Page 71 of Her Athlete's Wedding Secret

Chapter 16

“What are you going to do?” Benson asked.

“My mom’s in the hospital now, but she’s going to be released tomorrow. She’s going to need twenty-four-hour supervision. I can’t do that for her, but I was wondering if you’d be willing to help me hire someone who can watch over her.”

“We absolutely can do that.”

“I’d still like to be there for her.”

“We can fly back as soon as you’d like.”

“You want to come with me?” Tessa asked. She was surprised he’d want to come.

“I’m not going to abandon you when you’re going through this.”

Tessa took his hand in hers. “That means so much to me.”

“I’m here for you.”

“I love you, Benson Patrick.”

“I love you too.”

Benson booked the flight, and Tessa went through her bags to take out the stuff she didn’t need, like swimsuits. She was glad she still hadn’t gotten around to unpacking. Benson had already unpacked all this stuff, so he had to repack.

“I think this will be good,” Tessa said. “It’ll give me a chance to pack up my house.”

“Are you planning to move all your stuff in here?” Benson asked.

“Of course. Where else would I put my stuff?”

“I just wasn’t sure that you’d made up your mind to stay here.”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Tessa said. “Maybe I was too harsh on you about Megan. I can’t expect you to have all your old feelings to be immediately erased when our relationship is just starting to become real. It just came as such a shock, and I felt so vulnerable. The last thing I want is for this marriage to end in a divorce. I don’t want to be broken like my mom.”

“I appreciate that. I don’t want a divorce either. I plan on working hard to make this work.” Benson was quiet for a moment. “Why don’t we hire someone to pack up your house so you can focus on being there for your mom?”

“You would do that for me?” Tessa asked.

“Of course I would. Why should you have to pack up yourself? I would have already lined it up if I had thought you’d wanted it.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Tessa asked. “I was always planning on living here with you.”

“I wasn’t sure you’d last the entire time. Especially after you found out about Megan. I thought that if you got an idea of what life was like with me on a daily basis that you’d bail on me like she did.”

“Lucky for you, I’m not Megan. I plan on sticking around.”

“I can’t tell you how refreshing it is for me to hear that.”

* * *

When they werein Maple Creek, Tessa called her dad. “Hi! I hope it’s not too late.”

“No, it’s fine. Were you able to get back to see your mom?”

“Yes, we’re already here.”

“That was fast. I’m impressed.”

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