A memory of when Tessa made the best decision when it came to cooling her new home
Tessa stalled for time.
She opened the front door, invited him inside, and then returned to the car to get Molly.
As she reached in, she banged her head on the doorframe. She grabbed the car roof to steady herself and blinked her eyes against a sudden urge to cry, not from the bump but from the feeling that the world was once again poised to crash in on her. Molly was wide-awake, her eyes the deep navy of a Van Gogh sky, her fist on an erratic course toward her mouth. Tessa picked her up and tucked her into the curve of her neck. The pulse beneath the baby’s fontanel tapped against her cheek. She kissed the downy softness and turned to face the new demon who’d invaded their lives. James had it for them since they moved in. Tessa loved the house, the porch, and the soft yellow she had painted. She could remember when she first contacted the HVAC business in search of new cooling equipment to help with indoor comfort. The HVAC contractor explained each cooling technology, and Tessa liked the electric heat pump best. She then placed an order with the cooling corporation and decided on the HVAC installation date. The local service provider delivered quality AC service. The cooling specialist had advised Tessa to purchase a smart climate control gadget. True to the cooling technician’s advice, the cooling system was the best Tessa had ever had, even though Molly was less cranky. Tessa shook off the memory and faced James. James was Molly’s birth father, but he did not want to be a father, so Tessa could understand why he wanted to contest parental rights.
Dual fuel system