Page 47 of The Summer We Made Promises (The Destin Diaries #3)

No surprise, Eli took the lead, clearing his throat and standing. “Well, I, for one, think this is a miracle, and I don’t say that lightly. Tessa, he’s right. No one is judging you. You made a selfless and brave decision.”

“Thank you,” she muttered.

“And, Roman?” Eli extended his hand, and they shook. “You are more than welcome into our lives, our homes, our hearts, and this mish-mash of a family, young man. Let me be the first to thank you for being such a gentleman with my niece and an excellent addition to our lives.”

All Tessa could do was try to swallow the lump in her throat. What a class act Eli Lawson was. Kate could certainly do no better if she wanted a solid partner in her life.

As if her sister realized the same thing, she stood and reached for Roman. “I’m sorry for making this about me. It’s not. And I’ve always wanted to be an aunt. Welcome.”

Smiling, he hugged her as all the reactions spilled out—joy, forgiveness, surprise, and inclusion. But no one looked more excited than Matt.

“Wait a second,” he exclaimed. “Does that mean I have a cousin in the NFL? Are you kidding me?”

Most of them laughed at that, but Roman just smiled. “You live in Ithaca? Bills fan?” At Matt’s enthusiastic nod, Roman gave him a thumb’s up. “Free tickets when we play Buffalo, cuz.”

“Like I said, it was no surprise to me,” Seamus chimed in. “I took one gander at the boy and I just assumed he was Tessa’s son.”

Her son . Would she ever get used to that?

“And if he hadn’t,” Vivien said, her attention still on Lacey and Roman, “were you going to keep this a secret forever?”

“No.” Roman shook his head. “I wanted to tell my parents first, and I have. But I am going to stick around until training starts, so we can start fresh with the truth out.”

As everyone reacted with welcomes and hugs, Maggie fanned herself with a paper napkin.

“Well, it seems it’s been quite a day of revelations and revealed history,” she said. “And I can feel my Southern skin frying in this sun. Maybe we should go back and regroup. Which is old lady speak for take a nap.”

The joke broke the tension and everyone began chatting again, getting up to start the process of packing.

As Tessa walked toward the captain’s chair, she felt her mother’s gaze on her.

“You’ve been pretty quiet through all this,” Tessa whispered to her.

“Because I’m not surprised.”

Tessa drew back. “You knew?”

“Your father told me,” she said.

Tessa gasped. “He promised he’d keep the secret until the day he died.”

“He did—well, the day before. He knew he was dying and told me I had to find your son, and I had no idea how to do that. Honestly, I was going to ask Maggie for help but then Roman walked into the Summer House, and I knew exactly who he was.”

Tessa swayed at the straightforward announcement, stunned by this newest revelation. “And you didn’t say anything, Mom?”

“I trusted it all to work out, and it did.” She reached for Tessa and folded her into her arms. “I’m just sorry I wasn’t the mother you felt you could tell anything to all those years ago.”

Tessa hugged her back. “Maybe you weren’t then, but you are now.” As she inched away, she searched her mother’s face. “Please don’t leave now that this is all over, Mom. I want you to really get to know him. And I want to spend more time with you.”

“Leave? Mags and I have decided to move into that apartment above the garage for the summer. We have so much to catch up on. We want to start with bringing the Cavallaris up to speed and maybe renewing that friendship.”

“Oh! I love that idea!” She hugged her again. “And I’m sorry for not telling you.”

Jo Ellen’s expression softened. “Honey, don’t be sorry. You brought a beautiful soul into this world. And look at him.”

She turned to study Roman, who was already Matt’s best friend. While talking to his new cousin, Roman looked past him and caught Tessa’s eye.

“Well done,” he mouthed and added a thumbs-up.

Kate joined them, her expression softer now.

“I’m happy you found him,” she said, reaching to hug Tessa. “And Dad would be, too.”

The words were like a balm, lifting Tessa’s heart. “I don’t know why I thought this would be hard,” she admitted, draping one arm around Kate and the other around Vivien when she came closer. “We’re the original three who came of age right here on this water.”

“Seven summers of walkin’ on sunshine,” Vivien said.

The three of them looked at each other and leaned back, hands up, all thinking the same thing.

“Oh, man,” Eli murmured, watching it all. “Here we go.”

“You got that right!” Tessa lifted her phone and tapped her playlist. Instantly, the boat’s speakers fired up with the opening notes of their summer anthem.

They shrieked the lyrics of Walkin’ on Sunshine all the way home and for the first time in many, many years, Tessa felt absolutely…whole.

She was finally complete and the future looked brighter than ever.

They made their way to the Summer House in high spirits, broken into a few small groups, some arm in arm, some holding hands, with Jo Ellen and Maggie bringing up the rear.

Tessa led the group, lighthearted and optimistic, arms linked with Lacey and Roman. As they strolled up the driveway, she slowed her step, certain she’d seen a movement in the shadows up one level near the front door.

“Who is that?” she asked.

The group behind her slowed, too, and all of them seemed to notice the same thing. A man? A?—

“Jonah!” Eli bolted forward, running toward the stairs. “Jonah! Why didn’t you call and tell us you were back?”

As Jonah stepped into the sunlight, Tessa could see he held something in his arms. No, not something— someone . The baby!

They all reacted, running closer, but he stood stone still, as if shellshocked. He wrapped his arms around the bundle protectively, stepping back before they pounced on his baby.

“What are you doing here?” Eli asked. “With the baby? Where’s Carly?”

As they got closer, Tessa sucked in a breath at the look on Jonah’s face. He was…ravaged. Red eyes, blotchy face, thin and lost and actually terrified.

“Carly’s gone,” he croaked. “She died in a car accident three days ago.”

No one spoke except Kate, who let out a whimper, then a wail, instantly launching toward Jonah. Now her, he let hold him, and Eli, who was visibly shaking as he embraced his son and Atlas, a three-week-old grandchild.

“What happened?” Kate asked on a gruff whisper.

“She went out to get diapers. She needed a break so bad. And…” His voice cracked. “She didn’t come back.” He broke into a sob.

“Oh, son, I’m so sorry!” Eli went to hug him a second time, but Jonah jerked back.

“I swear, I’m cursed,” he exclaimed. “It’s me. I’m cursed.”

“Jonah!” Eli barked. “You will never say that again. You are not cursed. You are blessed! With a child.”

Jonah threw him a doubtful look, cradling the baby closer. “How many people do I have to lose?” he muttered. “My mother, now…his mother?” He dropped his head and looked at the baby. “How? How is it possible if not a curse?”

“Stop that,” Eli insisted. “It’s tragic. It’s horrible. But it’s going to be okay. You will survive. So will your baby.”

“But Carly’s parents are out of their minds,” he said. “They want him. They want to take him from me. I literally ran off in the middle of the night and flew here to protect him from them. They will take Atlas from me.”

“What? No…they can’t do that!” Kate sputtered. “He’s your son.”

“But we weren’t married,” he said, tears threatening. “They say they have the right to him.”

“That’s not how it works,” Eli said. “ You’re his father.”

Jonah let out a sob, clearly hanging on by a thread. With the ease of a practiced mother, Kate gently took the sleeping infant from his arms, tucking him close to her chest. “Oh, poor, precious little man.”

“I didn’t know what else to do,” Jonah rasped. “I came here because I need help. I need so much help.”

“And you will have it,” Eli assured him, hugging his son with the same tenderness that Kate gave to the baby.

“We’re all here for you, Jonah,” Vivien said, coming closer. “You’re surrounded by people who love you and will support you.”

“But…what if they take him?”

“They will not.” Maggie marched right up to him and placed both hands on his soaking wet cheeks. “If they want my great-grandson, they’ll have to come through Magnolia Lawson and that will not be pleasant for anyone.”

For the first time, there was a hint of a smile on his face.

“You’ll still go to culinary school,” Kate proclaimed.

“I have to,” he said. “If I can’t show that I’m doing something…some judge will rule in their favor. I can’t lose him. I can’t. I love him so much.”

“Of course you do,” Kate cooed, already rocking the red-faced and bald baby. “We all love wee little Atlas.”

Jonah looked from one to the other, wiping his face with a groan of relief. “I knew we’d be safe here. Thank you.”

The tiny baby let out a soft shriek, fussing in Kate’s arms. Eli reached for him, taking the child, his own tears threatening.

“Welcome home, Atlas,” he said softly, running a finger over the baby’s cheek. “May your future be safe and bright.”

Watching the scene unfold, Tessa felt her lips lift in a smile, thinking how much Artie—the secret protector they didn’t even know they had—would love this moment.

She had no doubt the road ahead might be rocky for all of them—and this house might be crowded—but it wouldn’t be the first time these two families joined forces.

And it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

What’s next in Destin?

As Jonah pieces together his life, the families rally around their tiniest new arrival, willing to do whatever is necessary to keep baby Atlas right where he belongs.

Meredith blows into town under the guise of assisting her brother, but it’s soon clear that “Miss Perfect” is keeping a secret—and she might actually be the one who needs help.

Tessa makes a bold choice that leads her down a road she never thought she’d travel—toward a man she once believed was out of reach and to a place she might finally call home.

And Maggie and Jo Ellen? They’re off on an adventure so wild, they won’t even tell the family. What could possibly go wrong?

Don’t miss The Summer We Kept Secrets , the next unforgettable chapter in The Destin Diaries . Come back to the beach, the bonds, and the beautiful chaos of family.

Don’t Miss a Day in Destin!

The Summer We Met – Book 1

The Summer We Danced – Book 2

The Summer We Made Promises – Book 3

The Summer We Kept Secrets – Book 4

The Summer We Let Go – Book 5

The Summer We Celebrated – Book 6

The Summer We Sailed Away – Book 7