Page 25 of The Perfect Secret

“Just a sec, Tess,” Hannah called. “Oh, and you might want to look the other way.” She turned to Dan, stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips. They were minty with a hint of salt from sweat and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “We won’t be gone long.”

“Take your time. I want the two of you to get to know each other.”

Hannah gave him one last, quick kiss before she turned to Tess. “You ready?”

“I guess. But you have to stop with the kissing.”

The two of them wandered the clothes vendors, and stopped to check out the jeans.

“You’re pretty smart,” Tess said.

“Why do you think so?” Hannah held up a pair and looked in the mirror. With a frown, she put them back, unhappy with the color and cut.

“Because there’s no way my dad could do this whole place, and you got him to sit without him realizing your plan.”

Hannah turned to Tess. “I’m pretty sure he realized. I just suggested a way not to embarrass him.”

Tess nodded and for the first time, Hannah noticed a hint of admiration on her face.

They moved on to a T-shirt vendor and the two of them giggled at “People Are Buggy,” showing a cartoon of an ant with googly eyes on the front. Hannah picked out an “Eat Dessert First” one and paid the vendor. “You and your dad seem close.” Hannah put her wallet away and grabbed the bag.

“He’s cool. Sometimes. What about your family?”

She blocked the images of Jeff with red eyes and track marks on his arms. “Well, I live with my grandma and I have three older brothers, like I told you at the concert. Plus some nieces and nephews.” Their smiling faces eased the pressure behind her forehead.

“Do you want kids of your own?”

Hannah smothered a cough. “I like kids, so yeah, someday.”

“What about your parents?” Tess picked up and returned a silver pendant to the tray.

“My parents got divorced when I was in middle school and we lost contact with my dad.” She swallowed, remembering the turmoil of those early years. “My mom died a few years ago.” Blinking, she turned away so Tess wouldn’t see.

“Oh. My mom died too.”

“Your dad mentioned it. I’m sorry.”

Hannah fingered some scarves. Tess picked out a yellow one and twisted it around her neck.

“Here, try it this way,” Hannah said.

Tess admired herself in the mirror. “I was seven. It was a car accident. That’s how my dad hurt his leg.”

Hannah nodded. She didn’t want to pump Tess for information, but she wouldn’t stop her from sharing of her own free will. “I’m sorry. It must have been rough. The scarf looks pretty on you. Let me buy it for you?”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know.”

Tess nodded and Hannah pulled out her wallet, paid the vendor, and they continued walking. Hannah’s stomach growled; Tess giggled.

“We should probably head back to your dad and see if he’s hungry.”

They found him seated at a table, playing with his phone.

“Hey, what did you two buy?” he asked.

Tess showed him the scarf and Hannah showed the T-shirt.