Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
T ension thickened the air in Bill’s small house as they all sat at the kitchen table. The faint ticking of the wall clock was the only sound that filled the silence, amplifying the nervous energy that hummed between them.
Bill, visibly shaken, sat across from them, his gaze traveling back and forth from his daughter to Maddie and Sam, as if trying to make sense of everything. He looked tired and worn down, the same way Maddie had felt right after losing Jack.
Finding out his daughter was pregnant couldn’t be easy, not on top of everything else he had to deal with.
But Maddie’s heart ached for Hannah the most. She was the one who had to bear the heaviest burden.
The girl sat stiffly, hands clasped tightly in her lap, her eyes downcast. The quiet girl Maddie had come to know, who had been holding onto this secret for so long, now seemed smaller than ever. Vulnerable. Maddie could sense the fear radiating off her in waves, and it made Maddie want to reach across the table and shield her from the storm she knew was brewing.
Hannah’s father cleared his throat, the sound rough and strained, breaking the uncomfortable silence. His face had gone nearly colorless, and the furrows in his brow seemed deeper than ever.
“I—I don’t understand,” he said, his voice hoarse. He looked directly at Hannah for the first time since she’d broken the news. “How could this happen? I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone.”
Hannah didn’t lift her eyes from the table, her fingers twisting in her lap as though she was trying to disappear into herself.
“It...it wasn’t supposed to happen,” Hannah murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was an accident.”
“Who is he?”
Hannah gave a little shake of her head. “He’s not in the picture anymore and that’s how I want it to stay. I swear, Dad, it was just a mistake.”
Her father’s jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists on the table. Maddie could see the struggle in his eyes—the anger warring with the heartbreak. He let out a ragged breath, shaking his head.
“A mistake,” he repeated, his voice raw with disbelief. “This...this is more than a mistake, Hannah. This changes everything. This is not the future I wanted for you. And certainly not the one your mom wanted for you.”
“I know,” Hannah whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
Maddie’s heart clenched as she watched the way Hannah’s father’s words pressed down on her already burdened shoulders. Maddie wanted to speak, to say something to ease the tension, but she knew this was a conversation Hannah needed to have with her father. Just like she needed to face the truth of her situation, as painful as it was.
Sam, ever steady, leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but firm. “She didn’t want to hide it from you, Bill. She deserves some credit for that. She’s scared, but she’s trying to take responsibility.”
Hannah’s father looked up at Sam, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and frustration. “Great, but how am I supposed to take this? My sixteen-year-old daughter is pregnant. I—” His voice broke, and he looked back at Hannah, his expression softening ever so slightly. “You’re just a kid.”
Hannah sniffled, finally lifting her gaze to meet his. “I’m not a kid anymore, Dad. I know that now.”
The raw honesty in her voice hung between them like a lifeline, pulling her father back from the edge of his anger. His shoulders sagged in resignation, the fire in his eyes dimming as he let out a long, heavy sigh. He swallowed twice before speaking again.
“I don’t know how we’re going to handle this,” he said, more to himself than to anyone else. “But we’re going to have to figure it out.”
Hannah blinked, clearly not expecting those words, and the hope that flickered in her eyes was like a spark in the darkness. “You mean...you don’t hate me?”
Her father’s face crumpled and he shook his head, running a hand through his graying hair. “Hannah, I could never hate you. I’m angry and I’m scared and I’m worried. But hate doesn’t even enter the picture. You’re my daughter, and that doesn’t change because of this. Nothing changes that. I love you. Always will.”
The tension in the room seemed to release all at once, and Maddie felt her own breath return. Things weren’t perfect—there was so much they had to work through—but this was a start. The hardest part was over now. Hannah had told him, and they could move forward, figure out a plan.
Hannah wiped her eyes, a shaky smile forming on her lips. “Thanks, Dad. I love you, too. Does that mean you’re not going to kick me out?”
“No, sweetheart. I am not going to kick you out.” Her father reached across the table, his hand trembling slightly as he took hers. The gesture was small, but it was enough to tell Maddie that they had made it through the worst of the storm.
The walk back to Schatzi’s house was quiet, but there was a palpable shift in the air, as if some of the weight that had been pressing down on them had finally lifted. All of their moods were vastly improved. Hannah had come with them to get her things. She’d dropped a bag off earlier, in case the talk with her dad didn’t go well.
The snow had begun to fall again, soft flakes drifting lazily through the air, and the world around them was still and serene, as if it, too, had been waiting for this moment of calm.
Hannah walked between Maddie and Sam, her head down but her steps lighter. Maddie could sense the relief radiating off of her, though the girl hadn’t said much since they’d left the house.
“You did great today, Hannah,” Sam said softly, breaking the silence. “That wasn’t easy. You did some real character building in there.”
Hannah glanced up at him, her eyes red-rimmed but filled with gratitude. “Thank you. I don’t think I could’ve done it without you guys beside me.”
Maddie smiled, warmth spreading through her. “You’re tougher than you think, Hannah. You handled it with more grace and maturity than I ever could have at your age.”
Hannah shrugged, her shoulders tense, but there was a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “I don’t feel tough. I feel scared. And a little stupid.”
“You’re not stupid just because this happened. Life throws us curveballs all the time. As for the scared part? That’s normal,” Maddie said gently. “But you’ve taken the hardest step. You told him. You got through that. Now, you can focus on what’s next. And we’ll help you every step of the way.”
Hannah’s gaze softened, and for the first time since Maddie had met her, there was a glimmer of peace in her eyes. She nodded, her steps slowing as they reached the edge of Schatzi’s front yard.
The house looked warm and inviting against the backdrop of the snowy mountains, smoke curling from the chimney and the soft glow of the firelight spilling through the windows. Maddie smiled as they approached the front door, grateful for the sense of safety and comfort the house provided.
“I should get my stuff and get going,” Hannah said quietly, stopping just outside the door. “I don’t want to impose...”
“You’re not imposing,” Maddie said firmly. “You’re always welcome here, Hannah. Come in for a few minutes. I’m sure Schatzi would love to see you and know that everything’s all right.”
Hannah hesitated, glancing between Maddie and Sam before nodding. “Okay. Just for a little while.”
Maddie opened the door, the warmth from inside rushing out to greet them as they stepped into the cozy living room. Schatzi was sitting in her armchair, Ernie curled up on her lap, but she looked up and smiled brightly when she saw them.
“Well, look who it is!” Schatzi exclaimed, her eyes twinkling as she spotted Hannah. “I was wondering when I’d see you again, young lady. Come on in, sit by the fire. You look half-frozen.”
Hannah smiled shyly and took off her coat, hanging it by the door before sitting on the sofa across from Schatzi. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, filling the room with a comforting warmth, and Maddie felt a sense of calm settle over her. The house was alive with the kind of warmth that wasn’t just from the fire—it was the warmth of connection, of family.
“How did things go?” Schatzi asked.
“They went all right,” Hannah answered. “Better than I thought they would.”
“That’s wonderful news.”
“How are you feeling, Schatzi?” Sam asked, leaning against the wall as Fargo, who’d stayed with Schatzi, trotted over to sit at Sam’s feet.
“Oh, you know me,” Schatzi said with a dramatic sigh. “I’m just sitting here, trying not to let this sling get the best of me. I’m not used to being fussed over so much.” She gave Maddie a teasing glance, though her smile was full of affection.
Maddie chuckled and shook her head. “Well, you’re stuck with me for now. So you’ll have to get used to it.”
Schatzi waved her hand dismissively, but her eyes softened as she looked around the room, taking in the sight of Maddie, Hannah, and Sam all together. “I suppose there are worse things than being surrounded by good company.”
Hannah smiled, but there was still a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. Maddie noticed it, but before she could say anything, Schatzi leaned forward in her chair, her voice lowering.
“You’ll be all right, you know,” Schatzi said, her gaze locked on Hannah. “I don’t need to know all the details of what happened with your dad, but I already know you’re going to be okay. And I’ll tell you something I’ve learned from living in these mountains all these years: life gives us hard things, but that’s just to teach us how strong we are. You can do this.”
Hannah’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper as she said, “Thank you, Schatzi.”
Maddie’s heart swelled with warmth, the tension of the day easing as she watched Hannah relax in the comfort of Schatzi’s words. It wasn’t going to be easy for any of them—there were still challenges ahead, still fears to face—but to Maddie it felt like they were finally on the right path.
As the fire crackled and the snow continued to fall outside, Maddie glanced at Sam, who caught her eye and gave her a small, reassuring smile. There was something unspoken between them, a quiet understanding that they were in this together. Not just for Hannah, but for a bigger purpose. That of bringing new life safely into the world.
The weight of grief that had once felt so crushing now felt lighter, like it was something manageable that Maddie could carry with her, instead of something that held her back. The warmth of the house, the people in it, had melted away the protective ice that had surrounded her heart for so long.
Having other people to care about was definitely helping, too. It forced her to turn her focus outward instead of inward, as it had been since Jack had passed.
And as she sat there, surrounded by the quiet hum of companionship and the soft flicker of the firelight, Maddie realized that she was no longer just surviving day to day.
She was starting to live again.