Chapter 319

Tessa’s POV

“I’m not going to let you speak about my wife like that, Tessa,” my father seethed, anger piercing his eyes.

“Dad, please!” I said, standing to my feet quickly. “Where do you think she is right now?”

“She’s visiting family,” he said, narrowing his eyes at me.

“She’s lying to you,” I said in return, trying not to let my anger get the best of me, but I couldn’t help it. I was pissed. How could my own father dismiss me so easily like this? It wasn’t fair that he wouldn’t even listen to a word that I was saying.

“You never liked her,” my father said, shaking his head.

“That’s not fair,” I said, my voice cracking. I hated that I sounded so weak.

“I think you should leave,” my father said, standing to his feet.

“Dad—”

“With all due respect, sir. But we have a reliable source that tells us that you are in danger if you remain here with her,” Joseph cut in, standing to his feet as well.

“I’m not surprised you are taking Tessa’s side over this,” my dad spat. “I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you. Somehow, I forgot that you are still a vampire, and vampires are dangerous. I don’t care if my late wife trusted you, I don’t. Get the hell out of my house!”

I flinched at his words, and I couldn’t help but stumble away from my father.

“When did you stop trusting me?” I asked, my voice coming out breathy.

My father snapped a look at me and narrowed his eyes.

“When you started to pin me against my wife,” he said through his teeth.

“If there’s any ounce of you that believes us… just a little ounce… please, follow it and come with us. Let us help you… let me protect you—”

“Tessa, I’m not going to ask you again,” my father said, his tone void of emotion.

Tears spilled out of my eyes, and I quickly wiped them away with the back of my hands.

“When is Penny supposed to come home?” I asked him, ignoring his request to leave.

“Next weekend,” he answered. “I think her plane is booked for Saturday night. She doesn’t think her grandmother is going to make it until the end of the week and she’s trying to set up some arrangements.”

“And you know this grandmother?” I asked.

“Why are you asking all of these questions?” My dad asked, sounding even more irritated.

“Just answer the question,” I ordered, my voice coming out with authority.

“Yes, I’ve met her in the past. Of course, I’ve met her,” my father answered.

As he said those words, something transpired in his eyes. It gave me an uneasy feeling but trudged forward with my questioning.

“Why didn’t you go with Penny?” I asked, keeping my voice even.

My father sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

“And what? Abandon my farm. Who would take care of things here?”

“You couldn’t find someone to help you?” I asked him.

“No, Tessa. I couldn’t. It was short notice. Penny received a phone call, and she booked a flight for the next morning. I stayed here so I could take care of things and not bother her while she was with family. Got any more questions for me?” He asked, folding his arms across his chest.

I would have missed it if I blinked, but something flashed through his eyes again. My father had deep blue eyes, but at that moment, I saw a flash of red swirl around his pupils and then it disappeared. My breath hitched and I wondered if Joseph had seen it too.

He didn’t look surprised when I stole a glance at him though, so maybe I imagined it?

When I looked back at my father, I noticed he was glaring at me.

“Are there any more questions, Tess?” He asked again. “Because I’d like to finish my dinner and get to bed. It’s been a long day and I’m not in the mood for any more of this shit.”

I knew he was fed up with it all and he just wanted me to leave. The fact that my father didn’t want me around hurt more than anything. But I also knew that something was seriously wrong; I just couldn’t figure out what it was.

I forced a smile and squared my shoulders.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” I told him, stepping towards him, much to Joseph’s dismay. I felt his body tense as I stepped away from him and towards my father. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I love you.”

My dad sighed and I saw his body relaxing as I threw my arms around him and pulled him in for a hug. He hugged me back and I was relieved by that.

“I didn’t mean to yell at you, kiddo,” he breathed. “But you have to get over the fact that I fell in love with someone other than your mother. Penny will always be a part of my life, which means she’s a part of yours too. I want you girls to get along. I know she’s a bit younger than me… but the heart wants what it wants and mine wants Penny. I love her but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you.”

He spoke like he’d rehearsed that same speech repeatedly in the mirror.

I bit back the tears that wanted to spill from my eyes. My dad thinks I’m a jealous little girl. I admit, it might have started off like that. When my father introduced her to me a few years ago, I didn’t like the fact that she was so young. She’s in her early 30s, but she looks like she’s my age if not younger.

I now understand it’s because she’s a vampire and she stopped aging when she made the transition from human to vampire. But it bothered me that my father who’s in his late 50s was married to a woman 20 years younger than him. She was closer to my age than his and that always rubbed me the wrong way.

But I was beyond that now; I actually started to like Penny after she stopped making my father do all the farm work and actually contributed to his business. She stopped acting like a teenager and took on some responsibilities for once. Plus, she got along with my best friend in the world which was extra points in my book.

I didn’t want her to be the villain, but it's starting to seem like she is and my father doesn’t trust me enough to listen. So, if he wasn’t going to listen, I was going to have to make him listen. Or maybe find proof against Penny.

But it would have to be fast; we only had a week before Ruby’s vision came through and I refused to lose my father because of this bitch.

“I tried harder,” I said to him, pulling away from his embrace. “I promise.”

He smiled and then nodded.

“That’s all I ask,” he said. “Do you want to finish the stew and we can talk for a bit longer?” He looked at Joseph. “You are more than welcome to stay as well; I’m sorry for losing my temper.”

Joseph nodded.

“It’s understandable,” he said, following my lead even though I’m sure he has no idea what my lead is. “I would have reacted the same way if someone tried to pin me against, Tessa.”

My father nodded and gave him a bright smile.

“We should get going though,” I said quickly, meeting Joseph’s questioning eyes. “We have a long drive back and a coven to take care of. They are probably worried.”

“Oh, right. You are taking in the entire coven. How are things with that?” My father asked.

“Better than expected,” I answered. “They are all very nice now that they aren’t brainwashed. Patty is mortified by how she acted around you for all those years, by the way,” I chuckled, trying to make light of the situation.

My father laughed.

“Tell her no hard feelings. It’s not the same without her bakery.”

I completely forgot about her bakery.

“What’s going to happen to the building?” I asked, wondering if her baked goods all went bad.

My father shrugged.

“I’m assuming the town will eventually close it if nobody opens it,” he answered. “I’m not sure, yet.”

“It’s a shame to watch it get closed,” I said with a frown.

He nodded.

“Maybe you can ask Penny what she wants to do with it. It’s her store after all; even if she doesn’t remember running it,” my father said.

“I mean, I’m sure she remembers the bakery now that she got her memories back from the last two decades. At least she remembers some of her time there. It’s a long way for her to commute, but I’ll ask her what she wants to do with it because you’re right. Brainwashed or not, the store is hers.”

My father nodded in agreement.

“If you want to get back before they all head to bed, we should leave now,” Joseph said, eyeing me carefully.

I nodded and hugged my father one last time.

“I love you, Dad. I’ll call you at some point this week,” I told him.

I wanted to tell him to call me if Penny showed up earlier than planned, but I bit my tongue and chose not to push my luck. After we said goodbye for a final time, I followed Joseph out of the house and into the car.

“What was that? Are we giving up?” Joseph asked as soon as we started to pull away.

“No, of course not,” I shot back a little too quickly. “But he’s never going to listen to us, Joseph. He doesn’t believe us. But I want to get back to Esme. I think she’s at her shop now; she mentioned returning home this evening. I need to ask her a question that only she can answer.”

“Want to fill me in?” He asked.

“Yes, but not until we get there,” I said. “I’m not really sure how to put it into words and it’ll only make me sound crazier than I already feel.”

He reached over and grabbed my hand.

“You aren’t crazy, Tess,” he assured me. “But I understand how you feel.”

It took us a bit, but we finally reached Esme’s shop. I was surprised that it was still open; but not so surprised because it’s a store she keeps open for vampires and other creatures of the night. But I honestly thought it would be closed, seeming she spends more time at my house than she does in her shop.

When we entered, the bell chime went off and a short curly-haired girl appeared behind the counter. I had never seen her before, but she looked pleasant. She wore a crescent moon pendant around her neck which matched the black dress she wore with crescent moons stitched throughout the fabrics.

“Hey, welcome to Esmeralda’s Witchery Shop,” she said cheerfully.

“Hi,” I said slowly and hesitantly. “Is Esme around?”

Her brows raised.

“She went to her apartment upstairs. She said not to bother her unless it’s an emergency,” she said, still keeping that smile on her lips.

“It’s an emergency,” I assured her. “Can you call her and tell her that Tessa and Joseph are here to see her?”

She looked hesitant but Joseph stepped forward, putting on his charm.

“It would be wise if you listened to my fiancé,” Joseph said, his voice deep and it sent a warmth throughout my entire body. “Esme will want to speak with us.”

The girl’s eyes widened and then she nodded. She grabbed her phone and put the receiver on her cheek.

“Hello, Esmeralda. I know you said not to bother you unless it’s an emergency. But Tessa and Joseph are here to speak with you they say it—” she was cut off by Esme on the other end. “Oh, okay. I’ll bring them upstairs.”

She hung up the phone, her cheeks flushed.

“Come with me.”