Page 27 of Tempting Tessa

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask her. I need to know she is ok with this. It isn’t like I can change any of it but I need to know.

“Um, sure. I guess. I just don’t know where to start or what to talk about. I’m just shocked is all. It never crossed my mind when you told me the timeline last night that your transplant would have been around the exact time that Matt died, so I never considered that you could have possibly received his second kidney.” She pauses as we walk out to sit on the couch. “Now that I think back over everything it all makes sense and was right in front of us this entire time. The surgery taking place just over 5 years ago, you having never met your donor, me not having met one of the kidney recipients. It’s obvious when you look at it that way. I know logically there are transplant surgeries that take place all the time and they fly the organs all over the country. I guess if we would have discussed specific dates maybe we would have made the connection before now?”

“Maybe, but are you ok with it and still being here with me? This doesn’t change things between us, does it?”

“No, why would it?”

“I just want to make sure. I love you, Tessa and I can’t imagine my life without you in it.” I hadn’t planned to tell her that I was in love with her like this, but it just felt right since it’s the God’s honest truth. I can’t see my life without her and Ty in it and I will do anything to prove that to her.

“I love you too, Jake. And to answer your question, no, this doesn’t bother me at all. It almostfeelslike Matt sentyouto me. Maybe that’s why I have felt so at peace about moving on and being willing to date you. Like I’ve told you, before you, I haven’t been interested in dating anyone else, but you changed that as soon as you entered my life. I felt an immediate connection to you, and at the time I couldn’t explain it. Now I think this was part of it.”

“Do you think we should tell our families and friends?” I ask her as I rub her back as we sit next to each other on the couch.

“Yes, Matt’s parents met all the other recipients with me and I think they would like to know I found the only one we didn’t already meet. It will probably shock them some that it’s you. They have encouraged me to move on and find someone to be happy with again knowing that me not moving on isn’t going to bring Matt back to us. After my birthday, I called and had a nice conversation letting them know we were dating and they were happy for me, for us.”

“Has anyone in your family been worried about my spot in Ty’s life? I would never try and take Matt’s position in his life, but I also don’t mind being that role model for him, if that is what you want.”

“No one has expressed any concern to me about it. And to be honest, all the males have been doing their best with stepping in to fill the role, but I think that what Ty really needs is a dad figure at home. Having uncles and grandfathers that do things with him occasionally is great, don’t get me wrong. But I also think he seeks that connection at home. I think that is one of the reasons he practically attacks you when you’re over and becomes your shadow. That and you include him, and for that I am eternally grateful. That has been one of my biggest fears about dating as a single mom. I don’t want my child to feel like he’s being replaced in my life as he is and will always be the most important person in my life.”

“I would never try and make him feel any different. I enjoy having him around, and playing with him. You’ve done an amazing job raising him, Tessa. Don’t you ever forget that.” I place a chaste kiss on her lips.

“Thank you for that, Jake,” she says and then leans in to give me a kiss. I’m so thankful with how this has all transpired. When I read that paperwork, I didn’t know if it was going to be the end of this great relationship that we have built. Leave it to Tessa to make everything better and handle the news with class.

“Since we found the paperwork and have talked it all out, how about we take off and go get Ty? We can tell your parents if you want. I think I would also like to swing by my parents’ house and tell them the news. Do you want to come with me when I do that?”

“Sure, let me go get changed and then I will be ready to go.”

We both get ready to leave and head out to my truck. My mind is still going crazy mulling over all the information that has come to light this morning.

“Where should we go first?” I ask her as we walk out to my truck.

“It doesn’t really matter to me.”

“Actually, let’s go to your parents’ house first. My parents have been bugging me about when they get to meet Ty. We can pick him up and then go to my parents’ house.”

“Sounds good to me,” she replies as she climbs up into my truck.

We drive over to Tessa’s parents’ house and find them inside getting ready to start making lunch. Now that I think about it, I’m getting hungry. “Do you guys want to join us for lunch?” Teresa asks us.

Tessa looks at me with a questioning look. “I’m fine with that if you’re hungry,” I reply, pulling her closer to my side.

“Sounds like we are staying for lunch,” she replies to her mom.

“Ok, lunch will be ready in just a few minutes. Ty, go wash up. Can you guys set the table?” Teresa asks us.

Once we are finished eating lunch with Jim, Teresa and Ty, Tessa turns the conversation. “Hey, Ty, why don’t you go play for a little bit. I need to talk to Grams and Gramps about something.”

“Ok, can I watch a movie while I play?” he asks her, making his puppy dog eyes at her that he has mastered.

“Sure can, why don’t you go pick out what you want to watch and then I’ll come start it for you in a few minutes?” He hops down and goes to pick his movie. I can tell that Jim and Teresa are curious about what Tessa needs to talk to them about, but I understand her not wanting to do it with Ty around. She gets up to go turn his movie on and returns to the table.

“So, Jake and I have some news.” I think she caught how that sounded as soon as she said it because she said, “No, I’m not pregnant and no we are not getting married.”

“Ok, so what’s going on?” her mom asks.

“Well…” I can tell she doesn’t quite know how to start the conversation so I try and take the lead.

“Tessa helped me sort through a bunch of the medical paperwork from my time in the hospital. After we talked about organ donation – her being on the families’ side as the donor and me being on the other side as a recipient, she encouraged me to find my donor’s family. We located the paperwork this morning and Matt was my donor.”

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