Chapter 33 — Come Fly with Me

Tess knew she had to have time to collect herself before she went back to the party. Somehow, she made her way to the rose garden and plopped down on the bench. Dusk was falling. Bewildered, Tess looked up into the sky. “God, help me. What have I done?”

She sat trying to find comfort in the place she’d often come to sort out her problems. But the answers didn’t come. Morosely, she lamented about what to do. It seemed hopeless. And then she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She looked up into Richard’s face, full of concern.

“Would you take it all back?” he asked. His tone told her he was dead serious. “I saw you and Sawyer together. I was in the library waiting for you.”

Tess’s face turned from disbelief to despair.

“I heard what you said when I stepped outside. Would you really wish us both away? Sawyer or me? If you don’t want me, Tess, we can annul the marriage. And you’ll be a free woman.”

Tess had a sinking feeling. She could see his face in the moonlight, but couldn’t meet his gaze. “I’m sorry that you saw me with Sawyer, Richard. I would give anything if you hadn’t seen it.”

“Well, I did. And I also saw the look on your face when Stephanie walked in. That’s when I knew it was over with Sawyer.”

Tess tried to stifle the sobs, but couldn’t. She cried hard.

Richard took her in his arms. “What are we going to do, Tess?”

“I don’t know. I’m in shock. My heart is broken because I know I hurt you terribly.”

“Are you crying because you hurt me or because you couldn’t run off with Sawyer to the porch swing, and listen to the crickets.”

“You,” she said, trying to choke back the sobs. “It’s because I hurt you.”

Richard put his hand under her chin and lifted her face. “Well, now—I think there’s something there. Maybe there’s a side of you I didn’t see before. But I saw it tonight. And I think I’d like to get to know the girl who enjoys sitting in the porch swing listening to crickets.”

“You would sit in the porch swing with me? Tess asked. 

“Of course—I’m crazy in love with you.” Richard paused. “This thing you were having with Sawyer was a ‘what if’ moment. You knew it would never happen. You thought Sawyer might go off the deep end and maybe even try to hurt himself like Leo.”

“Yes, I was worried,” Tess said. “And you’re right, I wouldn’t have gone, Richard. I was reliving a happier time—before I knew about Stephanie and before I knew Sawyer had murdered a man.”

 “I sensed you were conflicted tonight in the library. I have a lot of layers. You were upset. That’s why I waited for you. I’m jealous, arrogant, egotistical, and I’ll probably drive you crazy. But I promise, you will never be bored.”

“Oh no, Richard. I wouldn’t expect you to go through with the marriage after what has happened,” Tess said stoically. “We’ll get an annulment.”

“That would hurt like, hell, Tess. I might as well pack my bag and move in with Leo. We could have pity parties every night.” 

Tess’s down turned lips curved into a smile.

“Don’t tease,” she said, thinking he looked incredibly handsome in the moonlight.

“What were you doing in there? It sounded like you were talking to someone. Ghosts?”

“I was praying—asking God for a sign,” she said, feeling embarrassed. 

“You were looking at the sky, and you had this look on your face like you’d lost your best friend.”

Tess closed her eyes. That’s exactly what had happened. She’d lost her best friend.

She looked up into the sky searching for answers.

“Look, a shooting star,” Richard said excitedly.

It had come out of nowhere. A bright star shooting across the sky.

“I think that’s my sign,” Tess said, half crying and half laughing.

“So, what do you think? Should we give it another try?”

“I’m not sure—can you ever forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Tess. I’ve never stopped loving you.”

Tess nestled her head in his shoulder, feeling blissfully loved. It was there in the rose garden with a gentle breeze that Tess fell in love with Richard all over again. She’d never felt more content. She was blessed to have found this wonderful man. But one thing she was sure of—she was wildly and madly in love with him.

The music drifted up. It was Frank Sinatra’s “Come Fly with Me.” Richard began to hum the song, and it lifted her mood. He pulled her up and twirled her around, moving to the beat of the music. Then he kissed her, a long lingering kiss murmuring sweet nothings in her ear until she was brimming over with happiness. They walked back to the party hand in hand. Tess had gone through a myriad of emotions in a short time. It had been one little prayer and a shooting star that had turned everything around.

“Thank you, God,” she said under her breath.

The party was in full swing, and the mood was festive. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. Tess looked twice when she saw Daniel and Thomas standing outside the tent, smoking a cigar together.

“Looks like Daniel is mellowing,” Richard grinned. “Maybe we’ll be going to an Amish wedding next.”

Tess didn’t think so.