Tessa Keene was a sweetheart through and through- pure-hearted, kind, and incapable of cruelty. She didn't have much, but she had Robby, and that was all she needed. He was her rock, her safe place, the one person she could always count on. But when...
The LaRusso dining table was full—in every sense of the word. Plates were passed back and forth, laughter bubbled around the table, and someone had just made Johnny laugh so hard he nearly choked on his beer. It was one of those nights where everything looked good from the outside.
Amanda glanced down the table, her eyes catching on Tessa.
The little girl sat with her chin resting in one palm, fork in the other hand, barely pushing her food around. Her dress—a soft blue cotton one—was too nice for a casual dinner, and Amanda had told her as much earlier. Tessa had just shrugged and said, "It's comfy."
But now, she looked anything but.
Amanda excused herself without a word, slipping away from the table and into the living room. She grabbed her phone from the side table and flicked the screen to life.
"Still nothing?"
Amanda jumped slightly at the sound of Daniel's voice. He followed her into the living room, pulling the french door shut behind him.
She shook her head, lips pressed tight.
"Are they coming?" he asked, not quite meeting her eyes.
"I don't think so."
He hesitated before asking, "Do you think she knows?"
Amanda didn't answer right away. Her gaze drifted past him, to the doorway leading to the kitchen. Tessa sat with her hand resting on her chin, talking to Miguel—who sat sideways in his chair, body turned toward her, smiling as he spoke. Tessa laughed at something he said—not a big laugh, but real. Her posture relaxed, just a little. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and replied, gesturing with her hands as she talked.
"I didn't tell her I invited them," Amanda said quietly. "I didn't want to make a promise I couldn't keep."
Daniel exhaled through his nose, resting a hand on her back. "You did the right thing."
Amanda slipped back into her seat, phone face-down now, the screen cold with silence. Her voice was gentle as she cut through the chatter. "How's school going, Tess?"
Tessa blinked, caught off guard. She sat up straighter, her face flushing slightly. "It's fine," she said, a little too quickly. "I made some new friends."
"That's amazing, Tessa!" Carmen chimed in with a grin.
Miguel nudged her shoulder lightly, smiling. "Yeah? Who?"
"Kenny," Tessa smiled. "He's in my math class."
Across the table, Anthony froze with his fork halfway to his mouth. His eyes locked on her. "Kenny?" he echoed.
"Yeah," she said flatly, still not looking up.
Anthony lowered his fork, frowning. "I didn't know you guys were close."
Tessa's eyes finally flicked up. There was a bite behind them now—soft, but sharp. "Well, he's nice, and funny, and he doesn't talk about his friends behind their back."
Miguel paused mid-bite, eyes lifting.
Sam glanced at her brother, then at Tessa.
Anthony opened his mouth like he wanted to say more—but stopped. He stabbed his fork into a piece of broccoli instead, looking anywhere but at her.
No one noticed the way Anthony and Tessa were practically shooting daggers at each other now.
Except Sam and Miguel.
Miguel leaned toward Sam, voice barely above a whisper. "I thought they were super close?"
Sam shrugged, keeping her eyes on Tessa. "They were." Her brow creased. "I don't know what happened."
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