Finding Tessa

by Jaime Lynn Hendricks

  “Oh God.” James was speechless.

  “I’ve never been able to afford to remove it,” I say through sniffles. “The marriage was annulled after a few weeks. It was never legal because I lied about my age. I had a fake ID.”

  I always have a fake ID.

  Assuming I was branded for life, branded with the truth, branded with what I deserved out of life, I stayed for a few more weeks, until he threw the boiling water on me.

  “I understand if you want to leave.” I say it with a heavy heart. I’ll never have a normal life, with a normal, wonderful man like James. I’m a white trash whore. That’s why I end up with men who beat me and treat me like shit. It’s all I deserve. I’m branded like fucking cattle.

  James tips my chin up to look at him. “We helped Dr. Matthews get her loan for her dermatology practice. I’ll make a call on Monday. We’ll get you a discount on laser removal.”

  “I can’t afford it, James.” I need to think about every last cent. It’s going fast.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m here for you. We’ll figure it out.” He takes my hand. “Together.”

  We don’t have sex that night. We fall asleep together, and I’m wrapped in his arms. It’s the most freeing, comforting place I’ve ever been in. I feel more like a woman that night than in all my thirty-one years.

  So, I jump him the next morning, and it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had.

  I’m going to marry this man.

  22

  James

  Sunday the weather turned, and fall came in with a blast. The temperature dropped into the midfifties, and the wind howled outside James’s windows all day. He didn’t want to go outside, but he couldn’t stay in his empty house anymore. It had become twice its normal size without them cooking breakfast together, or Tessa baking brownies for him, or them reading the paper together in bed on weekends. After walking Candy, he scanned a recent picture of Tessa on the computer and printed out a hundred copies, then went to the local hardware store for a heavy-duty stapler and duct tape. He handed a copy of the picture to every store owner he knew and peppered the light poles in town with her face. M-I-S-S-I-N-G, with Tessa’s picture and his phone number, all over town. The cops weren’t doing shit. Nothing but accusations and the runaround. If he had to take this into his own hands, he would.

  After he got back, he didn’t even eat. Well, not really. A little bit of the food Evan brought over Friday night was still in the refrigerator, so he picked at it. His stomach turned against him and he couldn’t keep anything down.

  Another lonely night in bed, just him and Candy. Party of two. Nights were the worst, without her there, safe in bed next to him. Where was she? Was she hurt? Alone? Cold? Did someone take her against her will? Was she wondering why James hadn’t rescued her? His heart split into a million pieces every time his mind wandered in that direction.

  He slept in on Monday. It wasn’t like he had to get up and go to work. Even Candy rested beside him in Tessa’s empty spot, likely enjoying the extra daddy/doggie morning. He didn’t want to disturb her, but he slowly pulled Tessa’s pillow out from under Candy’s head and embraced it. It still had some of Tessa’s scent—her shampoo, that coconut oil she liked to use as moisturizer—and he took a deep breath of memories before he got up. After checking his phone, for something, anything to let him know that his wife was safe, he was yet again dejected to find no calls, no texts. Not like he’d miss it—his volume was as loud as it could go. He didn’t want to chance sleeping through something important.

  He rose from the bed and went into the bathroom. His reflection was foreign. His gray eyes sunken, rings of worry surrounding them. He looked like he’d lost five pounds, all from his face. Hollow cheeks, dry lips, lackluster hair. He splashed water on his face and slapped his leg twice, to indicate to Candy it was time for breakfast and a walk.

  Candy followed James downstairs, into the kitchen, and he prepped her meal—half wet food, half dry food. He looked at the clock—after ten. Half the morning was already wasted, yet he didn’t know what to do with himself. It wasn’t like James to be stagnant. He hadn’t heard from Solomon since he was at the station two days ago. Did Solomon do anything besides harass James and smoke cigarettes?

  Were they not telling James details because they thought he did something to her?

  The phone rang. It sounded different, ominous, like he was in a horror movie and the monster was about to attack. The number flashing on the screen was from the bank and he answered immediately.

  “James. It’s Trey.”

  “Hey.”

  “Have you heard from Rosita?”

  “No.” He hadn’t, but he didn’t want to omit anything. “Well, I spoke with her on Saturday.”

  “About what?”

  I sort of accused her of being involved in Tessa’s disappearance. “She let me know about VistaBuild. That I won the project.” Yes, he stuck in that dig.

  “Really? She told you?”

  “Yeah. What’s this about?”

  An obvious sigh. “She’s not here. Not answering her phone. Andy and Kyle have questions from legal.”

  “What do you want from me? I’m ‘sorting it out.’” Jerk.

  “We’re a little strapped here, James. Can you come in?”

  “Oh, so now you need my help. Now that Rosita is gone?” He knew he sounded antagonistic, but really?

  “I’m sure I don’t have to remind you about the importance of this entire project to us. To the town.”

  “And you haven’t been able to get a hold of her?”

  “James, not now.”

  James assumed Rosita jumped through hoops every time Trey called. When they were competing for the manager job, everyone worked overtime. James didn’t want to be the first to leave while Trey was in the office. He wanted to show his dedication.

  James and Tessa had adopted Candy right before he was promoted. Tessa had called him, late one night when everyone was burning the midnight oil, and said Candy was vomiting and she wanted to take her to the after-hours clinic. James promised he’d be home in ten minutes. Left in a rush. Realized two minutes into his ride that he’d left Candy’s new pet insurance papers on his desk, so he turned around and went back.

  When he got inside, Trey was in his office, his head leaning back on his chair, looking like he was taking a nap. Until he heard a grunt. And then he saw Rosita on her knees between Trey and the desk.

  “What the hell is going on?” James shouted.

  Rosita got up so fast she bumped her head on the desk, and Trey scrambled for his pants.

  “James. Shit!” Trey said. “Wait.”

  “Don’t you dare say it’s not what it looks like. Is this what I’m competing against for the job? I guess I’m the one that’s screwed.” James looked at Rosita on the floor, her expression half embarrassed, half smug.

  “James. Wait.” Trey stood, buckling his belt in record time. He smoothed down his damn sweater vest. “Listen. Wait. Fuck!”

  No, of course his happily married boss didn’t know what to say. Was this a consistent thing? An affair? Or was Rosita just trying to one-up James? He never asked. He walked out in disgust.

  James was promoted two days later.

  And Rosita never forgave him. All that “overtime,” and she didn’t get the job.

  But now, what did it mean that she didn’t show up for work? She was set to take over James’s project. She should’ve been happy as a clam. That thing with Trey happened months ago. And it stopped. Right?

  “I have to ask you a question, Trey, and I need an honest answer.”

  Another sigh, indicating he knew what James was about to ask. “What’s that?”

  “Were you with Rosita after work last Thursday? She showed up late to the thing with VistaBuild. And you showed up with Aleesha hours later.”

  “That’s not relevant to—”

  “Trey!” James cut him off. “Come on, man. Tessa is missing, and I just found out the other d
ay that Rosita threatened her, and now Rosita is missing. Something is going on.”

  “Rosita isn’t missing. She’s just not here.”

  “You didn’t answer me.”

  There were a few seconds of silence before Trey spoke. “Can you come in? We’ll talk when you get here.”

  “Fine. Give me a half hour.”

  James hung up and quickly showered and dressed and headed to the bank. When he walked in, the coworkers he locked eyes with quickly looked away. The Lovett Road Killer is here! Small waves, a few close-lipped smiles and nods.

  He walked right past his dark office and went right for Trey, who was just ending a phone call. The phone slammed into the cradle, Trey’s face tense. He nodded to James to shut the door, which he did. He pulled up his slacks on both legs and got comfortable in the seat in front of him.

  “No news on Tessa?” Trey started.

  “Nope. Nothing,” James said, but he was done beating around the bush. “What’s going on between you and Rosita? I need to make sure she has nothing to do with Tessa being missing. Her whereabouts are unaccounted for during the time the cops think something happened to Tessa. I’ll go to the board if you don’t tell me the truth.”

  That was a threat he should’ve made months ago, but he admittedly dropped it once he got the promotion. He’d never know if he earned it or if it was hush money, and it bothered him.

  “Nothing. I’m a happily married man, James.” Trey nodded toward the picture of himself and Aleesha on one of the islands. “I love my wife and my kids.”

  “Where was she last Thursday?” He was more insistent. He wouldn’t back down. Not now.

  Trey’s face stiffened, his eyes guilty. The kid caught with his hand in the candy jar. “Okay, okay. She was with me.”

  “Jesus Christ, Trey. So, it never stopped?”

  “It did. I swear.” He had his hands up defensively. “Then, I don’t know. What do you want me to say?”

  James shook his head back and forth. “How could you do this to Aleesha?”

  James loved Aleesha. The first time they met was a few years ago when she brought in a batch of Bahamian rum ball cookies to the bank. She had that charming island accent and her hair was in long braids and she smelled of fresh roses when she grabbed him for a hug. James had been to barbecues and holiday parties at their house and she was a perfect, accommodating hostess, a fantastic cook, and did part-time administrative work for a doctor’s office while the kids were in school. The complete package. Trey was a lucky man, and James couldn’t believe he’d jeopardize his marriage and his children for Rosita.

  “I wish I had something clever to say, but I don’t.” He shook his head softly, looking at the picture again. “Aleesha is a better person than me, I guess.”

  You guess? “Not good enough. But whatever. So, you were with her on Thursday? When?”

  James could tell Trey didn’t want to give up the details, but at this point it was that or his job. Which paled in comparison to James and his freedom.

  “She left when you did, yes. We had plans to meet at her townhouse. We knew we had to… rush… She had to be with you and Andy and Kyle, and I had to go home to…” He let the statement fade, not wanting to say he had to go home and be a doting husband and father before he came back to meet them at Jupiter’s with his wife mere hours after he stuck himself in Rosita’s mouth. “But yeah. She went right to the bar. We were together for about a half hour.”

  James was disgusted at the entire situation, but he didn’t dwell. Fine. It wasn’t Rosita who had anything to do with Tessa’s disappearance. But then why was Rosita missing too?

  “You have no idea where Rosita is today?” James asked.

  “No, I don’t. And while that’s a huge concern for me, so are the questions from VistaBuild’s legal team. Can you help us out?”

  What James wanted to do was storm off and leave Trey to clean up the mess. After all, he’d probably told VistaBuild to leave James off the correspondence until further notice. But it was his project, no matter what Trey or Rosita thought. And to be honest, he needed a distraction while the cops sat around with their thumbs up their asses. There was nothing else he could do at the moment.

  He was elbow deep in contracts when his phone rang, the number to the police department popping up. He answered in half a heartbeat.

  “Hello, Mr. Montgomery. It’s Detective Solomon. You have a second?”

  Was he kidding? “Yes sir. I have all the time in the world. Is there news?”

  A scoff answered him. “Yes, there’s news.”

  A lump formed in James’s throat. He swallowed it down. Oh God, please don’t be bad news. “And?”

  “And? Did Tessa have any identifying marks? You know, scars, tattoos?”

  James didn’t like the way Solomon spoke the words. “Yes, she had a tattoo on her lower back. But we were removing it. She only had two or three sessions left.”

  “And what did it say?”

  “Why do you assume it said anything?”

  “Well, Mr. Montgomery. We found a woman who fits Tessa’s description. Will you meet me at the morgue to identify the body?”

  23

  Tessa

  It’s been nine straight days of ecstasy, in every meaning of the word.

  After our first morning together, we barely left my hotel room for the rest of the weekend. I love yous were exchanged. By Sunday, I would’ve taken a bullet for him. And by Sunday night, James asked me to “move in” with him. Why pay for two hotel rooms when we were going to be together in one? We were wrapped up in each other, fanatical, obsessed. New love.

  Out of nowhere, I cared only about James. I didn’t even care about Drew anymore, or about him trying to find me. I didn’t contact Maribel the whole week.

  She hadn’t contacted me either. A fleeting moment passed where I thought of her, and, God forbid, if he did something to her. But then it was gone, and I was focused on James again.

  I got the job helping Michael redesign Jupiter’s, and what a challenge it is! I must’ve spent more time online self-teaching design in the last week than I had all the three years I pretended to be a designer when I was with Drew. When I’m not online, I’m in the hardware store comparing paint samples to see how colors complement one another—it’s how I discovered yellow and gray were so pretty together. Or, I’m in furniture and lighting stores getting ideas, and visiting other restaurants.

  To be honest, I think I’m going to be good at this.

  James is a godsend. We meet for lunch every day. If it’s raining, he’ll come to the hotel with takeout, so I don’t have to leave and fight the elements. If it’s a beautiful day, I’ll meet him in town, and we’ll grab a fast lunch at one of the bistros that offers outdoor seating. When I promised him a home-cooked meal one day, he said we had to get out of the hotel.

  And he wants us to move in together, for real.

  As if he hasn’t done enough, he says he’s taking a half day and has a surprise for me, and to dress up. This is how he is on a random Tuesday. I can’t wait to see how much more perfect my life can be with this man in it. I want to be the new and improved Tessa.

  New Tessa will wear gingham aprons and work in the backyard garden and have a stable job. She will cook dinner for her man, and we’ll take romantic vacations together to sunny islands that smell of coconuts and have swinging palm trees, and we’ll get an adorable puppy to love.

  I can’t wait to meet her one day.

  When James gets “home” at one-thirty, I’m in the bathroom applying concealer to the stubborn bruise around my neck. I’m already dressed in heels and a flowy pink sundress that I got for twenty-two bucks in town, and the sight of his face still melts me as it has for just over two weeks, since the day I laid eyes on him, when he came to save me from Damon.

  “Tessa,” he says as he kisses my temple, so genuine and tender I get chills. He looks me up and down. “God, you look beautiful. You always look beautiful.” His grin is sheep
ish, and he looks about twelve years old when he drops to one knee. “I can’t even wait until dessert to do this.”

  Drops. To. One. Knee.

  My right hand covers my wide-open mouth—Catching flies? my mother used to say—so I close it. He grabs my left hand.

  “Tessa, I never, ever thought I’d want to do anything like this, especially so fast. But I know I love you, and I know I want you to marry me. Will you marry me?”

  The diamond ring he brandishes is thin and looks more like a wedding band than an engagement ring. The diamonds go all the way around the circle and combined they’re probably less than half the carat weight of what Drew put on my finger, because he wanted to weigh me down with his threats. It’s plain too. Just a bunch of tiny diamonds on a white gold band.

  It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

  Scratch that. The second most.

  I look at the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen—James’s eyes—and without thinking, because I don’t have to think, I say yes.

  He stands up and hugs me, so loving.

  I’ve never felt more loved than I do in this moment. I’m Elle Woods.

  James kisses my neck, still sore. “Well, what are we waiting for?”

  “Meaning?” I ask.

  “Let’s go to the courthouse at city hall. Now. I just want to be married to you. I don’t want to wait. Or, do you want a big wedding? We never talked about stuff like this. Do you want to wait until we can get your whole family into town? I’d love to meet them. Plus, I think there’s a three-day waiting period after we apply for the license. Let’s do that right now.”

  Now? “James, that’s so fast. I don’t have anything in order.” Like, the fact that I’m still legally married to Drew. Then again, that’s on a different Social Security number. Would he ever even know? Would the government even know? Don’t they just stamp the paper and file it away at city hall?

  “No,” I say quickly. “I told you, my family and I have kind of drifted apart.” I have no clue where to even attempt to look for them.