The following is a sneak peek at book 19. Title and cover release coming soon! Let me know what you think…
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Jack sat in the den and was aimlessly looking over some notes for a new case. He watched Tessa from afar until she rode her bike home and she was in her room now, reading.
He was at a loss as to what was wrong and more importantly, how to help her. He looked up as Stephanie came in and smiled.
āWhatās up? Bee and I didnāt even hear you come home,ā she said and walked to look at what he was reading.
āSorry. I was just thinking.ā
āAbout Tess?ā she asked with a sigh.
āYeah. She asked me if I was sorry she wasnāt a boy. She is so sad, Stephanie, and I donāt know how to help her.ā
āShe asked that? Did she say why?ā Stephanieās heart ached for her baby girl.
āShe knew you were telling Bee about Josh and she felt left out. She thought if it was so important that you needed Bee to know, she must not be important enough for you to tell her, too. She wondered if she had been a boy, we might have trusted her more.ā
Stephanieās hand flew to her mouth at the words her husband said. She went to leave when he stopped her.
āWhere are you going?ā
āTo tell her how much we love her. To apologize for making her think that way,ā she said tearfully.
āShe wants some time alone. I told her we would honor that.ā
āWere you able to help her at all?ā
āI donāt know, maybe? I explained that she is only 11and a half and doesnāt need to worry so much, but that didnāt seem to work. She is just incredibly sad.ā
āDo I have to explain everything to you two?ā Bee asked as she stood at the doorway.
āExcuse me? Were you eavesdropping?ā Stephanie asked.
Sabrina smiled as she walked in and sat down on the couch.
āYou werenāt exactly whispering. Besides, I think I can offer you some insight.ā
Jack smiled at Stephanie and they both knew they were in over their heads with their spunky daughter.
āOkay, enlighten us,ā he said.
āGrowing up, you both always told us stories about how we were as babies. I mean, I canāt stop hearing about how love sick I was for David coming out of the womb,ā she rolled her eyes. āAnyway, I was always easily going to everyone, well every man, and you both always told us how Tessa was different.ā
Stephanie looked at Jack and a horrible realization dawned on her.
āOutside of the two of you, Tessa only felt comfortable with one person, right?ā
Jack felt his eyes prick with tears.
āMike.ā
Bee nodded.
āAnd when I went off to camp with all the other kids but Tessa couldnāt go because of her tummy issues, what did she do?ā
Stephanie wiped her eyes.
āWent to work with Mike and helped him with the cold cases. She also started volunteering at the farm that helped vets with PTSD care for injured animals. She did that with him.ā
āRight, and when Tessa felt lonely, who did she go talk to?ā
āElaine,ā Jack said.
āAnd when Elaine died, Tessa helped Mike write a song for the memorial. She even taught Peeps to sing.ā
Stephanie and Jack both wiped their eyes.
The problem wasnāt that Tessa felt left out. She had lost a dear friend and they didnāt acknowledge that at all. They hid things from her and tried to cover up the truth when she just missed her favorite uncle, her friend.
āTess? Can you come down here?ā Stephanie called up to her daughter.
Sabrina looked at her parents and sighed.
āSheās an old soul. She may be young, but sheās smarter than I think Iāll ever be. Tell her the truth and let her handle it. Sheās pretty amazing.ā
Tessa came into the room and saw Bee there.
āWere you in my clothes again? Quit it!ā Bee said and ruffled Tessaās hair.
āReally?ā Jack said to her.
āWhat? Sheās still my squirt sister,ā Bee winked and walked out.
Tessa smoothed her hair down from Beeās intrusion and sat on the couch.
āAm I in trouble? Iām sorry I didnāt leave a note, but I needed prespection, like you always say.ā
Stephanie walked to the couch and sat down, hugging her daughter tightly.
āPerspective is always a good thing.ā
Jack walked to sit on the other side of her and he kissed her forehead.
āWe need to tell you about something,ā he said. āWe should have told you long ago, but we didnāt want to scare you. We were wrong and you deserve this one.ā
Tessa looked at them.
āWas I adopted?ā
Stephanie and Jack looked at each other.
āSabrina.ā
āShe said you found me on the porch and waited for days but finally took me in because no one claimed me.ā
Stephanie smoothed the hair off her daughters face.
āYou were not adopted. You were born in a mall during a storm when the power went out.ā
Her green eyes went wide and they heard a gasp.
āWhat? Seriously?ā Bee came back in and sat down, listening.
Jack smiled and Stephanie continued.
āI was with Uncle Tommy and Uncle Evan. Daddy was stuck at the hospital and the roads were too bad to drive. I had you on one of the beds at Macyās.ā
āNo way,ā Bee said. āThatās awesome. Was it a plush comforter or satin?ā
Stephanie and Tessa rolled their eyes at her.
āSeriously? Thatās what you ask.ā
āWhat? Fashion is important,ā she said with a grin.
Stephanie laughed.
āAnyway, about the time you were born, Uncle Mike went through a very hard time in his life.ā
Jack looked at them.
āHe was married before Aunt Jade.ā
āWhat?ā both girls said in unison.
āDo the twins know?ā Tess asked.
āI donāt think so, and it isnāt for you to tell them, okay?ā Stephanie said.
Both girls nodded, understanding the seriousness of his words.
āAnyway, his marriage ended very badly and Mike was in a very sad place. He had lost a lot of faith in himself and he also lost a son he thought was his own.ā
Tessa had big tears rolling down her cheeks as she listened to the story.
āJimmy.ā
Jack was surprised.
āYes, did he tell you that?ā
She wiped her eyes.
āNo, but I saw a picture he had once and it was of him holding a little boy. He was really happy. I asked him about it and he said it was from a long time ago. He didnāt say anything else and then the next day, the picture was gone.ā
Stephanie squeezed her hand.
āMike was very sad and lonely and not much helped him, but then the most amazing thing happened.ā
Both girls waited.
āHe held you and you made him smile. You took to him when nobody else could help your tummy troubles and when he held you, you were so happy. He began to smile more because you smiled more and because of that, when Aunt Jade met him, he was able to trust her. He saw someone who deserved love because you showed him he was still a good man and he deserved to be happy. You did that, Tessa, nobody else,ā Stephanie said.
Jack nodded.
āHe also saved my life. When Josh hurt me, I almost fell off the roof of the hospital and Uncle Mike caught me. He held me by one arm until I was rescued. He truly was the best.ā
āWhat? You almost fell off the roof?ā Both girls were wide eyed and mesmerized.
Stephanie nodded.
āI told you Josh was a very bad man. He tried to hurt daddy and if it wasnāt for Uncle Mike, your daddy wouldnāt be here.ā
Tessa felt such a sense of pride come over her and she hugged Stephanie and then Jack.
āThank you for telling us. I always knew he was a hero, but now I know why. He never talked about himself when it came to what he had done, just like Uncle Bill never talks about it. I think itās important for us to always remember just how much someone gives up when they help others.ā
Jack sighed.
āYouāre right. Uncle Mike helped so many of us and I think itās time we help his family any way we can.ā
Sabrina smiled.
āYou did that, daddy. You saved Aunt Jade and thatās the most important thing you could have done for Uncle Mike.ā
Jack looked at Stephanie and they both were choked up.
āI wish I could have done so much more,ā he said.
āIs Uncle Bill going to be okay? He was Uncle Mikeās bestest friend and Josie is afraid heās going to cry.ā
Stephanie nodded.
āUncle Bill went through a lot with Mike and they are brothers, like your daddy and Uncle Tommy are. We will help him through this because thatās what Uncle Mike would want.ā
Tessa burst into tears and looked at them.
āBut now heās gone and I donāt know what to do. He believed in me and he trusted me and now I donāt know how to be brave. I want to keep helping people at the farm, but Iām afraid to go there and tell them Uncle Mike is dead. I donāt think I can do it. I donāt think I can look at Aunt Jade and be strong. I donāt want to see the twins anymore. I miss my friend and I think Iām a loser,ā she cried and Stephanie pulled her into her arms.
āOh my sweet Tessie,ā she said as she rubbed her back. āYou are not a loser. You are the most amazing young woman and you have buckets of strength and bravery.ā
Bee wiped her eyes and Jack looked at his girls.
āI think we need to do something special to help commemorate how important Mike was to you, to all of us.ā
Tessa wiped her face.
āHow? What can we do?ā
āI have a few ideas, but I need to think about it. In the meantime, I think we need to go see Aunt Jade. You need to be able to talk to her about this, too. She adores you, Tess, and you might be surprised at how much you both will help each other.ā
Stephanie nodded.
āLetās all go over.ā
Oh my, tears blurring my vision. I’ve been waiting for the kids to make a real entrance to the series. š
They do that big time in this one š