Chapter 117

"Tess, wake up. We're here." Jodi nudged her sister.

"I'm up. Are we home already?" asked Tess.

"Yes, I sent Kate and Claire ahead already. I said I'd help you. Are you okay to walk?"

"I think so." Tess put one foot on the ground and then the second. She stood up and she sat back down. "I lied. I don't think so, my back is so bad. I can't really move."

"Okay, stay there, I'll be right back." Jodi said as she ran towards the cottage.

"Claire, I'm going to need you to help me after all. Your mom can't quite walk back to the cottage. I need you to help carry her. Kate is pregnant, and my mom has the girls and Matt and Russell and Terry aren't even back yet. Russell is probably going to have to carry Matt to our room as it is." explained Jodi.

"No problem, she was fearless today. I can help carry her." said Claire.

Jodi and Claire carried Tess to her bed. Jodi helped her change into pajamas and helped her get ready for bed.

"Okay. Do you need anything else?" asked Jodi.

"Yes, two things. First, I need a hug from you. Thank you for helping me while I'm hurt. I'm hoping that with some Paradol and a good night's sleep, I'll be feeling better tomorrow." said Tess.

Jodi climbed onto Tess's bed and hugged her tight.

"I'm so proud of you." Jodi said, "What's the other thing?"

"My phone. It's in my bag. There's a phone call I really need to make. Could you grab it for me?" asked Tess.

"Of course." Jodi smiled as she brought the phone to Tess. "Good luck, Sis."

Jodi shut the door to Tess's room and left to see if the boys had gotten back. She'd need to help Matt as well.

Tess picked up her phone. She took a deep breath and dialed Finn's number.

"Tess?"

"Finn." Tess started to cry when she heard his voice.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"No. I'm not okay," admitted Tess.

"Tess? How can I help? What's wrong?" asked Finn.

"Finn, I'm not okay. In the last week, you went from a complete stranger to one of the most important people in my life. I haven't seen you or talked to you in two days and I hated it. I did something amazing today and all I wanted was to be in your arms when I finished, but I wasn't, because I was afraid and I pushed you away," confessed Tess.

"What did you do?" asked Finn.

"It doesn't matter, That's what's so scary now. Things don't matter as much if you aren't there with me. Nothing matters as much when you aren't there. That's what's so scary, Finn," explained Tess.

"Tess, what are you saying?" Finn asked.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm ready to jump off a waterfall with you. I want to be with you, Finn. Even if it's scary. Even if I get hurt, I need to try to be with you. You turned my whole world upside down, and I never wanted that, but now I can't just pretend you didn't. I can't just go back to how things were before I met you. I can't just pretend that my feelings for you don't exist. I have to go through with this, and see what this could be, where it could go," said Tess.

"I want to be with you too, Tess. From the moment I met you, that's all I've wanted. I don't want to mess up your life or your family or take anything from you, I just want to be in that life with you. I want to help you when I can, cheer you up if you're sad, hold you in my arms and celebrate with you when you accomplish great things," confessed Finn.

"I want you in my life. I want to share it with you. Come to Charlotte's party tomorrow. Every other important person in my life will be there. I want you there too, with me, as my boyfriend, as an important person in my life. I want you to meet Charlotte and my cousins and my friends and everyone that's important to me. I want them to meet you too. Will you come?" asked Tess.

"Tess, I want to come, I want to be there for you, be there with you, but I'm in Adelaide," said Finn.

"Adelaide? What are you doing there?" asked Tess

"Trying to give you some space. I was so afraid I would scare you off that I just couldn't stay in Gungellan. I didn't want to accidentally run into you getting gas at the truckstop or whatever and scare you away. I've been so terrified I was going to lose you. I only just met you. I can't lose you," explained Finn.

"You went all the way to Adelaide for me?

"Tess, I would go to the moon and back for you," said Finn.

Finn was checking flights on his laptop in his hotel room in Adelaide. The only flight to Fisher left Adelaide at 5pm. That was too late. He would miss the party. She asked him to be there with her, and he was going to get to the party for her.

Finn looked at the time. It was 11:30 pm. He sighed and set an alarm for 4 am. He reached over, turned off the light and tried to get some sleep.