No More Wasted Time (38 page)

“All right, I got it. I’m sorry I kept you up last night.”

Lisa laughed. “Hey, don’t apologize. It worked out great for
me, too.”

When Tom was upstairs in the shower, Tess left a ten-dollar
bill on the counter for him. He ambled into the kitchen before dinner, leaned
into her ear, and breathed in deeply, imitating her moan. Her body covered
itself in goose bumps and she elbowing him in the ribs.

“I’ve had the best Christmas, Tess.”

“Me, too.” she whispered.

CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN

“Good morning, Tess.”

She opened one eye, peeking at the clock. “It’s dark
outside. I don’t want to get up yet. Christmas was yesterday.”

He pulled the covers down, kissing her tummy. “Tess, I need
you to get up. Come on.”

“How come we have to get up so early?”

“It’s snowing outside and I want to take you for a ride.”

“Right now? It’s not even light outside.”

“Come on. Just throw your jeans and a shirt on. We need to
hurry.”

She rolled out of bed, brushed her teeth and hair, and threw
on some clothes. Overly enthused for five o’clock in the morning, Tom kissed
her sensually as she sat on the edge of the bed, putting on her shoes.

“If you’re going to kiss me like that, why don’t we just
stay in bed?”

“Let’s go, sleepy head.”

Snow had fallen all night long, turning the forest into a
winter wonderland. They barely made it out of the driveway without getting
stuck.

“Where are we going?”

“Someplace I want to take you. If we don’t leave now, we
won’t make it because of the snow,” he said coyly with his crooked grin.

Tom passed through town, heading for the highway. She
glanced around, confused and half-asleep. “I thought you were going to show me
something pretty in the forest or something. Where are we going?”

He only smiled and ignored her question.

Tess laid her head back, dozing off, waking up when the car
stopped. “Why are we at the airport?”

He grinned mischievously and opened her car door.

“Where are we going?” she asked again.

“Come on we need to hurry. It’s a surprise.” Tom chuckled,
grabbing the luggage out of the back of the car.

“Did you pack for me? When did you do that? What about the
kids? Did you tell them we’re leaving?”

“Of course. They knew days ago. They’re staying at the
cabin. John’s going to take the girls back to school before he heads back to
Vegas. I think the girls might have a couple of their girlfriends come up from
Vegas to go skiing. I hope you don’t mind, but I told them it would be okay.”

“My kids are getting way too good at keeping secrets from
me.” Her excitement started to build as they boarded the plane. “Where are you
taking me?”

“You know me better than that, Tess. Let’s go back to sleep
first. I’ve been up all night packing, trying not to wake you up. You sleep
through just about anything.”

“Seriously, you’re not going to tell me?’

“Nope.” he said, snuggling up to her.

Tess only crashed for a little bit, but Tom slept for hours.
She had coffee, breakfast and watched two movies. She couldn’t take it anymore.
He could sleep later. Tess peeked into the dark bedroom. Tom lay on the bed
sound asleep, looking gorgeous, lying on his side. She lay next to him, but he
didn’t move. She pulled the sheet back to his waist, wanting to reach out to
touch and kiss his body, but he was tired.

“What are you looking at, Tess?” His voice filtered through
the darkness.

Her breath hitched. “My husband.”

Tom stretched his hands behind his head.

Tess noticed a dark spot on his side above his hip and she
touched it.

“Oooh, hey, that’s sore.” He winced, examining his side.

Tess inspected the dark spot closer. “Is that a bruise?”

He placed her four fingers over the bruise, and they matched
perfectly.

“Is that from me?” she asked, covering her mouth with her
hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that!”

“I’m not complaining. You can cover me with bruises.” He
pulled her next to him.

“I feel horrible.”

“Don’t feel bad, Tess, Christmas Eve was the best Christmas
I’ve ever had.”

She kissed his bruises and her lips traveled to the muscles
at the bottom of his abs. He wiggled out from under her, stepping out of bed.

“Where do you think you’re going?” She tugged on his finger,
pulling him back so he stood naked, directly in front of her as she sat on the
edge of the bed. Obviously, he didn’t want her to stop. She bit her bottom lip,
gazing up at him.

“Don’t do that, Tess. Not yet. Come on be nice. Please.”

He might have been saying
Not yet
, but his body was
saying
Hell yes
. “I’m going to be very nice.” She slid her tongue across
the length of him.

Tom pulled her up on her feet.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Are we negotiating now?” He laughed.

“Maybe.”

“Do you really want me to tell you?”

She let out a big sigh and sauntered into the other room.
“No, you don’t have to tell me.”

Tom got dressed and joined her on the couch with a box in
his hand.

“Isn’t that the same box my watch was in on Christmas Eve?”

“It is. It’s funny how much we think alike sometimes. I had
something else in the box to give you. But after you gave me my present, I
decided to wait and give the rest of your gift now. It’s not much. Open it.”

She peeked inside the box to find a dark, brown bikini
bottom. “No top?” She burst out laughing. “Did you give me the same thing I
gave you? Are we going to Bora Bora right now?”

He nodded. “I couldn’t believe it when I opened your gift. I
hope you’re not disappointed.”

“Disappointed? Don’t be ridiculous! I knew you were up to
something, I could tell by your devious smile. I asked if they had any
reservations under your name and they said no.”

“We’re staying someplace different. I made arrangements a
long time ago.” He flashed a grin.

“How long ago?”

He ignored her question. “You might want to get ready. We’ll
be there in less than two hours.”

“I’m so excited!”

Standing under the hot shower, Tess reminisced about
previous trips. Her memories started with meeting Tom on her last trip, but
quickly turned to unforgettable moments she and Richard shared. Bora Bora
filled Tess and Richards’s lives with romance, making their marriage stronger.
Unexpected emotions overwhelmed her as tears streamed down her face, crying
uncontrollably. Tess hadn’t broken down like this since she let Richard go in
the lagoon.

Richard and Tess shared a great life together, yet the
connection between she and Tom was undeniably more powerful than anything she’d
ever experienced. She loved Tom, but still missed Richard immensely and would
never stop loving him.

Tess had set Richard free into the ocean so he could see the
manta rays put on their show every day, but it felt awkward heading back there
now with Tom. Even though Tom was her husband now, at that moment, she couldn’t
escape the feelings of unfaithfulness.
If Richard see’s me in the lagoon
with Tom, it’ll crush him like a bug. It’ll kill him to see me with another
man. That’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said, Tess. Richard’s already
gone.

Tess felt different with Tom. She was the same woman, just
at a different stage in her life. She loved Tom passionately, and felt free to
give all of her love to him. She didn’t need to worry about the daily
responsibilities of raising a family. Her children were adults now. She could
be Tess again. A woman, not a mother.

It saddened Tess knowing Richard didn’t get to experience
her this way. In a way, Richard was cheated out of the best years they would’ve
spent together as a couple, and he would’ve loved this stage of their life
together.

At the same time, Tess was sad that Tom had to miss out on
the stages of raising a family. He had never experienced any of the things she
shared with Richard; babies, broken bones, wrecked cars, dates, curfew, and all
of the stress and worry that comes with having kids. Tom missed out on all of
the love and happiness of a family. Babies, birthdays, holidays, vacations, graduations,
and all of the firsts; first words, first bike rides, first dances.

Tess’ heart ached, torn between what was then, and what is
now. Richard and Tom were both wonderful, and she was lucky to share her life
with both men. She’d been a great wife to Richard and the best mom she knew how
to be. Now, with Tom, she’d become the best woman she could be. She wasn’t Mom.
She was Tess. Tess Clemmins. She already figured out who she was in life as a
person, Tom just made her better. A better woman, a better lover and a better
friend. She felt alive and passionate and empowered by the love they shared.

Tess didn’t want Tom to find her sitting on the shower
floor, sobbing. She looked down at her wrist, taking off her watch, running her
fingertip over the words etched into the back. “No more wasted time,” she
uttered between snivels.
I will not waste one minute with this man. Life is
too damn short! No more tears. Pull it together, Tess!

Tess threw on cut off shorts and a black tank top. Clearly
she’d been crying, so she put on makeup and did her hair, eventually joining
Tom on the couch.

“Are you all right, Tess?” He stroked her shoulder.

“Umm hmm.” She tried to sound joyous.

“Are you sure?” he questioned in a concerned tone. “I came
to see you when you were in the shower.”

Shit. She leaned her head on his shoulder, forcing herself
not to cry, peeking down at her watch again. “I’m fine.”

Tom sighed. “I don’t expect you to forget about your trips
here with Richard. I don’t mind sharing your old memories while we create new
ones. You were married for a long time, and I won’t make you feel guilty for
missing him, Tess. You haven’t given me shit one time for the life I led before
we met, and let me tell you, it’s a relief. You don’t judge me. Ever. You only
love me for who I am. I’m sure as hell not going to be upset because you loved
your first husband.” He wiped the tears from her cheeks. “But, we need to be
able to come here.”

“I know. You’re right. I just had a little bit of a
meltdown, but I’m fine now.”

“Talk to me, Tess. I want to understand what you’re feeling.
I know you miss him and I’m okay with that. I’m not okay with sitting here
feeling helpless, watching you suffer by yourself.” He spoke tenderly while
stroking her hair.

“Do we really have to talk about it? I’m fine now.”

“Yeah, I think we do.” He nodded somberly.

She exhaled deeply. “I feel guilty because he didn’t get to
experience me the way I am now…with you. And you didn’t get to experience me
the way I was before…with him, as a mother and a wife.”

“What do you mean
before?
You’re the same person now
as you were then.” He said it sweetly, concerned that she sounded a little
crazy.

“Oh, no, I’m not the same! I feel powerful and more
confident with you. I’m free to love you as myself, as a woman. There’s a huge
difference. I get to be Tess now, not John’s mom or Tracy’s mom or JC’s mom. I
get to be me! Your wife, and lover, and best friend.”

“It’s odd you describe it like that because I do get a bit
envious of him knowing he got to share
that
life with you. The life I
could’ve never given you.”

“I know, Tom. But you have a part of me he would’ve really,
really loved.” She grinned through her tears.

“I’m sure,” he agreed, smiling back.

“I promise I haven’t been feeling guilty at all. It’s
just…he’s here in the ocean, watching us now. And I put him here on purpose.”
Tess silently wondered if she might’ve made a mistake releasing Richards’s
ashes in the lagoon.

“Maybe you’re looking at it backwards, Tess. Everything
happens for a reason. Richard’s only watching over you, not spying on you. I’m
sure he’ll be happy to see you.”

“I feel better being able to talk to you about it.”

“Me, too. You have no idea. I was worried when I heard you
crying in the shower.”

He held her hand walking into the bathroom. Tess fixed the
mascara smeared down her face.
Tom’s right. Richard is just watching over
me.

It was almost time to land and they lay across the bed. Tom
embraced her, gently running his fingers though her hair. Tess stood, pulling
him to his feet. She placed her hand in his so he would dance with her. Tom
chuckled, swaying her around the room.

“Thanks, Tom, I feel much better now.”

“You’re welcome.”

Mr. Rene waited at the dock with a joyous smile. “
Ia
Orana
, Mrs. Blue Eyes and Mr. Tom. I’m happy to see you again.” He wrapped
his brawny arms around them. “I knew you would be back here together.”

“
Ia Orana
!” they both replied.

“Mr. Rene, I am Mrs. Tom now,” she said, squeezing Tom’s
waist.

“I knew you would be his
Vahine
, I told my misses.
Mr. Tom I told you too, do you remember? Mr. Rene is always right about these
things. I am happy for you, and I am glad you are back here to see me so soon.”

Tom smirked with flush cheeks. “Yes, I remember.”

Tess’ eyes narrowed curiously, knowing
Vahine
stands
for wife in Tahitian.

“The day we saw the manta rays, when you asked me to meet
you for dinner, he informed me that I was in love with you,” Tom explained in
her ear.

Her mouth dropped open. “How could he possibly know that?” 

“Apparently, he’s always right about these things.” He
grinned, mimicking Mr. Rene.

This is exactly how it started for Tess and Tom: Mr. Rene
singing his beautiful Tahitian songs, sharing a boat ride, staring out over the
serene turquoise water. She sat between his legs with her back against his chest.
Tom’s hand lay across her heart. His fingertips moved up and down with the
hammering in her chest. He glanced at her with concern, skimming his fingertips
across her shoulders.