Part 181 (Tessa)

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Trish takes me to a cute little diner for lunch

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Trish takes me to a cute little diner for lunch. "I know it doesn't look like much, but the food here is amazing."

We seat ourselves and within a few minutes the waitress brings us water and then takes our order.

"So, Tessa, what are your intentions with my son?" Trish asks with a straight face.

I quickly swallow my water before trying to answer her. "Um, well, I-I..."

"I'm only kidding!" She laughs. "Hardin is the one I should be addressing that question to. Please, tell me how you and Hardin started dating. He's only told me a few things about your relationship."

The waitress brings our food and after she leaves us alone again, I begin to answer Trish's question. "We started as friends. Well, actually... we first met in the library when we both needed the last copy of Wuthering Heights for a project. I convinced him to stay and read with me. He was quite rude and grumpy, but things went so well that by the end of the night I felt like I knew him my whole life. He seemed reluctant at first to be friends with someone as chipper as me, but I wore him down." I laugh. "I'm not really sure when the line between being just friends and falling in love began to blur, but after my boyfriend, who also happened to be Hardin's best friend, cheated on me, he was there for me... and one thing led to another. We started dating shortly after and we've been together for just over six months now."

"That's quite a story. Hardin never spoke about you to me until I dragged it out of him when I demanded to know why he was suddenly always so happy." She laughs.

"I like to think he's grown so much since then. We even have a couple we've double dated with!"

"Hardin has sure come a long way. I'm not sure how much you know about his past, but he's had a hard life. It was only the two of us for most of it and I tried my best, but he still went down the wrong path. You have no idea how many nights I prayed he'd find his way back. Then one day my prayers were answered. He called me and proudly informed me he was sober again. He didn't say it at the time, but I know you had everything to do with that, Tessa. He also told me his nightmares stopped once you moved in with him. As a parent, all you want is for your child to find happiness in life. I was afraid he never would, but with the way he talks about you, I know he finally has. I see it in the way his eyes light up and hear it in his voice when he talks about you. My son is finally happy."

"I-I don't know what to say. Th-thank you for telling me all of that. I'm touched to know how much I've helped him."

"No, Tessa," Trish says as she reaches out to place her hand over mine. "Thank you. Thank you for loving my son when he wasn't strong enough to love himself."

"You're going to make me cry." I sniffle.

"No tears! I just wanted you to know how much you've done for our family. I finally have my boy back."

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