Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
T he next few days passed in a quiet blur, the snow outside piling higher as the mountain became an isolated world of its own. Inside Aunt Schatzi’s cozy house, Maddie tried to keep things as normal as possible, though her mind was constantly occupied with thoughts of Hannah and the difficult conversations that had yet to happen.
When the girl came by to clean, Maddie watched her move through the house with heavy steps, the weight of her secret still hanging over her. It only increased Maddie’s desire to help, but just like Hannah’s last visit, the girl was in no mood to talk.
Schatzi was resting more, as the sling kept her movements limited, and she spent most of her time sitting by the fire reading books or watching television, Ernie snuggled up beside her. Maddie could sense Schatzi’s worry for Hannah too, though they hadn’t spoken much more about it. The quiet hum of shared concerns and unspoken words was a constant presence in the house.
One afternoon, as Maddie stood in the kitchen making sandwiches for lunch, there was a knock at the door. Startled, she jumped—Hannah wasn’t due to come by until later in the week, so she knew it must be Sam. He had been stopping by more frequently, checking in, and though Maddie was growing accustomed to his presence, every visit brought a new mix of relief and nerves.
As she’d expected, Maddie opened the door to find Sam standing there, his brown eyes warm despite the biting cold. Fargo, as usual, stood beside him, his tail wagging, the dog always happy to be included.. He barked softly in greeting.
“Hi, Fargo. Hi, Sam.”
“Afternoon,” Sam said, stepping inside as the cold air followed him. “Thought I’d drop by and see how things are going. Check if you needed anything.”
Maddie smiled, though it didn’t quite feel it. “Thanks. Come in. I was just making some sandwiches for lunch.”
“Afternoon, Sam,” Schatzi called out from her chair.
“Afternoon, Schatzi.” Sam kicked the snow from his boots before coming in, then hung his coat on a peg by the door, the familiar scent of cold air and pine clinging to him. He lowered his voice when he spoke to Maddie next. “How’s she doing today?”
“She’s getting better, though I can tell she’s frustrated with the sling,” Maddie replied, leading him into the kitchen. “She hates sitting still for too long but the best she can do is take a few laps around the living room when she gets antsy. Which is often.”
Sam chuckled, leaning against the counter as Fargo went into the living room and made himself comfortable on the rug by the fire. “That sounds like Schatzi.”
Maddie busied herself fixing the rest of the sandwiches, trying to ignore the way her stomach fluttered in Sam’s presence. He was so steady, so easy to be around, but every time he was close, something inside her shifted, like an old door creaking open after being shut for years. She wasn’t ready to face what that meant just yet.
“Any updates on how Hannah’s doing?” Sam asked after a beat, his voice lowering further. “I haven’t seen her dad lately. Guess he’s trying to work as many hours as he can before the holidays.”
Maddie hesitated, her hand stilling as she spread mayonnaise on the bread with a knife.. “She’s still scared. She hasn’t told her dad yet. I don’t want to push her, but I don’t know how long she can keep this a secret. Eventually, it’s going to come out.”
Sam crossed his arms, his brow furrowing in thought. “Have you talked to her about it again? About telling him?”
“I’ve tried,” Maddie said, setting the knife down and turning to face him. “She clams up every time I bring it up. Like maybe she regrets telling me. I don’t want to scare her off by pushing too hard, but we can’t avoid this forever. She certainly can’t.”
Sam nodded, his face softening with understanding. “It’s tough. But you’re right. She can’t keep it a secret forever. Even if this wasn’t a small town, it’s the kind of thing that becomes impossible to ignore at a certain point.”
Maddie sighed, leaning against the counter. “I know. But she’s just so afraid. I don’t want to make it harder for her than it already is.”
Sam stepped closer, his voice gentle. “You’re doing the right thing, Maddie. She needs to tell him, but she also needs to know she’s got people behind her, no matter what happens. Which I think she does.”
“I hope so, but maybe I should remind her.” Maddie looked up at him, her heart swelling with gratitude. He had been such a steady presence through all of this, and she didn’t know how she would have managed without him. “Thanks, Sam. I really appreciate you being here.”
He smiled the kind of smile that made the room feel a little warmer. “Anytime.”
Later that afternoon, as the sun beamed bright over the snowy landscape, the knock on the door that Maddie had been dreading finally came. She finished filling the kettle and set it on a burner to heat before going to the door. This time, it was Hannah.
The girl stood in the entrance, bundled up in her oversized coat, her dark hair tucked under a knit hat. Her face was pale, and there was a tension in her posture that made Maddie’s heart ache.
“Hi, Hannah,” Maddie said, stepping aside to let her in. “Come on in. It’s freezing out there.”
Hannah shuffled inside, her boots leaving wet tracks on the floor as she moved to take off her coat. Maddie watched her, trying to gauge how she was feeling, but the girl’s expression was unreadable.
“How are you doing?” Maddie asked, closing the door behind her.
Hannah shrugged, her eyes fixed on the floor. “Okay, I guess.”
Maddie didn’t press further, knowing the conversation ahead would be delicate. She led Hannah into the living room, where Schatzi greeted her warmly from her armchair. Ernie was stretched out beside her, purring softly and no doubt enjoying the warmth of the fire.
“Good to see you, Hannah,” Schatzi said, her voice kind. “You’re just in time. Maddie’s making tea. You want some?”
Hannah nodded mutely, taking a seat on the sofa. Her hands fidgeted in her lap, twisting the edge of her sweater as though she were trying to keep herself from unraveling.
Right on cue, the kettle whistled. Maddie went into the kitchen, fixed three mugs of tea, and brought them back. They all sat and drank, and Maddie could feel the tension radiating off of Hannah. After a few minutes of small-talk, Maddie decided it was time to tackle the elephant in the room.
She was already seated next to Hannah, so she cleared her throat slightly and began. “Hannah, Schatzi and I want to talk about what we discussed the other week.”
Hannah’s shoulders tensed, and she stared into her tea, her jaw tight, her hands clenched around the mug. “I don’t want to.”
“I know it’s hard,” Maddie said gently, “but we can’t avoid this. You need to tell your dad.”
Hannah set her cup on the side table and shook her head, her hands balling into fists in her lap. “He’s going to freak out. He’ll...he’ll kick me out, I know it.”
Maddie’s heart clenched at the fear in Hannah’s voice. “You don’t know that for sure,” she said. “And if he does, you have a place here. I promise you that.”
“We both do,” Schatzi said. “You’ll never be without a home.”
“You don’t get it.” Hannah blinked back tears, her eyes wide and filled with desperation. “I don’t want him to hate me. He’s the only parent I have left.”
The sheer pain in her voice made Maddie’s chest tighten. She reached out to take Hannah’s hand. “He won’t hate you, Hannah. He loves you. He might be upset at first, but he’ll come around. Maybe it’ll take time, but he will. And even if he doesn’t handle it well initially, you’ll get through this. We’ll get through this together. You are not going to be alone.”
Hannah’s lips trembled, and for a moment, Maddie thought she was going to break down again. But then she nodded, a tiny, hesitant nod that gave Maddie hope.
“Okay. I’ll tell him,” Hannah whispered, her voice barely audible. “But I can’t do it alone.”
“You won’t have to,” Maddie said firmly, giving her hand a little squeeze. “Sam and I will be there with you when you tell him. If you want us to be.”
Hannah looked up, her eyes glistening with a mix of fear and gratitude. “You will? Both of you?”
“Of course,” Maddie replied, her voice steady. “We’ll go with you, and we’ll help you explain everything. We’ll be right by your side.”
Schatzi, who had been listening quietly from her chair, gave a nod of approval. “You’ve got more people looking out for you than you realize, Hannah.”
Hannah wiped at her eyes, sniffling as she managed a small, shaky smile. It only lasted a second, but it had been there. “Thank you.”
A day later, Maddie, Sam, and Hannah stood on the snowy front steps of Hannah’s house, the tension between them almost unbearable. The house was small and weathered, a stark contrast to the snowy beauty surrounding it.
Maddie’s breath formed clouds in the icy air, and her heart thumped as they stood in silence, waiting for Hannah’s father to open the door. She prayed this went well. Or at least better than Hannah was anticipating.
Sam stood beside Hannah, his imposing figure offering quiet strength. Hannah had asked that he be there for the conversation, and Maddie was grateful for his steady presence. She could feel Hannah’s nervousness, and she gently placed a hand on the girl’s arm in support.
The door opened with a creak, and a middle-aged man stood in the doorway, his face haggard and drawn, the stubble on his cheeks a few days old. Maddie didn’t know the man, but she immediately knew that grief had carved itself into his features. His eyes were tired, and his expression grew wary as he took in the sight of Hannah standing with Maddie and Sam.
“Dad,” Hannah said, her voice shaking. “Can we talk?”
Her father’s brow furrowed, his gaze moving between the three of them. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.
“I just want to talk to you,” Hannah said.
“About what? Why do you need these folks?”
Hannah swallowed hard, and for a second, it looked like she might retreat, like she might run from this unwelcome confrontation. But then she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, her voice small but determined. “Because they’re here to support me. I’m sorry, it wasn’t planned, but…I’m pregnant.”
The words hung in the cold air, freezing everything in place. Maddie held her breath, her pulse pounding in her ears as she waited for the man’s reaction.
Silence spooled out, thick and uncomfortable. Hannah’s father stood frozen in the doorway, his face unreadable. Then, slowly, his expression shifted—first to confusion, then to disbelief, and finally to anger.
“You’re what ?” he said, his voice rising with shock. “Pregnant? Hannah, how could you?—”
“Please,” Maddie interjected gently, stepping forward. “Let’s sit down and talk about this. It’s taken a lot of courage for Hannah to get here.”
Hannah’s father looked at Maddie, his eyes wide with fury. “You knew? An adult? And you didn’t think you should tell me?”
Maddie kept her voice calm. “It’s her information to share and she needed time, plus, she was scared. We’re only here to support and help in whatever way we can, I give you my word.”
Sam nodded. “She’s right, Bill.”
Bill’s chest heaved as he stared at his daughter, his emotions clearly a whirlwind of anger and hurt. “Scared? What about me? How am I supposed to deal with this?”
“She’s your daughter,” Sam said, his voice low and firm. “She needs your support now more than ever. Let us come in and sit down so we can discuss this.”
Hannah’s father seemed frozen in place. Only his face twisted with emotion, and Maddie could see the battle waging inside him. But then, slowly, his shoulders slumped, and he let out a shaky breath.
“Come inside then,” he muttered, stepping back from the door. “So we can...talk.”
As they stepped into the warmth of the house, Maddie felt a surge of relief. It wasn’t going to be easy, but they had made it through the hardest part. Hannah’s news was no longer a secret.
Hannah squeezed Maddie’s hand and, for the first time in days, Maddie saw a flicker of hope in the girl’s eyes.
As they sat down around the small, worn kitchen table, Maddie knew it would take some doing, but they would get through this together, one step at a time. She’d promised Hannah she would be here to support her in whatever way she needed, and Maddie still meant that.
No matter what Hannah’s father ultimately decided, Hannah and her baby would not be alone in this.