The Widow and the Will by J. Thomas-Like Page A

had thought she was finally finding her footing again. She was back at her own place. She was getting out of bed every day, showering, eating, working. Doing all the things she knew she was supposed to be doing.
    Now, not just the rug had been ripped out from beneath her, but the whole house with it. Everything her life had been built on was not what she thought. She needed time to process and she wasn’t being given that opportunity. New information kept piling on top of her like a garbage truck dumping its load at the landfill.
    Tess’s chest was heavy and tight; she couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t think. She couldn’t focus on any one aspect of the circumstances long enough to accept or deal with it. Afraid she would do something stupid, she put the car back in gear and drove to her parents’ house.
    As she pulled in to their circular driveway from Jefferson Avenue, she could see a strange truck parked in front of the double garage and her heart plummeted into her shoes. Please God, not something else. Please. Not now. I cannot take one more thing. Tess climbed out of her car, straightened herself and hurried up the steps toward the front door of her parents’ vintage colonial home. She burst through the door into the foyer, spooking the two house cats, Abercrombie and McTavish, who fled to parts unknown.
    “Mom?” Tess called out.
    “Tess!” Ruth came up the long hallway from the back of the house into the foyer. “Did you get my message?”
    Tess didn’t answer her, barely hearing her words. She threw herself into her mother’s arms and began crying on her shoulder. Ruth rubbed the back of her daughter’s head and made shushing sounds as they rocked back and forth. Harry Langford appeared and joined them, hugging both wife and daughter to his chest. Tess wasn’t sure how long they had stood there, but it didn’t really matter. She felt bad about losing it, but that had always been her way. When some tragedy or misfortune took over her life and she needed her parents, Tess could never keep control before relating the facts. Once she exhausted herself of tears, she could hash things out in a rational manner.
    When Tess was finally able to gather herself together, Ruth handed her a tissue from the ever-present stash in her pocket. “Thanks,” Tess sniffled, wiping her face and nose. “Sorry.”
    “Don’t be sorry,” Ruth scoffed. “You got my message.”
    Tess’s bottom lip wiggled with anxiety and the threat of fresh tears. “No, I didn’t. If it’s more bad news, don’t tell me. I can’t handle one more thing.”
    Harry glanced at Ruth and frowned. She grimaced back.
    “Whose truck is that?” Tess pointed back over her shoulder.
    “Come on into the kitchen, Padunkin.” Harry reached for her hand. He hardly ever used her childhood nickname anymore and Tess groaned.
    “Daddy?”
    “It’s okay, kiddo. Come with me.”
    Harry led her down the hallway toward the kitchen. When she stepped in the doorway, she couldn’t have been more shocked than the day Jack died, and the sound of air sucking into her lungs proved it. The sexy guy from the post office earlier that day was sitting at the table, sipping coffee from one of her mom’s familiar mugs. He held the door for me . Beside him sat a younger man in a suit and tie, which had been slightly loosened. She stopped short, causing Ruth to run right into the back of her.
    “Hello again.” Sexy Man said, raising his cup to her in a gentle salute. His voice was as rough and scratchy as she remembered. And still just as sexy.
    “Uh, hello?” Tess prayed she wasn’t blushing. Stop that !
    The younger man stood up and extended a hand in her direction. “I’m Hudson Marks, the lawyer who drew up Jack’s will.”
    Tess was having trouble remembering to pay attention to anyone but the leather clad man sitting in what was normally her father’s chair. Blinking herself back to reality, she tried to focus. “Will? Jack has a will?” She shook