An Unlikely Hero (1) (49 page)

“No. Really, Tessa, what happened?” He sounded concerned.

Tessa sighed. She had tried to be honest. “I fell off the ladder when I was painting and cracked my head as well as dislocated my shoulder.”

“You’re such a clumsy goof, Tessa. Can’t leave you alone at all,” he smiled kissing her on the lips. “I’m glad to be home.”

“Hey, Mom, you should meet our friend Honey!” Daniel blurted out much to Robert’s embarrassment.

Sean Patrick elbowed his mother gently. “She was a real hotty.”

The two Enigma men sat in their car listening to the family chatter about the new house, their trip and the mysterious Honey. They momentarily stiffened when Tessa began summing up her week with Enigma. They realized she merely wanted to tell the truth, because telling the truth would be impossible to believe.

Zoric frowned. “Did he call her a goof?”

“Give me your gun.”

“Why?”

“I’m going to shoot him,” Chase said drily.

Claudia turned out the lights in Mr. Crawley’s house before joining the Enigma men in the van. Careful not to wrinkle her black skirt, Claudia slipped into the back seat. “What do you think, Captain Hunter?”

Zoric laughed as Chase grinned. “She’s perfect.”

“I’ll start the paper work then.

“Use the name Melanie Glenn.”

“Mommy! Mommy!” Heather came running to her mother in the kitchen as she made lemonade for her thirsty bunch after only a few minutes of reconnecting.

“What is it, sweetheart?” Tessa laughed happily as she bent down and lifted her youngest up into her arms.

Heather pointed next door as if her mother could see through walls. “I just saw an angel!”

“You did?” Tessa remembered not taking her daughter seriously a few days ago when she’d seen a falling star. “Where did you see this angel?”

She jabbed a finger toward next door. “Mr. Crawley’s! His yard light was on and this big guy was a standin’ there big, big. He had big wings.” Heather motioned with her arms to show size of the wings. Tessa smiled knowing the lights under Mr. Crawley’s bushes had cast shadowy like wings on one of her friends. “You believe me?”

“I sure do!”

“Can I make a wish on an angel?” Her eyes were wide with anticipation.

Tessa kissed her daughter and carried her to the living room window where she watched a car slowly pull out of Mr. Crawley’s drive. “I hope so.”

Chapter
32

Epilogue

The August sun remained hot during the evening stroll through the fairgrounds in Grass Valley. Carnival rides sent squeals of joy over the heads of families enjoying the corn dogs, funnel cakes and fried pickles. Snow cone drips on tee shirts created the style of small children hanging on to the hands of parents and grandparents. The concert started at the far end as a country music star began to belt out his only hit from five years earlier. Ladies wearing their blue ribbons from prized pies or home grown tomatoes chatted loudly with neighbors and friends they usually only saw at this time of year.

Tessa laughed when her husband won a teddy bear for Heather at the ring toss. The boys cheered their dad on then suckered him into riding the Ferris wheel with them one more time. As Heather swung her mom’s hand back and forth happily, Tessa noticed a woman staring at her. When Tessa turned her face away and began walking a little faster, the woman quickly rushed to her side, carrying something in her arms.

“Melanie? Is that you?” The excited woman turned the bundle around for Tessa to see the baby girl. “I thought that was you!” Her accent was definitely southern; unusual in this part of the country.

Tessa smiled warily. “Excuse me. I’m not Melanie. But that is sure a sweet baby. How old is she?”

The woman blushed and pulled the baby back to her shoulder. “Two months. I’m sorry. You look just like the woman who helped deliver her in Tennessee. I named my baby after her because she saved my life.”

“How wonderful.”

“I’m sorry I bothered you. You look so much like her.”

“No bother.” Tessa watched as the young woman moved away and joined other people at the food stands. Her heart pounded. Perspiration beaded up on her forehead. All the danger and excitement she’d experienced with Enigma washed over her. Had it been two months?

Robert and the boys joined her and Heather with hotdogs and sodas.

Robert eyed her. “Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I did.”