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"You saw her!" Chase's wide eyes narrowed suddenly "She didn't knoas you, did she? God, Moht leave town!" He paced, wearing a path in the carpet The last thing he wanted was to scare Tessa

"Chase dearest, please"

"You're mother isn't an imbecile, Chase, don't treat her like one"

"Carl, hush He's just concerned, as we all are" She patted the space beside her, and Chase paced a bithis hand over his face

"I like her, Chase She's poised, gracious One can tell a great deal about a person when you're in their territory"

Though those were not the traits Tessa had shown him, Chase took his mother's word for it "And you discovered?"

Carole Anne looked thoughtful before she spoke "She makes everyone feel welcome, instantly Even offered tea and joined ns and whoht "And your baby's growing beautifully" Chase enjoyed the happiness spreading across his mother's face

His father cleared his throat "It's just like you to do everything backwards, boy"

Chase stiffened and left his chair in a lurch, wondering if his father would ever forgive hi a politician As usual, his lare at his dad

"Do you think Janis did this thing with the computer mix-up?" his mother asked

Chase shrugged "I wouldn't put it past her" He didn't want to address his suspicions, not when Tessa could use thes were just too fragile right now "But then we all kno she hated being excommunicated from the Madison clan" The divorce settlement had nearly made Chase broke, and he eyed his father, all too aware that the er, and had let hiular basis Yet Chase had understood her need to feel part of a family Of course, only Senator Madison's faht Janis had married him because of who his father was, and finally, Chase had been inclined to believe it