This morning, Tessa was wondering what the purpose behind finding Ian had been. Maybe to show her how much life had been passing her by while she’d been caring for Corinne and Sophia. Only, even when she’d been dating and in relationships, no one had ever clicked with her like Ian had.
“Who was he?” Abby asked.
Tessa shook her head. She wasn’t going to get into the gloriously slutty details. “Someone I met while I was waiting for Zach—who never showed, by the way.” This part wiped her smile away and unearthed an angst she’d been suffering for months. “They work together. He said Zach left town after filming yesterday and went back to Los Angeles for another job.”
Abby’s smile fell, and she gasped. “No.”
“Yes.”
“Bugger.”
Tessa sighed. Reality took all the fun out of her morning. “Yeah.”
“What do we do now?”
“Keep chasing him, I guess. I don’t know if his job was in LA or if he was just stopping there before he went to wherever the job was located. I may have to hire Swearinger again.”
Abby winced. “But he’s so pricey.”
“I know.” Luckily, Tessa’s work provided a generous income. But living in DC, employing a full-time nanny, and keeping Sophia in private preschool were all expensive. And Tessa had drained her savings for Corinne’s funeral.
She looked out the sliding glass door leading to the patio, her heart heavy with thoughts of Corinne. “God, I miss her. I’m still pissed at her, but I miss her. I wish she were here to tell me what to do.”
“I miss her too,” Abby said. “But I think you already know what she’d tell you to do. You need to trust your instincts.”
Her instincts were telling her she needed to get these papers signed ASAP. And that made her antsy and distracted.
“Could the bloke you saw last night get information on where your baby daddy is?”
Tessa shook her head. “He hates the guy. Confirmed Corinne’s version of him being a playboy. Says he’s arrogant and pisses everyone off, which lines up with the fact that he paid Corinne to go away.”
“Try not to worry, love.” Abby reached over and squeezed her hand. “If he’d rather pay her off than get a paternity test, you aren’t going to have any trouble getting him to sign over his rights.” She grinned and slapped Tessa’s hand. “Maybe he’ll even pay you to do it.”
Tessa smiled at Abby’s teasing. But a familiar and uncomfortable knot wedged beneath Tessa’s ribs. She absolutely could not envision a life without Sophia, and Zach had the power to blow their cozy little world apart.
“I found Frankieeeeeeeeee…” Sophia came running into the living room, waving her stuffed turtle with both hands.
“Oh Lord, he’s as big as you are.” Tessa smirked at Abby. “What? Couldn’t find one bigger?”
Sophia peeked out from behind the turtle’s shell. “Nope.”
Tessa laughed and grabbed Sophia by the waist, hoisting the little imp into her lap. She pressed her face to Sophia’s neck and kissed her a dozen times, until her baby was rolling on the couch in a fit of giggles.
“All right, munchkin,” Abby stood. “What would you like for breakfast? Mickey Mouse pancakes again?”
Sophia lay on her back and pressed the turtle to arm’s length while her little bare feet burrowed under Tessa’s thigh. Smiling, Tessa stroked the petal-soft skin of Sophia’s leg.
“Mickey Mouse pancakes, Frankie?” Sophia asked her turtle. “What? You want choc chips in them?”
“Fat chance, Frankie,” Tessa said, “but good try.”
“I understand turtles love blueberries.” Abby pulled Bisquick and a mixing bowl from the cupboards. “Does Frankie want to help make them?”
“Yay,” Sophia cried, rolling off the sofa and running into the kitchen with Frankie, while asking Tessa, “Mommy, are we going to Discovery Museum today?”
Tessa rubbed stinging eyes. “Mommy needs to work this morning,” she only half lied. What she had to do was figure out what her Plan B looked like. “Maybe a little later.” If she didn’t have to change their tickets to leave today.
With Sophia busy making breakfast, Tessa flipped on the television to the morning show and opened her laptop. She sipped her coffee, half listening to the anchors discussing politics and human interest news. Her mind was still on Ian and the way she’d left him sleeping sprawled on his stomach, naked.