601: SPACE BOUND

ARIEL'S POV "He wouldn't do anything to harm me," I repeated, more to myself than to Tessa. "He loves me. He wouldn't do that." Tessa watched me for a moment, her expression filled with concern. "I hope you're right, Ariel. I really do. But you have to take care of yourself, too. You're not just a wife, remember? You're a mother, and Janice needs you. "And you can't be there for her if you're not taking care of yourself." Tessa laughed, her face softening. "Well, when you put it that way, I guess you are. And hey, at least you're making sure you look good while doing it." She squeezed my hand, her eyes full of warmth. "Jokes aside, Ariel, just remember that you deserve happiness. And that's not something anyone else can give you, not even Luke. "You have to find it within yourself." I smiled, the pa; the present, but a bit more manageable now. "Let's not talk about Luke, please." "Absolutely," Tessa agreed, steering the conversation in a different direction. "Let's focus on mo