Tess in Boots (21 page)

CHAPTER 23

It wasn’t as hard
as I thought it would be finding my way back to Suzie Q’s. It turned out I only had to make four turns. It was the miles of back roads between those turns that made the drive seem longer last time. Of course, my mind was also working on overdrive today. Perhaps that was why this trip felt so short.

Thatcher had been gone for almost twenty-four hours. With each passing hour, I became more and more confused, replaying the things he said to me before he left.

You don’t know the whole story, Tess.

That was the part of it bothering me the most. Why wouldn’t he come out and tell me what was going on? If it was big enough to make him leave, didn’t I have a right to know?

Maybe there
wasn’t
anything else to the story. Maybe he was just making up an excuse. Or perhaps there
was
something, but it wasn’t worth telling me because I didn’t matter to him. It seemed so easy for him to walk away. He wasn’t planning to say goodbye in person, I remembered, which meant he didn’t even want to see me before he left. He was going to leave me a
note,
and then slip away like he’d never known me.

What if there’s someone else in his life?

I winced as the question invaded my thoughts. I’d known him for such a short time. For all I knew, he could have a wife and kids back home. The very idea of it made me feel sick. I reflected on what Jake said the night of the concert.

“
Is there something going on with you two? Because if there is, it’s really important for you to tell me.”

So maybe Thatcher
did
have someone else in his life. Maybe Jake knew it, and was trying to protect me.

But then again, that didn’t seem right, either. Because if that were the case, then why had Thatcher been so persistent? Why
did he say the things he said to me? And besides, the night he brought the pizza to the cottage, he told me he’d be here all summer. So whatever happened came on suddenly. Something changed his plans and caused him to leave earlier than expected.

But what?

I could track him down, if I wanted to. Or corner Sara and get more information out of her. The trouble was, doing so would mean confessing about our relationship, and with the way things ended, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. Thatcher was gone, and he couldn’t have been clearer about not wanting to see me anymore. What did I have to gain by acting out of desperation?

Nothing, I decided. I wasn’t going to fall into my old habits, pinning all my hope
s on my love life. I forced myself to ignore the little voice inside urging me to chase after him and make things right. I was
not
going to give in. It was over. It was time to forget about Thatcher; time to focus on me. And right now that meant meeting with the photographer so I could keep this wedding moving forward.

I
shook my head and tried to clear my mind as I pulled up to the restaurant and parked my car. It was early, so there were plenty of spaces available up front by the building. At first I thought I came at a good time, before the big dinner rush. But as soon as I set foot inside, I wished I called instead of showing up in person.

Desiree.

She sat perched on a barstool, facing out as if she were waiting for me to walk through the door.

“
Hey,” she said.

“
Oh, hey there.” It was the last thing I needed, seeing her here, but I tried to sound casual; tried to seem unfazed by her. “How are you?”

“
Fine.”

“
That’s good.”

We regarded one another in awkward silence.

“I’m supposed to be meeting someone.” I scanned the place to see if I could spot anyone sitting alone who might be DJ.

“
Yeah. I know. Me.”

“
Hmm?” I looked back at her and saw a smile on her face.

“
My girlfriends call me DJ,” she said.

Oh no.

She broke into a laugh. “You didn’t want to have dinner with me, did you?”

Be careful, Tess. You need her.

I made a quick attempt to visibly perk up. “Don’t be silly. I’m just a little surprised is all.”

She let her gaze roam down my body, concentrating as if she were scrutinizing my outfit and trying to decide if she approved. Then, she looked back at my face and hopped off the stool.
“Come on, then.”

We sat at a nearby table
. Desiree pulled a tablet from her tote and tapped away at it. “I have a portfolio you can look through.”

She pushed the tablet across the table and I swip
ed through the pictures. As much as I hated to admit it, she was a talented photographer. Natalie was right; her work was incredible. There must have been photos from about twenty weddings, all told. I could tell she had an eye for catching the right lighting in an outdoor setting.

“
Wow,” I said, looking through the photos for a second time. “How long have you been doing this for?”

She shrugged.
“As a side gig a few years. But I’ve pretty much loved photography my whole life. The restaurant job is just a way to support my expensive camera addiction. Well, that and my folks own the place, so I’m kind of obligated.”

“
They do?”

“
Yeah. I grew up running around back there.” She gestured toward the kitchen. “You want food? I’ll go get us something. Are you picky?”

“
Not in the least.” I watched her get up from the table and disappear through the swinging door. All of the sudden she seemed so… decent. This was not the same girl I talked to the other night. This person was relaxed and relatable. It intrigued me to see her like this.

She reappeared carrying a couple of sandwiches and sodas on a tray. She distributed the food and slid the tray aside in one swift motion. I watched her take an enormous bite of her sandwich,
and then wash it down with a drink.

She noticed me watching her and shrugged.
“Waitress problems. You get used to eating fast because the shorter your break, the higher your tips.”

I smiled.
“Makes sense. So, listen. I can see your work is amazing. And I’m in a real pinch here. Will you take the job?”

She popped a fry into her mouth and nodded.

“That’s great news,” I said. “Thank you.”

“
It’s no problem. But you should know, I charge two grand for the full package, including editing and digital rights.”

“
That’s fine. Can I pay you in full on the day of?”

She seemed surprised that I agreed so easily.
“Yeah. Friday you say? What time do you need me there?”

“
How about noon to be safe?”

“
Noon it is. I’ll have to get someone here to cover my shift.”

“I can’t thank you enough
,” I said.

“
I do what I can. Hey, did you say you were coming here to ask about catering for the rehearsal?”

I sat up a little straighter in my seat.
“Yes. Can you help me?”

“
Uh-huh. We do parties all the time. I know how this place looks, but believe it or not, we clean up pretty nice. My folks know how to throw together the most adorable picnic you’ve ever seen. We bring everything. Big smokers for ribs, gingham tablecloths, mason jars for the drinks… you name it. It’s the full Southern experience. I can get you a catering menu to look at if you want.”

“
That would be so helpful. You have no idea.”

She nodded.
“No problem. Just so you know, you’re not gonna be able to get away with this in the future, with only a week’s notice and all. But I can call in a favor for you this time.”

I took a sip of my drink.
“Believe me, I will never,
ever
attempt to plan a wedding in two weeks ever again. You have my word. I’ve spent the past week begging and pleading with people. I almost sold my soul for a cake a couple days ago.”

She laughed.

“It’s true. I’m pretty sure everyone in this town thinks I’m a nut job,” I said. “Among other things.”

“
Yeah, well, you’re not as nuts as you seem at first.”

“
Thanks. I think?”

Her face softened.
“Look, I’m sorry for how I acted the other night. I was pretty awful to you.”

Our conversation flow
ed so easily I’d forgotten all about it. Now the memory came rushing back to me, and I shifted in my seat. “Don’t worry about it. It’s water under the bridge.”

“
Yeah, well, I still feel like I owe you an apology. I guess… Thatcher makes me a little crazy.”

“
You and me both,” I murmured under my breath.

“
What?”

“
Nothing.”

She jiggled her straw up and down in her cup.
“Anyway, you don’t have to pretend. I know you guys are a thing. I heard all about it.”

I put my sandwich down and looked up at her.
“You heard what, exactly?”

She took a deep breath as if she were about to recite the alphabet.
“Ms. Betty said she saw you guys in her diner a couple weeks back, and then she ran into Thatcher downtown and at first he acted all innocent about it, but then he told her you were the
meet your momma
kind.”

“
The
what
kind?”

“
Meet your momma.”

“
I don’t understand.”

“
It’s Southern speak for… special,” she said. “You know, like someone you’re in love with. Someone you want to marry.”

My heart seemed to flip over in my chest, but it came to an abrupt stop as I remembered how he left. “I’m familiar with the expression. But it doesn’t make sense,” I said.

“Well that’s what he told Ms. Betty. Said you were the one, but you didn’t know it yet. Said you needed some time. And that you were like a deer in the woods.”

“
A
what
?”

“
A deer in the woods. You know, like something you don’t want to scare off?”

“
Huh.” I ran my hands through my hair. “Are you
sure
he said all this?”

“
I’m sure. Ms. Betty is our neighbor. She and my mom are close. They talk about everything.”

I sat across from her, dumbfounded, making a conscious effort to keep my jaw from hanging open. Thatcher said all this? About me?

She smiled. “You look scared. Don’t worry. He has a crush on you, that’s all. I don’t think he’s going to do anything crazy and
propose
.”

I felt my eyelids pop. Propose?

“Then again,” she said, “you never know with Thatcher.”

I frowned.
It didn’t seem right. Thatcher ended things. He was gone. And besides, Desiree herself was the one who warned me about him. About not trusting him, about wanting something Jake has, about his one true love. And now she was changing her story on me in a big way.

“
Desiree—”

“
DJ. Call me DJ.”

“
Okay. DJ. Do you think Ms. Betty’s… all there?”

“
Like, in the mind?”

“
Right. Do you think she’s losing it?”

She laughed.
“No. She can be a little kooky, sure. But she’s still with it. And the woman knows her town gossip, I’ll tell you that much.”

“
When did you hear all of this?” I asked.

“
A day or two after I saw you guys in here. I’m sorry about how I acted. I saw you with him, and I was… I hate to even say the word. I was jealous. Like I said, Thatcher makes me a little crazy.”

I studied her eyes, searching for a hint of dishonesty. But I couldn’t find any. Instead,
I saw some pain there, and regret, too. She seemed to be telling the truth.

“
I’m confused.” I picked up a French fry and twirled it in my fingers. “You said some pretty awful things about Thatcher. You said I shouldn’t trust him.”

“
Yeah. I did.”

“
And?”

“
And I meant it, too. Well, at first. But then I saw you guys together, and I heard what Ms. Betty said. And… I don’t know.”

“
What
do
you know?” I asked.

“
I know lots of things. What do you want to know?”

“
Well, for starters…” I folded my hands on my lap and stared at the ceiling, trying to muster up the courage to ask what was on my mind. “You said something about his one true love…” I lowered my head to look at her.