Chapter 144

Tess was accustomed to getting exactly what she wanted, but not without working for it. No spoiling. That had been a firm rule of her mother's after her parents had divorced. No buying of Tess's affections with expensive things. Dad had been on board with that, wanting to instill in her an understanding of the value of hard work. She'd taken that lesson to heart long ago, and she was grateful for their forethought in keeping her as normal and down-to-earth as it was possible to be under their circumstances.