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)
“Why don’t you two offer to do her hair and makeup?” Betsy suggested. “You both have the know-how, and I’m certain that Tessa will feel more comfortable with you than a professional.”
Erin’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea, Mom.”
Mila agreed it sounded fun. “Imagine what we could do with those eyes. She’ll be even more gorgeous when we’re done with her.”
“We’ll make her the belle of the ball,” Erin added. “Arch won’t know what hit him.”
“You guys are such schemers,” Damien told them. “From what I can see, their budding romance doesn’t need any help. Those two have found their way to one another without our interference.”
“But it’s so much more fun to interfere,” Mila argued.
Betsy looked at her husband, who had stayed uncharacteristically quiet during all this chatter. “Honey,” she said, “what are you thinking?”
Howie glanced up with a serious expression. “I’m thinking that if everything goes well, he might marry her. And I for one think Tessa would be a wonderful daughter-in-law.”
Betsy reached over and patted his hand. “You’re even more of a romantic than I am. But don’t get too far ahead of yourself. We aren’t even certain they’re dating yet.”
To everyone’s surprise, Howie replied, “Oh, they’re more than dating. When I see the way he looks at her, it reminds me of the way I’ve always looked at you.”
Erin leaned forward. “Did you know straightaway with Mom? Like Margaret thinks Arch did with Tessa on the beach that day?”
Howie nodded and began to tell the story the kids knew so well—but always loved to hear again—about how the two of them almost didn’t get together.
“I was too shy to ask your mother out,” Howie said. “She was so beautiful and intelligent and so composed. I’d never met anyone like her. And so I just kept taking longer and longer to build her bookshelves, trying to buy myself some more time to work up the courage.”
Betsy laughed. “At the same time, I kept trying to find new places to squeeze in more shelves in my office, simply to give him a reason to stick around. I knew he liked me, and I liked him. But I couldn’t work out why he didn’t do something about it.”
“Because you were as beautiful then as you are now,” Howie replied, and she melted inside. “It was intimidating! But I think I knew, even before either of us showed our true feelings, that you were the love of my life.”
The kids groaned, just like they always did, and Howie laughed his belly laugh. “Okay, that’s clearly enough nostalgia for the kids. Damien,” he said, “now that you’re back, you can make yourself useful. I noticed some fencing out back needs re-doing.”
“Always leaving the best jobs for when I get home,” Damien complained good-naturedly, stretching and getting to his feet. But before anyone left the room, he said, “I know you’re all having a great time playing matchmaker, but there’s one thing you’re forgetting.”
Erin frowned. “And what is that, oh guru of love?”
Damien shook his head as if they were missing the obvious. “I don’t get the sense that Tessa cares much for the limelight.”
Of course it was the other hugely famous Davenport who would pick up on that.
“Even if that’s true,” Erin said, “love can conquer any mountain.”
Damien’s eyes looked a little haunted, and Betsy’s maternal senses prickled. He shrugged and said, “Well, if it is true love for them, I sure hope it works out.” Then he and the other men headed out to deal with the fencing.
Betsy looked at her lovely daughters, of whom she was so proud, and asked them to help clear the coffee things. They moved into the kitchen and worked together in friendly silence until the dishwasher was completely full of breakfast dishes and Betsy started the cycle.
Mila and Erin didn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave, and soon the girls returned to the subject of Arch and Tessa’s romance.
“When do you think Arch is going to realize he’s in love with her?” Erin asked.
Mila shrugged. “I don’t know.” Then she added, “And when do you think Tessa is going to realize she’s in love with him? I get the feeling she’s as strong-willed as he is.”
Betsy smiled warmly. “I was just thinking about being in the same position all those years ago when your father was building my bookshelves. I feel for Tessa. I remember how it was so tantalizing and frustrating at the same time, having feelings for Howie, but not being certain that we could make our lives work together. The chemistry between us was undeniable and growing by the day. And yet, neither of us did anything about it because we were both so scared of not being able to make it work.” She shook her head at the woman she had been. “We could have blown everything if on the last day we hadn’t realized we’d fallen in love with each other. Your father was packing up his tools, and I was just racking my brain trying to think of another project to make him stay.”