Page 73 of Side Piece

She’s short with me but looks worried about someone. She demands, “Who are you? And why are you asking about my father?” Lightbulb. Sister.

I point to her and then to myself. “You’re Suz. Suzanne. Suzi. I’m Tess. Tess McGuire.”

“That answers nothing.” My heart drops. His family doesn’t know who I am. She folds her arms and possibly suspects I’m a secret of her father’s. Like he’s got another family, and I’m the long-lost daughter from the second family. I begin to imagine the entire fake drama unfold, occupational hazard.

I rock back on my heels and try again. “I’m Tess. McGuire. Alex’s…” I swallow hard, “…girlfriend.”

She takes me in her arms. “Oh shit. Tess! He told me you’d be here. You beat him by a couple of hours.” I smile and exhale. But she pulls me back and gives me an all-encompassing hug.

“He’s resting and annoying everyone with word games. No surgery needed. It was a clean break. Stitches and bruises. The car’s totaled, but he’s fine, thankfully.”

“Does Alex know he’s fine? He was a mess.”

“Fucking daddy’s boy.” I laugh. “We texted him the info for when he lands.”

“I’ll shoot him an email and a Twitter DM. I’m sure he’s found a way to work on the plane.” I tap away with a simple message on all platforms. ALL Good.

“You know him well.”

“Similar sensibilities, that’s all.”

“I have to admit, I’ve downloaded one of your books but haven’t gotten to it yet.”

“As long as you bought it, I’m cool with that.”

She laughs. There are lines around her eyes from what I imagine are late nights with a baby. She’s got gorgeous enviable curves. My vain stepmother calls it the suburban spread, but I think she’s beautiful. I envy the way she looks like a woman. I wish my ass had that movement and grace. Tennis keeps it tight, and it’s not as fleshy as I’d like. I think she’s absolutely stunning.

She squeezes my hand instinctively. “Come with me.” I follow her into a room filled with flowers and light. I swallow a gulp of air. I’m about to meet his entire family without him. Never crossed my mind in my rush.

His mother looks regal in a chair holding a small copper locked girl in her arms. There’s an older boy on a tablet and a man scrolling and leaning up against the windows. They all look up at once, and their eyes go wide. I take a big breath and pull my shoulders down from my ears.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Tess McGuire.”

His mom gasps, and his father yells, “You’re a brave soul walking into the den without him for a shield.”

“I did hear the lions were friendly and was hoping to walk away with nothing more than a flesh wound.” The adults laugh as his mother places the little girl on the chair and crosses the room with her arms outstretched.

She holds my hands tight. Her maternal welcome is overwhelming, especially today, in a hospital. I’m a complete moron for not putting any of those pieces together. I even out my breath and paste on my ‘famous writer’ face.

“I’m pleased as punch to meet you. Just over the moon. You’re a good writer and a good girl to be here for him.” She has the faintest British accent. Her features are delicate but reassuring. Her eyes are a dark hazel, and seem to know more about the world than I could ever hope to. She’s dressed in bright green and a light white cardigan. Her hair is stunning silver, short, but with a long bang that suits her square face. Alex has her cheekbones.

“Thank you. That means a lot coming from the likes of a librarian.” She keeps hold of one of my hands and leads me to his father. His hair is a buzz of silver. His eyes are Alex’s. His dark glasses announce his face, bold and direct. Alex looks like the perfect combination of the two of them and could be twins with his sister. His father curls his mouth into a similar crooked smile, and it makes me miss him.

“It’s good of you to come, but you know I’m fine.”

“I do. But he asked, so I came.”

“He doesn’t usually ask for much, so that’s a big deal, Missy.”

I admonish back, so they know how much this means to him. “It’s also a big deal he canceled his schedule to jump on a plane to come back across the country. Fortunately, I was on the East Coast, less of a hassle for me. But if I’d been in Vancouver...” I let my sentence drift off as another set of genuine laughs welcome me.

“Pull up a chair so I can grill you.” His mom glares and slaps his arm gently

“I don’t think I’m ready for that. You see, I know all about your former profession.” Everyone laughs. I pull up a chair next to him anyway. I meet the niece and nephew when the brother in law packs them up for naps at home. Suz and her mom go in search of good coffee. I stay behind for my interrogation.

“How are the knees?” A funny question, but it might be a softball to warm me up.

“Good. I take it you’ve seen the video.” I lean back skeptically.