It was meant to be

14 - New Faces

Hardin

The early morning sunlight streams through the blinds, casting a soft glow across the room. I blink my eyes open slowly, realizing I had fallen asleep on the couch. My mind immediately drifts to last night—Tessa and I had shared a moment, a kiss that felt so natural, so real. But, despite the attraction pulling us together, we both knew it wasn't the right time to act on it fully. Too much is happening right now with the court case, with Diane leaving, with everything.

I sit up, stretching out the stiffness in my back. Auden's soft giggles drift from the kitchen, and I know exactly where he is. The house feels peaceful, despite the storm that raged through last night. I glance toward the guest room, wondering how Tessa's feeling this morning.

As I get up and head toward the kitchen, I'm greeted by the most heartwarming sight: Tessa's standing at the stove, making breakfast, while Auden is sitting on the counter beside her, holding a spatula like it's the most important job in the world.

"Good morning, you two." I say, trying to shake off the awkwardness from last night.

Auden's face lights up when he sees me. "Daddy! Tessa's teaching me how to make pancakes!"

I laugh, moving closer to ruffle his hair. "Is that so? I hope you're being a good helper."

"Yeah! Look!" He points to the stack of pancakes that Tessa's carefully making. "I'm the best helper!"

Tessa glances over at me, her expression soft, but there's something unsaid between us. "Good morning," she says quietly, her smile gentle.

"Morning," I reply, my gaze lingering on her for a beat longer than necessary. "Thanks for making breakfast."

She shrugs, focusing on the pancakes. "It's no problem. Auden woke up early, and I figured I'd keep him entertained."

I lean against the counter, watching them work together. There's a warmth in my chest that I can't ignore. Seeing them like this makes everything feel almost... normal. Like maybe this crazy life could settle into something good if I let it.

But I know better than to get ahead of myself. Especially with everything going on. I clear my throat. "You two seem like quite the team."

"We are!" Auden grins, clearly enjoying the attention. "Tessa said we can eat the pancakes with strawberries and syrup."

"Oh, did she now?" I chuckle. "Sounds like you're in charge of breakfast now."

"Yep!" Auden says proudly.

Tessa laughs softly, and I can see the way she's at ease with him. "He's a quick learner."

As we settle down to eat at the table, I notice how natural everything feels. Tessa and I exchange a few glances, but nothing more. It's comfortable, like we're in a place of mutual understanding. Last night wasn't ignored, but it also wasn't being pushed. We're taking things slow, and for now, that feels right.

After breakfast, I glance at the clock. It's time to head back to the office. I'm not sure what to expect today—Diane is supposed to introduce me to Vanessa, the person who'll be stepping into her shoes, and I can't shake the uneasiness that lingers in the pit of my stomach. Diane's been my rock for years. Trusting someone new to take her place feels like taking a leap into the unknown.

"Hey, Tessa." I call out as she wipes Auden's hands clean of syrup at the table. "Do you mind sticking around with him for a bit longer today? I need to head to the office, but I'd feel better knowing he's with you."

Tessa glances up, surprised but pleased. "Of course. I'd love to spend more time with him. Are you sure you're okay with that?"

I smile, relieved. "Yeah, I trust you with him. I have a feeling he'll be in good hands."