Page 46 of The Summer We Made Promises (The Destin Diaries #3)

T he sun shimmered off the Gulf like someone had scattered diamonds across the water.

But if they had, even jewels wouldn’t be as valuable or beautiful as the feather-light ashes and rose petals that had dusted the air and water.

As they’d spilled, each person had shared something wonderful about Arthur Wylie, bringing tears, laughter, and, in Maggie’s case, shockwaves.

Only Roman had stayed quiet, pensive even, as he listened to the tributes about his late biological grandfather.

No one noticed, of course, not with Maggie’s unbelievable story. Well, not unbelievable to Tessa. She knew Artie was a hero, the best of the best.

And the fact that her father put his life on the line to protect all of theirs only made her love him more.

No one wanted to go home, so they’d anchored the boat in the middle of the Gulf, and Seamus pulled out the fishing gear while the teenagers wasted no time doing cannonballs into the water.

A lazy breeze stirred the salty air, just enough to cool sun-warmed skin but not strong enough to rock the boat. Eli produced a cooler of drinks and found snorkels for anyone feeling adventurous—that would be Emma and Matt, naturally.

Tessa sat way in the back, her legs curled beneath her, a sweating gin and tonic in her hand. The watered-down drink did nothing to ease the knot in her stomach as each minute ticked by.

She’d never have a better time to share the truth about Roman with the people she loved most.

He was fishing with Seamus on the port side the same way he did everything—with style, athleticism, and an easy sense of humor. He’d tossed Tessa plenty of looks in the past hour, a hint of a question in his eyes.

Yes, obviously, now was the time.

But could she do it?

Vivien was lounging on the bow, a little contemplative since her “breakup” with Peter but she seemed content.

Eli was up there, too, with Kate, watching Emma and Matt in the water. Jo Ellen and Maggie sat at the helm and passenger seat, holding hands, talking and reminiscing and no doubt diving into the past when they’d been so loved but hadn’t even known how much.

Tessa let her gaze drift out to the last of the rose petals floating far in the distance now. Oh, if only her father were still here.

He’d tell the story. He’d give his perspective and paint Tessa as strong and noble, doing the right thing, and then he’d welcome Roman into the family with some silly joke about his name and a bear hug.

Help me, Dad. Help me do this right.

“Hey.”

She looked up at the sound of Kate’s voice, not even aware she’d come to join Tessa. “Hey, yourself.”

“You okay? I sense a shift in the Force, as dear old Dad would say.”

She smiled, taking her sister’s hand and knowing this news would hurt her. She should have told Kate years ago, but…

“I thought you felt so good,” Kate said, searching her face. “You seemed happy when we…” She gestured toward the water, where a bird swooped over the rose petals. “Said goodbye.”

“I was, I am. Maggie’s news is so validating, isn’t it?”

“Stunning and amazing,” Kate agreed. “And now…Eli and I can…” She let her voice fade, replaced by a smile.

“You’re definitely spending the summer here?” Tessa asked, not for the first time. It still felt too good to be true. “Even with Emma and Matt going back?”

“I am,” she promised. “The lab’s closed for a few months and Emma wants that job at the Yacht Club.

Matt’ll come down and visit, but he has his friends at home.

There’s no one his age at the house and Jeffrey wants to take him on a few long weekends just the two of them.

It’s actually perfect for me to stay. And now that the past is cleared up and our families are healed… ”

She looked toward Eli, who was laughing at something Matt had pulled up from the water.

“You’re full-speed ahead with Eli Lawson,” Tessa said.

“For the summer,” she replied. “After that? Who knows. We just want to see where it goes.”

Tessa knew where it was going, but she just smiled at her sister. “You’re good together,” she said. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks.” Kate leaned in. “Will you please tell me what’s going on? Remember, I’ve known you since we were in utero. You can’t hide a secret from me.”

“Oh.” Tessa breathed the word, wondering if she should start this truth-telling right here and now. A soft whisper to Kate, a quiet sister-to-sister talk, a moment…without real privacy.

“Tessa, please. Talk to me.”

“Okay,” she said, easing away. “But I’m going to tell everyone at once. And then you’ll know that I most certainly can hide a secret from you. And I have, for twenty-five years.”

“Excuse me?”

She stood slowly, the boat swaying underfoot, and cleared her throat. “Okay, everybody. Can I have your attention, please?”

Conversations paused. Heads turned. The laughter quieted at the rare serious note from Tessa Wylie.

Well, folks, it was about to get real serious.

As though they sensed something important was happening, Matt and Emma climbed up the swim ladder and grabbed towels, as quiet as everyone else. While they found seats, Tessa glanced at Roman. He gave her the smallest nod. Lacey squeezed his hand and let go.

“I, uh, have one more story.”

“Another Artie memory?” her mother asked.

Tessa felt a smile lift her lips. “He was involved, yes. But this isn’t about Dad. It’s about…Roman.”

“Roman?” Maggie asked as every head turned toward him.

“Roman knew Artie?” Vivien looked as confused as everyone else.

“Yes, he did,” she said, speaking just loud enough that everyone could hear her. “In fact, Artie was the first man who ever held Roman and was with me…the day I gave birth to him.”

She heard a soft gasp. A whimper. A few whispers of, “What did she say?” And then there was silence, except for the lapping water on the sides of her boat.

“Twenty-five years ago,” Tessa whispered, “I had a baby that I never told any of you about. I gave him up for adoption the day he was born. Only Dad knew and…helped me.”

There was a silence so complete, even the birds overhead seemed to hush.

Roman got up then, and walked to stand next to her, the move demonstrating such solidarity, she nearly melted.

He put a hand on her shoulder and smiled. “Don’t worry, Tessa. No one is going to judge you.”

Her heart shifted as she smiled back at him.

Jo Ellen sucked in a breath, then set down her glass with a shaky hand. “Oh, honey…”

Kate blinked, trying to stand but unable to. “Wait. What? You had a baby ? And…it was—is— Roman ?”

He gave a slight tip of his head, acknowledging that.

“I did. Remember when I had that job working on a cruise ship out of Port Canaveral?” she asked Kate.

Her sister nodded numbly. Everyone looked utterly gobsmacked but as they all looked from Tessa to Roman and back again, those expressions slowly changed to recognition.

She laughed softly. “I know, right? Once you know, you can’t unsee the resemblance.”

“I can’t believe it,” Kate whispered.

“I’m stunned,” Vivien added.

The rest just stared in silence and she knew what they were thinking. How? Who? Taking a deep breath, she dove into the tough stuff.

“I met someone,” she said. “A guy who was a passenger on the ship on a weekend booze cruise with his buddies. We…you know. We didn’t exchange last names.

Or phone numbers. I didn’t even know where he lived.

It was dumb and careless and…I figured it ended when the shipped docked.

It didn’t. Well, the guy disappeared fast enough but”—she leaned her head on Roman’s shoulder—“the results of that night are with us today.”

A reaction rippled over the whole boat, a few saying his name and muttering their surprise, but it was Kate who leaned forward.

“You could have told me,” she said, sounding understandably sad. “Anytime, you could have.”

“I know,” she said, taking her sister’s hand. “I should have told you when it happened. But you were already getting another advanced degree and I was…messing around on cruise ships.” She gave a dry laugh. “Hasn’t that always been the way of it?”

“No,” Kate said, standing up. “We are sisters and that has always been the way of it.”

“I’m sorry, Kate,” she said, and meant it.

Then she turned to her mother. “I’m sorry to you, too.

I panicked. I didn’t know what to do. I was living in Florida, you all were in New York, and didn’t have a clue.

As I got further along, I called Dad. He quietly and kindly arranged for an adoption… and Roman got a wonderful family.”

“So, you’ve been here all this time…” Vivien shook her head, staring at Roman like she was just seeing him for the first time. “And we didn’t know? How did you…and how did he…”

“And how did we not see it?” Maggie interjected. “Now that I look at him, all I can see is Artie.”

“I saw it,” Seamus said with a gravelly laugh. “Stepped in it real bad, too.”

“You didn’t know who he was?” Kate asked.

Roman stepped forward. “My turn?” he asked Tessa.

“Yes, please.” She laughed, grateful for the reprieve and the help.

He kept his hand on her back in the most tender of gestures as he cleared his throat. “First of all, please forgive me for the deceit. I got a message from Lacey?—”

“You told Lacey and not me?” Tessa heard the hurt in Kate’s voice.

“I guessed ,” Lacey said. “I could tell Tessa had something in her past and I honestly just guessed. I found Roman. And we…”

“Wait a second,” Vivien said, turning to Lacey with her voice taut. “You knew this? Are you two…an act?”

“No,” Roman said to Vivien. “Please, everyone, listen. We are not an act. Lacey found me all on her own and I wanted a way to meet Tessa without upsetting anyone’s life.

Coming as someone she was dating was all my idea, but…

” He smiled at Lacey. “It got real, real fast,” Roman finished, holding up a hand like a Boy Scout. “I swear.”

Lacey just gave a self-conscious laugh while everyone on the boat tried to process what it all meant.