Tessa looked around the kitchen. “I don’t need to be here another day. All I can think about is my mom being sick and inpain.”
“Then it will be good for you to get away. How about you and Jade deal with the food and anything you want to take with us today from the kitchen? But first, will you walk around with us guys and show us the things you want packed?”
“Sure.” Tessa looked around the house. “I think everything in my bedroom and bathroom can come with us except the furniture. I’ve got a few heirlooms and all the photos I’d like to take. I can’t think of anything else I’ll need.”
“Okay, we’ll get started,” Nate said.
After the group ate, they started on her bedroom and bathroom and had it packed within thirty minutes, and started on the photos. She pointed out the family things she wanted to take.
The women made up sacks of food after the funeral and the stuff she already had to take to the neighbors. Tessa was giving it all away instead of taking it with them.
Nate sent Cooper with them to deliver the food. When they returned, he could tell Tessa was emotional, and he guessed it had to do with never seeing her neighbors again.
“Baby,” he said and pulled her off to the side and into his arms. “How are you holding up?”
She sniffed. “I’m going to miss them. They were all so wonderful to me.”
“We can always come back and visit. It’s not that far from your new home.”
“I’d like that.”
He tilted her head back and wiped her tears from her cheeks. “I think we’re about ready.”
“Shouldn’t we clean and pack some of it?” she asked.
“No. I’m having cleaners come in after the delivery company has all your things. They’ll come in and clean, and then I’ll send a realtor to sell it.”
She stared up at him. “You make it sound so easy.”
“If you hire the right people, it is.”
She snuggled up and sighed.
“Are you ready?” he asked. “The others are taking off. Brandon has the truck, and we’ll drive in your car.”
“Can I look around one more time?”
“Of course. Take all the time you want. I’ll stand right here if you need me.”
Nate watched her go, and he wished he could extinguish the shadows and sadness from her eyes. He knew with time, she’d be able to heal.
Chapter Eight
Tessa walked into her bedroom and looked around. The only thing left was her furniture, and she couldn’t believe how bare it looked. This had been her room her whole life, and it was scary to think she’d have a new one and never see this one again.
She took a breath in and silently said goodbye. Next, she walked into her mother’s bedroom. God, it felt so empty and lifeless. The air was stale and warm.
Everything but the pictures and her mother’s jewelry case were the same. Tessa folded up the quilt her mother used on the bed, pressed it against her face, and inhaled her mother’s scent.
She scanned the room one more time, turned, and walked out to Nate.
He opened his arms, and she walked into them. “How are you holding up?”
“Good, I think. I want to take the quilt. It was my mom’s.”
“Baby, you can take whatever you want. If you want the bushes outside, I’ll figure out a way to take them with us.”
She giggled. “No, just this.”