The Legacy series: The Love series, the Wrapped series, and the Burning Souls series.

by Mj Fields

  ���Of course Tessa, of course,��� Maggie hugged her.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Tessa got off the Greyhound bus and immediately saw her great Aunt���s big car that she had driven since Tessa could remember. It was a pale yellow 1960���s Dodge Dart still in mint condition.

  ���Hello Tessa,��� Ann hugged her tightly. ���Look at you!���

  Ann and Tessa���s embrace lasted for a long time. Both had tears falling but not because they were sad, they were happy to see one another. It had been far too long.

  Ann handed Tessa the keys to the car, and Tessa drove to the beach house. Ann and her late husband Fred built the house themselves over forty years ago.

  Tessa and Ann walked into the house hand in hand. Tessa smiled as she watched Ann grab the bucket of scraps under the sink and put them in a dish outside the door facing the parking lot.

  Ann didn���t waste anything. Bread bags, tin foil, and glass jars were always washed and reused. Thanksgiving turkey carcasses and ham bones were made into delicious soups. She washed clothes and hung them on the line even in the winter. She only used the dryer if she had to. She believed careful planning could save time and lots of money. She loved all people regardless of what others thought. She was very involved in her church and helping people in her community and did so without spending a lot of money. When Tessa was younger, Aunt Ann used to come help her mother with her home and family. When Maggie, Ann���s only niece, was having children she was always there to lend a hand. Ann loved the garden, and she talked to the plants as she cared for them because if you take care of them and love them they will take care of you. Tessa never knew if it was true or just coincidence, but whenever Ann helped with the garden it produced two or three times what it did when she wasn���t there. Ann brought bags full of high- quality clothes whenever she visited and always laughed at what others got rid of. She could remove any spot with something found in any households cupboard and fix any imperfection in clothing with a needle, thread, or a patch, leaving it appearing brand new.

  She never had children; an undetected miscarriage during World War II shattered that dream. Ann didn���t wallow in self- pity; she still loved life to the fullest. She didn���t seem to care what people thought of her. She was what some called eccentric. Ann was one of Tessa���s favorite people in the entire world.

  Fred had a good job, and he and Ann worked very hard. Neither made a lot of money but with careful investing and saving they had a beautiful home on the Atlantic Ocean without any debt against it. Their car was ancient but in showroom condition. Their furniture was always covered with slipcovers unless people came to visit and Tessa immediately noticed it had been removed, and assumed it was because she was there.

  Ann laughed from behind Tessa, ���I took those covers off when Fred passed away and never put them back on.���

  ���Rebelling are you?��� Tessa laughed.

  ���Aren���t we all dear?��� she handed Tessa a cup of tea and patted the couch next to her.

  Tessa laughed and sat down, ���I suppose.���

  ���Your Grandmother called after she saw you at Maggie���s and was very upset,��� Ann took a drink of her tea and peered over the cup waiting for Tessa to respond.

  ���That was a bad night,��� Tessa whispered.

  Ann laughed, ���I guess it was. You���re going to be just fine, dear one.���

  ���Things are a mess Aunt Ann,��� Tessa closed her eyes.

  ���I want to hear all about it, let���s grab some blankets and cuddle up on the deck. Remember your������ Ann started.

  Tessa held up her winter hat and smiled, ���My hat?���

  Ann laughed and grabbed hers.

  Tessa and Ann sat on the deck

  ���Are you sure it���s not too cold out here for you?���

  Ann shook her head no, ���Mr. and Mrs. Balen passed away a month apart. They donated the house to our church. Do you see that young man over there? He���s a smart man. He has a hat on keeping his ears warm and using the heat that would normally escape from his head to keep him toasty on this cold winter day. He���s not in the house staying warm wasting the day playing games or watching TV. He���s out here in the cold enjoying the sunshine. Using his hands and able body to take care of what may someday be that man���s home, a place to live his life. He is tearing down that old house, and I really think he is going to rebuild it. I���ve watched him save the wood that was not rotted, as if he plans to reuse it. It���s not too cold out here for him.���

  Tessa smiled.

  ���He���s very nice to watch Tessa,��� Ann laughed.

  ���He���s handsome; do you have a crush Aunt Ann?��� Tessa laughed.

  ���I���m too old to have a crush. And he���s very young. I don���t even buy green bananas anymore. I do however still have my eyes,��� Ann winked, ���Okay��� tell me everything Tessa, about this Lucas.���

  Tessa gave her the PG version of her last few months. She tried not to cry but failed, and Ann cried with her. She left out the part about the two girls on New Year���s Eve but did tell her he kissed someone, and she saw it.

  The man walked down the ladder and waved at Ann, and she waved back.

  ���Well let���s go inside, even he���s smart enough to know when enough is enough,��� Ann said as Tessa helped her up.

  They made dinner, and Ann made an extra plate.

  ���What���s that for?���

  ���The neighbor, his light���s still on. I assume he���s working hard in there. We have plenty; you want to take it over to him?���

  Tessa giggled, ���I wouldn���t want to intrude��� you go ahead.���

  ���Nonsense, you go. I will be fine.���

  It was dark as Tessa knocked on the door knowing he wouldn���t hear her with hearing the saw going. She knocked harder and then opened the door and set the plate on the floor inside the door.

  She told Ann that she had set it inside as they ate dinner together.

  ���You���re doing the right thing Tessa and besides kissing that girl the other night, so is he. Getting over your first love is never easy, I know this,��� Ann said with sadness in her gray eyes.

  ���I���m sorry; you must miss Uncle Fred terribly.���

  ���I miss Fred; he was my best friend and partner for most of my life. He wasn���t my first love though. My first love, my first husband, the father of the only child I ever carried, was killed during the war. I was wild about him, and he was about me. We married after a two- month courtship. It was either get married or have premarital sex,��� Ann laughed.

  Tessa smiled at her, ���I didn���t know.���

  ���Oh, we don���t talk about it, but Joseph was beautiful. Tall and well built, very well built. He had copper hair and blue eyes. We butted heads and made up every day. We had passion, he was��� my Joe. He looked an awful lot like my new neighbor,��� Ann giggled.

  There was a knock on the door and Ann went to answer it.

  ���Thank you for supper,��� Tessa heard a man���s voice.

  ���My great niece brought it over for you. We watched you working on the house and saw a light on. We figured you were probably hungry,��� Ann explained.

  ���I was, thank you ma���am.���

  ���It���s Ann,��� Tessa could hear the smile in her aunt’s voice.

  ���Well, thank you, Ann,��� he said in the same tone.

  ���May I ask what you plan to do with the Balen home?���

  ���I plan to rebuild it.
They owned the lot next to them as well so I���ll be expanding. I hope to use it as my main home. I���ll be traveling a lot. It’s peaceful here, I like it,��� he shared with her.

  ���Well then it���s good to meet you finally,��� she gushed.

  ���The pleasure is mine, Ann.���

  Ann sat next to Tessa and smiled.

  ���First date?��� Tessa laughed.

  Ann rubbed her hand on Tessa���s cheek, ���And what a perfect date it was.���

  ���I loved Fred very much, but I understand how you feel about your Lucas. Young love is amazing. I often wonder what life would have been like had Joe not passed. But I know that wasn���t God���s plan for me. You���ll get over this Tessa. I���m not saying it���ll be easy. Fred asked me to marry him at least five times over three years before I finally said yes. But I waited and did so with no regrets,��� Ann smiled. ���There is no rewind button in life Tessa. What hell we walk through has to be learned from as we continue moving forward. If we sit and wallow, the hell will consume us. Fred showed me that, it took a little longer than he expected, but we had a great life, one with no regrets.���

  ���Thank you,��� Tessa smiled.

  ���Don���t let it consume you. Promise me Tessa that you will walk through without looking back. We make mistakes throughout life and that���s what we are supposed to do, but we have to learn from those mistakes. We can���t change the past, but your future is beautiful you just have to let yourself see the beauty in it,��� Ann looked at Tessa, ���Ready for bed, you look tired.���

  Tessa ran the next morning and made breakfast before Ann got out of bed. They looked at scrapbooks and listened to old music. Ann and Tessa took a walk after lunch, and before dinner sat on the deck and watched her neighbor work. Ann took dinner over to him that night, and he hugged her and kissed the top of her head after thanking her.

  Before bed, they talked more. Tessa loved to hear Ann���s stories from the era she secretly wished she was raised in.

  ���I���ve had the best two days with you Tessa. The best days in many, many, years. Thank you for coming to visit,��� Ann hugged her.

  ���Aunt Ann, I love and admire you I always have. I needed you, and you were here as always. Thank you for having me,��� Tessa said, returning her hug.

  Ann smiled and rubbed her cheek as she always did. A loving term of endearment that only Aunt Ann gave.

  Tessa woke in the morning and ran in the cold with her hat on her head. She felt so close to God when she ran and even closer as she looked over the beautiful ocean. She walked closer to the water and stood there and squatted down hugging herself as she thought about the wisdom she had gained during the past two days. God had given her a beautiful family, and for that, she was thankful.

  She stood up and turned to walk towards the house and saw the neighbor, Ann���s ���Joe,��� drinking a cup of what she assumed was coffee. She waved to him. He nodded and waved back.

  She made toast and smiled at the browning banana���s. She boiled water for tea and looked at the clock. She walked into her Aunt���s room, and she was still asleep.

  Tessa made tea and took it into Ann���s room. Ann had a slight smile on her face.

  ���Aunt Ann,��� she whispered.

  Ann said nothing.

  Tessa reached over and gently rubbed her arm.

  ���I made you some tea,��� Tessa said a bit louder.

  Ann didn���t wake up.

  Tessa shook her shoulder, and Ann���s arm fell to the side of her body.

  ���Aunt Ann, wake up!��� Tessa said louder.

  ���Aunt Ann,��� Tessa cried as she lifted her up and held her.

  ���No! No! No!��� Tessa sobbed.

  She held her Aunt���s lifeless body against her as she dug into her pocket and grabbed her phone and dialed 911.

  She laid her down and unlocked the door as the operator instructed and then went back into Ann���s room and snuggled up to her and sobbed.

  * * *

  The ambulance pulled in, and Ann���s Joe ran to meet them.

  ���What���s going on?��� he asked as he followed them into the house.

  ���Not sure, do you know the owner?��� they asked him.

  ���She���s my neighbor,��� he answered.

  They followed the sound of Tessa���s sobbing into Ann���s room.

  ���Please wake up Aunt Ann, please wake up,��� Tessa cried.

  Tessa laid crying and holding her beloved Aunt.

  ���Miss you need to get off the bed and let us get to work,��� the paramedics instructed.

  ���No! Aunt Ann please, please wake up,��� she cried and shook her, ���Please!���

  ���Miss- ��� now,��� they instructed urgently.

  ���Come on,��� Ann���s Joe said softly as he picked her up and carried her out of the room as she cried.

  He sat her on the couch, and she stood and started to run towards the room.

  He grabbed her and held her back. She tried to pull away, and he held her tighter.

  ���You have to let them work, they���re trying to help her,��� he said soothingly.

  Tessa sat on the floor outside Ann���s room and called her mother.

  ���Mom,��� she sobbed quietly, ���I need you.���

  Ann���s Joe grabbed the phone when he realized she was not able to talk.

  ���Hello. I���m Ann���s neighbor Collin,��� he said as he looked in the room.

  The paramedics had put Ann on a stretcher and covered her with a sheet.

  ���I���m very sorry,��� he said as they wheeled her out.

  ���NO!��� Tessa screamed, and he held her against him as she fought to run out after them.

  ���LET ME GO!��� she screamed.

  He sat on the floor with his one arm wrapped around her restraining her and the other holding the phone as he whispered ���Shh,��� in her ear trying to soothe her.

  ���What hospital?��� he yelled after the paramedics, and they answered him.

  Tessa now sobbed silently, and he was able to tell Maggie what was going on. He hung up and put his other arm around her and sat against the wall.

  ���Your Mother is calling your Aunt���s Pastor. He should be here soon,��� he said softly. ���I���m going to sit with you until he gets here. Your Mother is going to be here as soon as she can.���

  ���Thank you.���

  ���Are you cold?���

  ���No,��� her voice squeaked and she began crying again.

  He pulled her closer to him and held her head against his shoulder and let her cry.

  They had sat there for over an hour before Tessa fell asleep

  She woke up and walked to the bathroom when she came out his back was to her and his arms were crossed over his chest. He was looking out the door towards the ocean.

  ���Thank you and sorry. I���m going to shower,��� Tessa said and quickly walked back into the bathroom.

  She was embarrassed, sad, and angry.

  While dressing, she heard two men talking in the kitchen.

  ���Her mother should be here soon, I guess. It was all a bit chaotic, Pastor Lou.���

  ���I���m glad you were here for her.���

  ���I wish I could stay. She was so sad���is she going to be alright?���

  ���Of course, and praise be to God that she was here and that you were here. Ann wasn���t alone.���

  ���I���l
l miss my flight if I don���t go now.���

  ���Go, she���ll be fine. Stay safe son.���

  ���Always.���

  Tessa walked out of the bathroom slowly and immediately recognized Pastor Lou from a summer VBS as well as past trips to visit Ann when they had gone to her church on Sundays.

  He opened his arms, and she ran into them and cried, ���Oh Tessa, it���s you.���

  The family arrived and calling hours were held. Ann had chosen cremation and wished to be buried in Syracuse with Fred and her siblings. It was a small service.

  Everything happened so quickly.

  * * *

  At home, few people knew about Ann���s passing. She hadn���t lived in the area for years and aside from Maggie and her siblings no one ever really got to know Ann. She was an angel. Anyone who took the time to know her would immediately be able to see that. Tessa replayed their last conversations over and over in her head and took comfort that, as Pastor Lou had said to Ann���s Joe, ���she wasn���t alone when she passed.’ Maggie shared in his sentiments and Tessa tried to as well.

  * * *

  Jade, Phoebe, and Becca all gave Tessa a card on her first day back to school and Lucas watched the exchange. Tessa saw him from the corner of her eye and he looked confused as he walked up and tried to grab her arm.

  ���Don���t, it���s none of your business,��� Tessa sidestepped him and quickly walked down the hall to class.

  The next few weeks Tessa was very withdrawn. She went to the library at lunch and skipped Alex���s basketball games. She was keeping it together on the outside but doing just the minimal to take care of herself. She ate just a little and was no longer running. The thing is, nobody really saw it. Everyone���s lives were busy, and Tessa had never been the type to need anyone. The only person she confided in was Toby through letters and email. He was her source of strength. She asked that he not say anything to anyone, and he respected her request.