I put everything away and head outside. "Hey." Tess gives me a smile as I smile back and kiss her gently. Then I kiss Ava on the top of the head and sit down in a chair across from them. "How was it out?" She asks. I rub the back of my neck and nod. "It was alright." I shrug. She gives me a look and sets down her phone. "What's going on?" "It's nothing, I just don't feel too good." I lie as I look down at the ground and Jackson, one of our dogs comes up to me. I scratch him behind his ear as I feel Tessa's gaze still on me. "What aren't you telling me?" She asks. I sigh and look at her. "Tess, I would tell you if something was wrong. I'm fine." I clear my throat and Ava jumps off Tess' lap and comes over to me. I pick Ava up and set her on my lap as she lays her head on my shoulder. "Fine. I'm going to go make dinner." She says and gets up as she heads inside and shuts the patio door. Ava yawns and I rub her back and sigh again as I watch Tessa walk off. I had no idea how to bring this information up to her. ~*~ You've been along for the ride that is the hectic life of Tessa and Nick. Now read along as they deal with marriage, parenting, and deep secrets that even they couldn't have been prepared for. *DISCLAIMER* THIS STORY CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND SOME EXPLICIT SEX SCENES AND OTHER STRONG CONTENT THAT MAY BE BOTHERSOME FOR SOME READERS

In this modern-day PERSUASION, lawyer Emily crashes into the man who stole her heart, Finn, when he returns to the United States for the first time in eight years as a witness in her latest case. Thing is, Finn vanished because he believes Emily ghosted him. What's the real story? And does true love deserve a second chance? This romance is for you if you like 💓 It's Always Been You Romance ⚖️Forced Proximity 🌞Grumpy/Sunshine 🤐 Secrets and Lies 🎭 Drama 🎖️Hero in Need of Healing ⚓ Military (Navy) About the story: The summer before university, affluent Emily Montgomery met and fell in love with local busboy Finn Wainwright. After only a few months, she knew theirs was a love to stand the test of time. When a family emergency forces her to leave town, a note to Finn is her only way to ask him to wait for her. He doesn't, disappearing without so much as a goodbye and no way to contact him. Finn never fit in anywhere until the summer he met Emily. She coloured his black and white world and he believed Emily was the love of his life. She proved him wrong with a "Dear John" note that broke his heart. In self defence, Finn deserts his old life and family, vanishing into the world of the Navy. Eight years later, a twist of fate brings Finn back to the United States, straight into Emily's life. Neither knows time hasn't changed their feelings, but family obligations, old prejudices and unseen forces try to keep these two apart. Can Emily finally get answers to the questions that have kept her heart from moving on? Will Finn see past his pride and try to win Emily back? Or does true love deserve a second chance? This is a modern day adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion