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“I’m sorry.”

“No, she’s not,” Blake said.

“How about you guys have a seat? I’ll take Tessa up to welcome some people coming in.”

She could still hear them arguing as she walked away and wanted to giggle again. She’d have to wait. At the moment, she needed to greet the well-wishers.

With Nate behind her, the day went much smoother than expected. The visitation and funeral sped by. Before long, they were by the cemetery plot. Everyone was walking away, and she was looking down at her mother’s coffin. And everyone except her and Nate stood over it.

He waited patiently behind her, but she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the casket.

She unconsciously leaned back against his chest. Only when he had his hands on her did she feel warm, safe, and cared for. Tessa feared her feelings for him were getting too deep, and she’d end up with a broken heart. At the moment, she just needed to get past the next few hours—one minute at a time.

She straightened, stepped forward, and placed the single pink rose on top of her mother’s coffin.

“Bye, Mama.” She kissed the tips of her fingers and pressed them against the shiny wood before she turned and walked off. It took all her strength not to look back one more time. She was afraid if she did, she’d run back and throw herself on her mother’s coffin.

Tessa stared out the side window on the way back to her house. She liked that Nate had taken her hand once they started driving and hadn’t let go. Oh, she knew she’d have to let him goat the end of the day, but at the moment, she took every bit of comfort she could before he left.

“How are you holding up, baby?”

She turned her head and tried to smile. “I’ll be fine. My parents raised me to be a strong woman, and I won’t disappoint them.”

He stared at her at a stoplight but didn’t say anything.

She looked around at all the cars up and down the street as they pulled into her driveway. She saw people in the front yard standing, talking with plates of food.

“Oh, my,” she said.

“They won’t be here forever. If you need a break, just tell me.”

“Okay.” She took a deep breath and opened her door. She was swarmed by people hugging her. She was usually an affectionate person, but it was overwhelming.

She had no idea how long they’d been at the house when she looked up at Nate, who never left her side. “I need—”

Nate nodded, wrapped an arm around her waist, and walked her into her bedroom before shutting and locking the door. “Come here.” He sat on the bed, pulled her onto his lap, and cuddled her against his chest.

Tessa closed her eyes for a moment and just breathed. “I’m sorry I’m being a baby.”

He used the side of a finger to tip her head back. “You’re not a baby. Honey, this would overwhelm me.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

She snorted and shook her head. “You’re a warrior. This is probably easy for you. Like a walk in the park.”

“Yes, I am a warrior, but this is a situation I’ve never had to deal with before. If half the people here tried to hug me, I’d end up screaming.”

She giggled and then rested against his chest.

“I’m sorry I’m taking you away from your friends.”

He rolled his eyes. “I get to see them all the time. Way too much if you ask me.”

She smiled. “I should go back.”

Nate kissed the top of her head. “Only if you want to. We can take another minute to sit.”


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