Redemption Hills: The Complete Collection

49. Tessa

FORTY-NINE

TESSA

“Auntie Tessa, are you even a teacher?” Juni Bee scrunched her nose up at me from where she was on her knees, eating a bagel at Eden’s round table in the kitchen. She’d come running through the gate and up to the back door first thing this morning, asking her Aunt Eden what was for breakfast.

“You gotta know that a Mantis shrimp has the fastest punch of any animal. It’s faster than a bullet.” Her dark eyes widened at that.

“Are you kidding me?” I feigned disbelief. Well, okay, it was disbelief. I’d never even heard of it.

“She’s not even kidding a little, Auntie. It’s just knowledge,” Gage supplied around a mouthful of fresh strawberries. “They’re fast fighters. They get a one, two, three, kapow on their prey.” He tossed a fist through the air. “They’re done for. That’s how they hunt, you know. I read in a book about the best predators and then I told Juni because I tell her everything.”

He shrugged, and my heart squeezed.

So freaking cute.

All giggles and adorableness where they shared their breakfast.

Attached at the hip.

I pushed to standing, moved around the table, and pressed a kiss to Gage’s head as I rambled, “I totally didn’t know. It seems my niece and nephew sure have the smarts, don’t they?”

I moved on to do the same to Juni.

I ignored the pang I felt when Scout’s face flashed through my mind. My little Rocketman who was going to study all the things so he could go to Mars. My smile was soft as I imagined him here, how he’d fit right in with Juni and Gage.

A piece of this beautiful family.

But there were times in your life when you had to accept that things didn’t always work out the way they should have.

That sometimes we were robbed of the joy and love we deserved.

Whether we kept it from ourselves out of fear or we lost it out of no fault of our own.

Eden hummed from where she pulled Baby Kate from her highchair to wash her face that was smeared with baby food. She walked with her over to the kitchen sink. “I’m going to have to be careful what books I buy for Gage. Before we know it, he’s going to know more than the rest of us.”

“You know I gotta get all the A’s, Mommy.” Eden started to say something, but he held up a hand. “I know, I know, even if I don’t get an A, it’s okay as long as I do my best. I got it. I even told Juni so she knows.”

“We gotta have the grace,” Juni piped in. “My Motorcycle Dad said he sure is happy for it, too, because he’s not even close to perfect, not one little bit. You can ask my mom.”

A giggle ripped from me as emotion crested from Eden, and we shared a look, her smile so soft as she looked at the sight of the kids in her kitchen.

At this incredible family.

I’d made the decision not to let my own grief stand in my way any longer.

It was there.

Of course, it was.

It would always be.

I would forever miss my parents. My Bobby.

The man who was supposed to be my everything.

But I guessed I finally, truly felt a part of this close-knit group.

Saw their love for what it was.

Auntie Tessa wasn’t just a flippant nickname.

It was who I was to them.

Baby Kate screeched while Eden ran a washcloth over her face. “That’s right, we work hard, we have grace, and we show love the best that we can.”

“Ah, I see someone else who is smart.” I winked at her, and she laughed a little just as the doorbell rang.

“Here, can you take her a second so I can get that?” She passed Baby Kate off to me without waiting for a response.

“Always, and of course. I love my Baby Kate, don’t I, sweet girl?” I lifted her high, and she curled into this adorable baby ball, giggling and throwing her little arms as I brought her down and blew a raspberry on her cheek.

She squealed then got a fistful of my hair.

“You better watch it, Auntie, she’s dangerous. I got a bald spot. Dad said I’m gonna be lucky if it even grows back.”

I chuckled. “I don’t think you have to worry too much, buddy.”

“Oh, I’m worried, all right.”

Affection wound me tight as I brought Kate to my chest, bouncing her around, grinning when Eden came back around the corner, carrying a box wrapped in thick, brown paper and twined with matching ribbon.

A card was tucked under it.

“Oh, a prezzie,” I sang, drawing it out, wondering what Trent had gotten her this time.

The man was kinda obsessed, but I wasn’t about to complain that he was spoiling my bestie. She deserved it.

Her expression was somber. “Not for me.”

A frown curled my brow when she held it out for me to take, and we awkwardly traded, Eden taking Baby Kate while she passed me the box.

I didn’t know if it was anxiety or hope or anger that lit inside me. But it was bright and kinda blinding, and I was having a really hard time keeping from hyperventilating.

Because I saw the handwriting on the card that simply read Tessa .

Handwriting I now knew as well as my own.

Milo’s.

I just stood there, staring at it.

“Well, are you gonna open it, or what?” Juniper asked, pulling me out of my stupor.

Was I?

Did I even want to know what was inside?

I glanced at Eden.

She angled her head. “Open it.”

I sank down onto a chair, and with shaky hands, I pulled the envelope from under the ribbon, close to frantic as I freed the flap.

I pulled out a flat card plus a folded piece of paper that fell onto my lap.

My heart was in my throat as I stared at the hand-painted image.

As I stared at a lake that was so familiar, the same as was painted on Remy and Scout’s walls.

Though in this one, the sun stood prominent, front and center.

I tried to gulp around the emotion as I set it aside and picked up the letter, carefully unfolding it, both terrified and desperate to see what he’d said.

My eyes traced that same bold handwriting that had been on the envelope.

Tessa,

I’ve been a man who’s hid behind my mistakes for a long, long time, and it’s time that ended. Maybe I’m a coward for trying to reach you this way, but what I’ve got to say is really important, and I find myself at a loss for words when I’m looking at you. Unable to form a full, rational thought because you steal my breath and every thought in my mind, so I thought it would be best to get it out this way.

See, you stole my heart, too.

You stole it when I thought I didn’t have it to give. When it wasn’t whole. When it was in pieces.

You stole it anyway, because I think from the moment I saw you, it belonged to you.

And when you loved me back? I thought maybe I could get a second chance. That there might be redemption for a man like me, even though that dark spot inside me warned that I was being a fool. That I had no right. That my heart wasn’t mine to give, and I’d committed too many crimes to deserve all that you are.

I thought I saw the culmination of it that night when I stepped into that basement to the horrible reality that you had gotten caught up in my past.

In my mistakes.

In my sins.

In my tragedy.

This world nearly lost you that night, and that wasn’t a fate I could tolerate.

The demons warned that loving you was a heresy. That I needed to walk before I ruined you more.

The thing was, there was no not loving you, Little Dove.

No possible way to stop what I feel for you.

Something bigger than I’d ever felt. More beautiful than I’d been given.

And I could hide from it forever, but it wouldn’t change the fact, and someone really important to me told me this one singular truth.

“You’ve got love, Dad.”

Remy kept reminding me of it, and it’s finally time I accepted what it means.

And I can either give it, share it and cultivate it, or let it die.

Dying for someone I love has always felt easy to me. Something I could give to show my devotion.

But it’s the living for it that I’ve always had the problem with.

But I have the choice to live chained to my past, or to learn from it and move on.

And I’d like to move on from it with you, if you’ll give me that chance.

I know I made a lot of promises to you. Promises I didn’t keep.

But that ends today.

Now and forever.

Because you are my always. I promise you.

I’m ready to stand in the light. To hold it in the darkness. To love you through thick and thin. Through this fight for my children. Through each day’s end.

I told you they are the meaning of this life.

And that’s what you came to be, too.

My meaning.

My hope.

The joy I never thought I’d experience again.

You are the sun in my sky, Tessa McDaniels.

I love you.

Hopelessly.

Endlessly.

Always.

Milo

Tears blurred my sight, and I choked over a sob when I got to the end. “Oh God.”

Eden touched my shoulder. “What did he say?”

“That he wants me to give him another chance.”

“And what do you think?”

What did I think?

I thought I was terrified.

Angry.

Hurt.

And that I would love him to my dying day.

I swiped at the tears. “I don’t know. He hurt me so bad.”

Eden urged me to look at her. “I know it’s hard to give a second chance. But I also know it’s really difficult to ask for a second chance, too. To step out on a limb and ask for forgiveness. You have to decide if it’s worth it. If he’s worth it. If what you feel is worth it. You told me that you won’t settle for second best…so don’t. But if he’s it? Your Ace?”

“Would you open the present already? I gotta know what’s in it,” Juni demanded.

Right.

The present.

I swiped at the tears on my face, setting the letter aside as I tore into the paper.

Inside was a lidded box.

I opened it.

Then I gasped, my eyes wild as I looked between Eden and Juniper. “He got me the Manolos. He got me the Manolos.”

Realization stormed through me.

He remembered me.

He knew me.

He loved me.

Eden giggled. “Shoes?”

I reached out and squeezed her hand, nodding frantically before I rushed to wipe the tears from my eyes. “I’ll tell you later, but I think I need to go over there and at least talk to him.”

I sniffled and stuffed my feet into my wedges, holding the box that he’d sent against my chest. I grabbed my purse that had my keys from the island. “I’ll be back.”

“Give him grace, Auntie!” Juni shouted.

I choked out a laugh. “I’ll try, Juni Bee.”

Eden smiled. “Good luck.”

Rushing to the front door, I whipped it open, then I froze when I saw the man leaning against the side of his old truck.

So big and burly and right.

Fierce and soft and intimidating.

My heart raced.

My Beautiful Beast.

I choked over another cry as I stumbled across their porch and to the steps, though I was laughing through the middle of it, then I was running down the walkway and straight into his arms.

I knew we had more to talk about, but it could wait.

Getting to him couldn’t.

He picked me up and spun me around, holding me so tight, the box smashed between us. He pressed his face into my neck, his voice doing that rumbly thing I loved when he murmured, “I missed you.”

It was so simple.

So true.

Our connection hummed.

Then he started to ramble, “I’m so sorry. I’m so fuckin’ sorry.”

“There’s plenty of time for apologizing later. Just love me and do it right and do it forever.”

He eased back a fraction. Those honey-dipped eyes swam with affection.

Devotion and love.

Different from before.

“Okay,” he whispered.

Okay.

Then he kissed me. Kissed me tenderly for the barest second before his mouth devoured mine with possession.

Heat burned and joy blazed. “Hurry up and take me home.”

“Eager,” he mumbled at my mouth, never setting me down or breaking the kiss while he opened the passenger door then plopped me onto the seat.

He eased back, his sexy mouth twitching all over the place.

“Just for you. And it’s been two weeks and two days. You owe me like…” I started to tick off my fingers before I wiggled all the fingers on my hands in his face. “Fifty orgasms.”

His brow quirked. “Fifty?”

“At least.”

“Eager and greedy,” Milo said. He pecked a kiss to my lips before he stepped away and shut the door. He jogged around the front and hopped into the driver’s seat. The old engine rumbled to life. He shifted it into gear and started up the round drive, sending me a flirty grin as he took to the road. “It looks like I have my work cut out for me.”

“It’s a hard job, but someone has to do it. But since you’re such a strong, burly mountain of a man, I thought you might be up for the challenge.”

A smirk tugged at his sexy mouth. “I think I just might be.”

“That’s just the beginning, buddy. These shoes are a good start.” I waved the box at him. “But be prepared to grovel. So much groveling.”

It was only partially a tease. I knew we had a ton of stuff to work on.

“Baby, I’ll be on my knees at your feet for the rest of your life.”

I dug my phone from my purse and typed out a quick message to Eden, who’d obviously already known Milo was out there waiting for me.

Me

I just had the strangest craving for cake. I might be awhile. I don’t know…like forever.

Eden

I hope it’s delicious.

I gazed over at the man.

At the same second, he shifted to look at me.

Intense eyes stared back.

Amber dipped in warm honey.

My stomach took a swooping dive.

A freefall as that energy crackled and glowed.

So delicious.

So perfect.

So right.

Mine.

He reached out with one of those big hands and squeezed my thigh, his words nothing but a gruff caress. “Mad love, Tessa. Mad, mad love.”

Energy thrummed and danced.

And that was exactly what it was.

Mad, mad love.