Just The Way You Are Part 11

Chapter 9.

*Jimmy looked taken aback. "Your husband?"

"Yes."

"And he's close to Tessa?"

"He used to be."

"Looks like he still is," Jimmy said dryly. "Hey, Tessa, babe, sweetheart." He waved as Tessa turned and saw them standing there.

"Jimmy? Jimmy, is that you?" Tessa cried, coming up the road to meet them. "Oh, my G.o.d, what are you doing here?"

"Trying to keep an appointment with you."

"How did you find me?"

"Your a.s.sistant gave me the address. And when you didn't call me back, I figured I'd have a better chance of talking to you if I came here."

"I've been so busy."

"With your-grandmother?" Jimmy asked, casting Sam a suspicious look as he moved up behind Tessa.

Tessa cleared her throat. "Among other people. I see you met my sister. And this is Sam Tucker, an old friend."

"And your brother-in-law," Jimmy said.

"Right," Tessa said, clearing her throat. "How long have you been standing here?"

"Long enough, I'd say," Jimmy replied. "For a woman who claimed to have no family, you seem to be acquiring relatives by the minute."

"Yes, well, it's a long story."

"I bet it's a good one. I think I'll stick around to hear it."

"Really? You can stay for a few hours?"

"I can stay for a few days. We still have that a.s.signment to complete-a day in the life of a supermodel."

"We can't do that here. This isn't my life."

"Oh, I don't know. You're breathing, you're alive, and this is a day in your life."

"Not one I'd like to have recorded. Why don't we get some lunch and talk about it?" Tessa suggested. "There's a great little clam chowder place at the end of the pier."

"Sounds good."

Tessa looked at Sam. "I'll see you later?"

"Sure," Sam replied, digging his hands into his pockets.

"Good."

Alli watched as Tessa slipped her hand through Jimmy's arm and they walked down the road together, two strikingly attractive people. It was like watching the Red Sea part, she thought. The crowd seemed to naturally move aside for them, some taking a second look after they'd pa.s.sed. When she glanced back at Sam, she caught him studying her with curiosity.

"What?" she asked.

"Were you following Tessa?"

"No. I was standing in front of the store, and I saw that guy taking Tessa's photograph. I didn't know who he was, so I thought I'd warn her, but you got to her first," Alli explained, remembering their pa.s.sionate embrace. "That was quite a hug."

"Well, believe it or not, the reason I was walking up this way was to see you."

"Really?" she asked skeptically.

"Yes. I wanted an update on Phoebe's condition."

"She's better. They're going to do a CT scan this afternoon. When I was there this morning Grams mouthed a few short words-my name, William's, stuff like that. You couldn't really call it talking. She seems able to move her right arm and leg just fine, but the left side is more sluggish. It's hard to see her like that."

Sam held out his hand to her and, after a momentary hesitation, she took it.

"She's going to make it," he said, wrapping his fingers around hers.

She looked into his eyes and saw a kindness that reminded her of the boy she'd first fallen in love with. "You're being very supportive about Grams. I appreciate it."

"I care about her, too. Listen, I have a whale watching trip in an hour with a newlywed couple. Why don't you come with me?"

"Come with you?" she asked in surprise.

"They'll want to be on their own. You can keep me company. Fishermen I can deal with. Young lovers are another story."

"I'm working," she said, even though she was tempted to say yes.

"You can't spare an hour or two? Mary Ann can mind the store."

"You never wanted me to come on your tours. Why now?"

"I told you, I'd like the company."

"My company?"

"Do you want me to take it back?"

"No, but there's Grams, and..." She waved her hand in the air, trying to give voice to the million reasons why she shouldn't go with him.

His smile faded. "Say no if you don't want to go. Say yes if you do. You don't have to make an excuse either way."

Oh, G.o.d. He was killing her with his eyes, with his question. She was supposed to be breaking away from Sam, but he so rarely invited her out on the boat, preferring to keep that world his and his alone, that she didn't want to say no.

"Look, we're leaving in an hour," he said. "If you want to come, I'll see you on board." He started to leave, then paused. "You never used to think this much, Alli. I don't believe I like it."

"I like the new you," Jimmy said as he sat down across the table from Tessa with a heaping portion of clam chowder in a bread bowl. He eyed Tessa's own smaller cup of chowder accompanied by a green salad with approval. "You're actually eating. I'm impressed."

"I shouldn't be," she said, then closed her eyes in delight as the first spoonful of clam chowder slid down her throat. "But this is so incredibly good. Tomorrow I will eat only lettuce, I swear."

He laughed, reaching across the table to wipe a drop of chowder off her chin with his napkin. "You could use a pound or two."

"No, I couldn't, and you know how hard I have to work to keep them off. Still ... maybe just a few more bites," she said guiltily. "It must be the sea air."

"It's certainly all around us," Jimmy replied.

Tessa followed his gaze to the railing just a few feet away from them, to the harbor and the ocean beyond, the sails blowing in the breeze, the sound of sea lions mingling with the chatter of tourists. She shook her head, thinking how incongruous it all was, having lunch with Jimmy at a beat-up picnic table, dented with the carvings of a thousand teenagers who had sat at this point and looked out at the sea.

"What?" Jimmy asked.

"I was just thinking that four-star restaurants are more our style."

"But you've never enjoyed a meal more. Must be my company, huh?"

She laughed. "Must be. I still can't believe you're here."

"How's your grandmother?"

"A little better, I hope. I stopped in this morning. She said a few words to me, but the stroke has robbed her of her personality, her spirit. She seems to be struggling to just stay awake, to even say h.e.l.lo." Tessa pushed her bowl of chowder away, suddenly losing her appet.i.te. "I shouldn't be this happy while she's in there, not for one second. It's not right."

Jimmy pushed the bowl back to her. "Not eating won't make your grandmother better. Tell me about her. What kind of woman is she? Is she like you?"

Tessa smiled again. "In looks maybe, but not in personality or in height. She barely comes up to my chin, but she's indomitable. She has a heart so big it crosses continents. When life knocks her down on her back, she gets right up again. She never feels sorry for herself, and she never asks, why me? She says, why not me? I've tried to be like her, but I just don't think I have it in me to be so brave, so courageous. It doesn't take much in the way of guts to strut down a runway."

"I don't know about that. I'd be terrified at the thought."

"You could do it. You're good-looking enough."

"Yeah, right. I'd trip and land in some matron's lap."

"More like a busty brunette."

"I've given them up for Lent."

"It isn't Lent."

"You know, you look tired," Jimmy said abruptly. "Let me take your picture now with those gray shadows under your eyes."

"Don't you dare. My career will be over. And I was serious before-you are not shooting a day in the life of a supermodel here. You'll have to wait until I can get down to L.A. Promise me."

"So who was that guy?" Jimmy asked.

Tessa didn't like the way he avoided making a promise. "I told you, he's my brother-in-law."

"You looked awfully cozy for in-laws." Was there a chill in the air or had Jimmy's eyes suddenly gone cold? No. She was getting as imaginative as Alli. "Sam was my best friend growing up," she explained. "We've known each other for years."

"Where has he been?"

"Here. Sam and Alli live here with their daughter."

"They have a kid?"

"Megan. She's eight years old."

Jimmy studied her the way he did when he was searching for an angle to shoot. She laughed self-consciously.

"Stop that. Stop taking my picture in your mind."

"I took a few photos earlier, you know, even got the one where you ran into Sam's arms like a long-lost-"

"Stop."

"Tessa, the camera doesn't lie."

"Okay, he was my boyfriend when we were kids."

"But he married your sister. How did that happen?"

"It's a long story."

"Is that why you don't talk about her? Or about him? Is that why most of the free world thinks you're an orphan?"

"Maybe." Tessa took another spoonful of soup, but found it as unsatisfying as their conversation. "I don't want to talk about this now, okay? I've got more important things on my mind than the past."

Jimmy slowly nodded. "Whatever you say."

She sent him a suspicious look, his agreement coming to quickly. She'd known Jimmy for five years and he never gave up easily. But he was very good at biding his time.

"How did you get here anyway?" she asked.

"I rented a motorcycle at the airport."

"A motorcycle?"

"I needed some air."

"You've come to the right place for air. When is your flight back to L.A.?"

"I don't have one."