Woven Wishes (Whispered Wishes Book 4) by Karen Pokras Page B

the rage in decorating. In fact, I was thinking of re-doing our entire house that way, so start saving the grocery bags.”
    “See that?” Ben replied with a huge smile. “I knew it was a classy joint. Only the best for my babe.”
    “Yeah,” Holly agreed, “but the best part is that instead of soft music, we get serenaded by the belches from the people sitting at the next table. You’re right, Ben, this place doesn’t even come close. What was I thinking?”
    “Listen,” her husband moved his chair closer and nuzzled his face into her neck, “all kidding aside, if it’s romance you’re looking for, just wait until I get you alone next weekend at the cabin.”
    “Oh yeah?” Holly asked softly, leaning into his body. “Just what did you have in mind?”
    “Well, Mrs. Oakes, I plan on completely sweeping you off your feet. I think you need a bit of pampering, and I’m just the guy who’s going to make it happen. I don’t want to give too much away, but there will be candles and your favorite Louis Armstrong CD. Did I mention my boss’ cabin has a hot tub?”
    Holly felt her breathing begin to slow as she closed her eyes and pictured the scene. “No,” she replied in a low voice. “Are you sure we have to wait until next weekend?”
    “I’m afraid we do,” he said, whispering directly into her ear, “but there’s no reason we can’t go home and create our own romance. You know, it can be sort of a trial run for us. If you feel up to it. The doctor said it was your call.”
    “It’s been two weeks. I’m ready,” she replied, smiling. “Let’s go.”
    “Now?” Ben asked, pulling away. “What about dinner?”
    Running her hands through Ben’s hair, Holly looked at her husband with a mischievous grin. Screw dinner. She needed her husband right now. “We can stop at Roy’s Rib Shack on the way home and grab some take out for later,” she said, laughing.
     

Chapter 19 - Tessa
     
     
    “You’re trembling,” Nicholas whispered, holding on to Tessa’s waist as they walked through the parking lot toward the diner.
    “I’m okay,” she answered softly. She wished it were true. In reality, her heart was beating so fast, it felt as if it would burst right through her chest and fly off into the clouds. Looking over to her daughter, she wondered if she felt the same way. Earlier, Sophie was downright giddy with excitement over the thought of meeting her biological father. She’d changed her clothes five times, wanting to make sure she looked absolutely perfect for him. Tessa prayed he didn’t bail … again.
    When Tessa emailed Scott to say Sophie would meet him, she was surprised he didn’t email her back right away. After all, he was the one requesting the meeting. But, as Nicholas calmly reminded her, not everyone checks their email daily, so she waited. On day two, she was starting to think maybe he had a change of heart and was beginning to feel relieved. On the third day, she was grateful she’d never mentioned the original email to her daughter. However, just as her guard was beginning to go down, on the fourth day, his response arrived: They were to meet at the diner on Brown Street a week from that Saturday at 11:00 a.m. It was the place he and Tessa used to eat on a regular basis. She hadn’t been back since he’d left town. A calculated move on his part or the only place he could think of?
    “Mommy, is that him?” Sophie asked, pulling on Tessa’s arm as they walked through the front door.
    A bell jingled as it closed behind them, rattling her nerves even further. Tessa scanned the room. “Where honey?” she asked. Almost eight years had gone by since she’d last seen Scott. Would she even recognize him?
    “Over there.” Sophie pointed to a balding man with a short beard wearing a flannel shirt, who sat alone in a booth, fiddling with his phone.
    “I’m not sure,” Tessa answered. The Scott she knew had a full head of hair and no beard. He looked up at her, and her