Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
She felt jumpy and unsure of every single thing.
But no. She was sure of one thing.
She was absolutely sure that she loved Archer Davenport, loved him with all of her heart.
But was that enough?
She took off her shoes and socks and set them out of reach of the waves. Then she walked forward to the edge of the surf and let the waves lick her toes. The water was chilly but good. Cold enough to help cool the heat of her fears.
She stepped deeper into the waves, letting the water hit her. Somehow, the cold shock was exactly what she needed. Without realizing she was doing it, she walked deeper. Now she was up to her knees. Her jeans were heavy with water as she waded forward.
A gull wheeled overhead, screeching, as though asking her what she was doing.
Truth was, she had no idea. She just needed to feel the freezing water as the waves washed higher and higher against her. She couldn’t shut her emotions down the way she had for so long. Being in the ocean, especially one with such a cool bite, made her feel present inside herself in a way she’d rarely been comfortable with.
Lewis had always taken advantage of any vulnerability. But out in the ocean, she was nothing but vulnerable. It was stronger… yet here she was. Up to her hips in the waves.
Not falling.
Did that mean that she was strong too? As strong as an ocean? Because that was what she’d have to be if she took her place at Arch’s side as his lover, his woman, maybe even his wife one day.
She thought back to the day they’d sat on the beach watching his siblings surf. They had been in wetsuits, but they had also all dived headfirst through the waves to get out to where the curls were.
She was in up to her waist now. A small wave came rushing toward her, and she dove into it, relishing the cold shock as her whole body went under. When she came up, her hair was streaming down her back, and she gasped from the cold.
Then she laughed. Full, deep, throaty laughter.
“I am not ordinary,” she said to the waves, the gulls, and the fish in the sea.
She gazed up at the sky and laughed again. “I am not ordinary,” she screamed to the beautiful blue above her.
In fact, she was stronger, and far more unique, than she’d ever given herself credit for. She hadn’t given up hope when she found herself both widowed and destitute. She’d asked no one for help. And yet, she’d managed to build herself a new, successful life.
If she could help injured people heal, if she could convince people like Margaret to do their exercises, then she could certainly cope with magazine covers or strangers saying she wasn’t pretty or famous enough for Archer Davenport.
None of that mattered. She knew it with all her heart.
The only thing that mattered was that they loved each other.
She loved Arch so much, but she’d still had trouble believing him when he’d professed his love for her. But now, the waves nudged her in the direction of the beach, as though reminding her how great she and Arch were together.
At long last, Tessa saw her own strength. Not only in getting over her difficult past, but in letting herself open up again. At last, she realized how incredibly brave it had been to be intimate with Arch, knowing she was risking her heart. Even going to Moonrise as his date had taken courage.
If anyone had asked her two months ago how she felt about herself, she would have said she wished she could be stronger.
But she no longer had to wish for that.
She was already strong.
In fact, she always had been—but was only now finally seeing her own worth.
Arch had helped her see that she was extraordinary. He’d supported her dreams, believed in her art, treated her as though she was vitally important to him.
Now she was able to blossom in every way—artistically and emotionally.
It was time—long past time—to let him know.
Taking one last, deep breath of the salty air, she shivered and waded out of the ocean.
Time to head home.
* * *
Arch could hardly stand it. He’d gotten rid of Smith by saying he had a phone interview scheduled, which was a total lie. But he couldn’t joke around with his buddy when his mind was in turmoil.
He’d watched from the living room window as Tessa headed out to the beach. He’d seen her walk a little, stand there undecided for a moment, and then walk into the water fully clothed.
He wanted to run out there, make sure she was okay—but he had to respect her wishes to have some time to process. He also knew how healing the ocean could be, and he hoped it would help heal the wounds from her marriage.