," Sarah teased after Paula walked away.

"His oldest hates me. It's not me, but that I'm not her mother."

"A girl. Teen girls are scary. I think they PMS three hundred and sixty-two days a year. Every day except their birthday, Christmas and the last day of school."

"His middle daughter is sweet."

"What are you, a big family?"

She shook her head. "No. Not yet."

"Is he planning to marry you?"

"We aren't there yet. If ever."

"So you'll just raise another baby on your own."

"Not my own. He's not..." Dead. She stood and walked into the house for a glass of water. While she stood at the sink, her mother startled her.

"Tessie, is it true?"

"Who told you?"

"Does it matter?"

"It matters that I told them to keep it secret. I wanted to tell you, but Mom, his kids don't know."

"I'll talk to them. When?"

"January." Tessa waited for her to do the math.

"Are you happy?"

That question had so many layers. "I am. I didn't plan it, but I'm happy. We haven't made plans. It's too soon."

"And Patrick?"

"He's happy too." He was excited. This baby was his chance to capture some of what he missed with his kids. Tessa missed time with Maya while she worked and Chloe in the aftermath.

Tessa watched her mother talk to her sisters. She was telling them to keep her secret. The sisters picked sides, and their mother's involvement caused a wedge the rest of the afternoon. As she was leaving, they both promised to keep it a secret.

She had no choice but to trust them. The girls ran out to play as soon as they got home. They had a half an hour until bath time.

Rita was watering her flowers and waved her over.

"So what's the story with you and Dr. Bennett?"

Just before she answered, Rita's stepdaughter stepped outside. She smiled at Deb as she said, "We're dating."

"Oh, he's such a nice man. Deb, do you know him?"

Deb shook her head. "Hi, Tessa." Tessa waved, feeling awkward. "Your girls are getting big." She nodded. They were back on their bikes. Rita worked her way to the far end of her flower beds.

Tessa sighed. "I know you know. I can't imagine the awful things you've heard. If it matters, I know she's hurting. I feel for her."

Deb didn't reply. After a few seconds, she asked, "Is this a conflict of interest for me?"

Tessa shook her head. "I want you to help her. You aren't my neighbor. We barely know each other. I don't share my secrets with Rita." Because she'd share them quicker than her sisters. Deb nodded and turned to walk into the house.

When she had tucked the girls in for the night, she called Patrick. His phone rang, and she felt disappointment when he didn't answer. Was he upset with her because they argued? Did Hannah hate her present? Before she could think of another reason, her phone rang.

"Sorry I was talking to Erica's mother. I had to tell her before Hannah did."

"What did she say?"

"Nothing, really. She still blames me for moving from California. She'll have two weeks with the kids and I was thinking we should spend the time together."

Tessa hadn't expected his suggestion. "What?"

"I can come and stay at your house. It would be easier for the girls and for you when I'm at work."

She feared if they shared a bed for two weeks, she may never want to sleep alone.

He didn't wait for her answer. "How was your visit?"

She groaned. "My sister guessed, and I told her not to tell anyone and she told my mother. When my mother spoke to her, she was mad at me because my mother was favoring me."

"It sounds worse than the shit Hannah's been pulling."

Tessa wasn't so sure. She did know they couldn't keep their secret much longer. "After the ultrasound, when your kids come home, tell them. Too many people know."

She told him about her conversation with Deb. Patrick said, "I trust her. Hannah doesn't need to know she knows you."

"Did she open presents?"

"Yes, it was uneventful. She wasn't rude. Hey Tess." He had never called her that before. "I missed you today."

She smiled. "I missed you too."

"If I didn't have to get up early for surgery, I'd ask if I could come over."

"If you didn't have to get up so early, I would let you come over."

"See you want me to stay over. I knew it."

She laughed. She knew she did too.