Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
C hristmas morning dawned quietly over the mountains, the sun’s pink glow spreading across the snow-covered landscape. Maddie woke early, the house still and silent around her. Not quite ready to get up, she stayed in bed beneath the heavy quilt. She felt a sense of peace, a fragile but welcome feeling.
She got up and dressed in a warm sweater and leggings before peeking through the windows. Outside, the world seemed untouched, the snow glittering under the pale winter sun, and a feeling filled her that seemed very much like hope.
She hadn’t expected this Christmas to be anything special. Not after everything she’d been through. They’d already agreed that being together was the only gift any of them needed.
But last night, sitting around the fire with Hannah, Schatzi, and Sam, had changed something in her. They had shared so many wonderful stories. Some funny, some sweet, some deeply moving. It had been good for her soul in a lot of ways.
In that moment, Maddie had realized that the life she had been trying so hard to avoid was still happening—still filled with connection and meaning, even in the midst of loss. Life no longer felt so much like something to be endured, but something to be enjoyed.
Something to be anticipated. And wasn’t that a new feeling?
She stretched, breathing in the faint smell of pine and wood smoke that lingered in the air, and smiled to herself. She had survived Christmas Eve. And now, maybe she could begin to look forward to what came next.
Pulling on thick socks, Maddie padded down the stairs toward the living room. The house was quiet, the glow of the tree lights casting gentle shadows across the floor. Schatzi, and Hannah, who’d slept over, were still in their beds, and Maddie cherished the quiet of the early morning. Ernie wasn’t around, no doubt curled up on Schatzi’s bed. Once she got up, he’d come down with her to bask in the warmth of the fire.
Which meant Maddie had better make sure there was a fire. She add a few logs to it and poked at the embers to bring them to life. With that done, she moved toward the window and pulled back the curtain slightly, looking out at the snow-draped landscape. It was a Christmas card come to life. The trees heavy with snow, the mountains in the distance wrapped in a wintry haze. The sky was clear and blue, the sunlight gentle as it filtered through the trees.
She’d call Becca today and wish her sister and her family a merry Christmas.
As she turned back to the kitchen, intending to make a pot of coffee before everyone else woke up, there was a knock at the door. The sound startled her—it was early, and she hadn’t expected anyone to be out on this cold Christmas morning. Or arriving at Schatzi’s, for that matter.
Frowning slightly, she crossed the living room and opened the door to find a young woman standing on the porch, bundled in a thick coat and scarf, her cheeks flushed from the cold. Maddie’s breath caught in her throat. She thought she recognized the woman, maybe from the bonfire, though she couldn’t place her name.
“Hannah’s not in trouble, is she?” The woman’s voice was low, rushed, her eyes filled with worry. “I heard?—”
“What? Hannah?” Maddie blinked in confusion, her hand still on the door. “No, she’s fine. Who are you?”
The young woman’s face softened, and she let out a small sigh of relief. “I’m sorry...I didn’t mean to show up like this. My name’s Lisa. I...I’m Trevor’s—the baby’s father’s—sister.”
The words hung in the brisk morning air, the weight of them crashing down on Maddie. The father’s sister? She hadn’t expected anyone connected to the baby’s father to appear so suddenly. Especially not today of all days.
Lisa’s dark eyes searched Maddie’s face, as if she were trying to figure out how much she knew. “I just found out yesterday,” Lisa said quietly, her breath forming small clouds in the cold. “About Hannah and the baby. As far as I know, my brother doesn’t have a clue. Yet. I’m sure that will change, but I don’t think he’ll care. Anyway, I thought she might need someone.”
Maddie’s mind spun. She had never asked Hannah for details about the baby’s father—she hadn’t wanted to press her for information she didn’t seem comfortable sharing. But now, standing here on the porch with Lisa, Maddie realized that this was a part of the situation they hadn’t accounted for.
And there was no avoiding it now.
“Come inside,” Maddie said, stepping back to let her in. “It’s freezing out here.”
Lisa hesitated, then nodded and stepped into the warmth of the house, her boots leaving small clumps of snow on the floor. She looked around, taking in the cozy living room, the little Christmas tree, and the crackling fire.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have come,” Lisa admitted, unwrapping her scarf and shrugging off her coat. “But I heard that Hannah was pregnant, and I couldn’t just...do nothing. My brother—well, I love him, but he doesn’t exactly have the best track record with responsibility.”
Maddie raised an eyebrow as she took Lisa’s coat and hung it on the peg by the door. “I see. You heard Hannah was pregnant? Did she tell you?” Hannah had never mentioned talking to Lisa. Or even knowing her.
Lisa shook her head. “No. I overheard a conversation in town, and I figured it out.” She glanced toward the stairs, her expression softening. “I didn’t want to make things harder for her. I just thought she might need help. I swear that’s the only reason I’m here. That’s my niece or nephew she’s carrying. I owe her any help I can give.”
“That’s very kind of you.” Maddie took a deep breath, her mind whirling as she tried to figure out what more to say. This was uncharted territory for all of them—especially for Hannah, who had been trying so hard to keep things quiet until she could figure out exactly what she was going to do. Lisa’s arrival made things even more complicated.
“Hannah’s been through a lot,” Maddie said with care, twisting her hands together. “She’s scared. But she’s strong, and she’s trying to make the best decisions she can. She’s been hanging out here a lot, even staying over some nights, because she and her dad are struggling a bit.”
Lisa nodded, her eyes filled with a kind of quiet understanding. “I get that. I do. I don’t want to cause any more trouble for her. I just want to help, if I can. If she wants my help. She might not and if that’s the case, I’ll accept that.”
Maddie hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Maybe it would be best if we talked to her together. But I should tell you she might not want to talk. This has been a lot for her to handle, and she might not be ready to take on any more.”
Lisa bit her lip, glancing down at her hands. “Yeah. I figured she might not want to see me, but I thought I’d try.”
Maddie gave her a small, reassuring smile. “Let’s give her a minute to wake up, and then we’ll talk to her. In the meantime, why don’t you sit by the fire. I’ll make us some coffee.”
Lisa nodded gratefully, moving toward the living room as Maddie headed into the kitchen. Her mind buzzed with everything that had just happened—the sudden appearance of Lisa, the fact that someone in town was already talking about Hannah’s pregnancy, and the realization that they had reached a turning point in this journey.
There was no going back. Maddie hoped Hannah would be able to handle whatever came next.
It wasn’t long before Schatzi shuffled down the stairs, her steps slow and deliberate as she adjusted her sling. Ernie plodded alongside her, not moving much faster. Maddie smiled at her aunt, pouring two mugs of coffee and handing one to Schatzi as she headed for her chair by the fire.
Schatzi took a sip, her eyes narrowing as she saw Lisa sitting quietly on the sofa. “And who’s this, then?”
Maddie took a breath, bracing herself for the explanation. “This is Lisa. She’s the sister of the baby’s father, Trevor.”
Schatzi’s eyebrows shot up, and she glanced sharply at Maddie before looking back at Lisa. “I see.”
“Lisa, this is my aunt, Schatzi. This is her house.”
Lisa shifted nervously in her seat, her hands clasped around her mug of coffee. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I just wanted to offer my help. If Hannah is interested.”
Schatzi, always quick to assess people, studied Lisa before her expression eased. “Well, if you’re here to help, then I reckon that’s a good thing. Poor Hannah’s been carrying too much on her own.”
Lisa nodded, though she still looked nervous. “That’s what I figured.”
“But if she doesn’t want to talk to you?—”
“I won’t force myself on her, I promise.”
“Good.”
As the three of them sat quietly, sipping coffee and waiting for Hannah to wake, a deep sense of uncertainty came over Maddie. She had spent so much time trying to support Hannah, to give her the space and safety she needed to figure things out, but now it seemed that the outside world was creeping in. The question was, how would Hannah react to it? Would she accept Lisa’s help, or would she see this as another burden to carry?
But the really big question was, would it cause her to shut down again?
Footsteps on the stairs made them all look up, and a moment later, Hannah appeared at the top of the staircase, her hair tousled from sleep, her flannel pajamas rumpled. Her eyes were tired, but she smiled faintly when she saw Maddie and Schatzi.
“Morning,” she murmured, rubbing her eyes as she made her way down.
Maddie stood, her heart pounding as she crossed the room to meet Hannah at the bottom of the stairs. “Morning, Hannah,” she said. “We need to talk about something.”
Hannah’s brow furrowed, her gaze darting to the sofa where Lisa sat, still and tense. Her expression shifted instantly from confusion to recognition to fear. “What’s she doing here?” she asked, her voice edged with annoyance.
Maddie placed a gentle hand on her arm. “Lisa’s here to help, Hannah. That’s it. She found out about the baby and wants to offer her support.”
Hannah’s face paled, and she took a step back, her eyes wide with panic. “I didn’t tell anyone,” she whispered. “I didn’t want anyone to know.”
Lisa stood up, her hands raised in a placating gesture. “I’m sorry, Hannah. I really am. I didn’t mean to find out. I just overheard from someone in town, and when I figured it out, I couldn’t just do nothing.”
“Who’s talking about this? It’s my business.” Hannah’s eyes filled with tears, and she shook her head, her voice trembling. “Does Trevor know? I don’t want him to. I don’t want any of this.”
Schatzi frowned. “Take a breath, Hannah. It’s all going to be okay.”
Maddie’s heart ached as she watched the girl crumble before her. This was exactly what she’d been afraid of. “Hannah, I know this is upsetting and not what you were prepared for,” she said. “But Lisa isn’t here because she’s against you. She’s here to offer help, and you don’t have to make any decisions right now.”
Hannah wiped at her eyes, her body trembling as she looked from Maddie to Lisa. “I just...I can’t do this. It’s too much.”
Maddie wrapped her arms around Hannah, pulling her into a hug as the girl’s sobs wracked her body. The girl was so easily upset these days. Had to be the extra hormones in her system. Maddie could feel the weight of Hannah’s fear, her overwhelming sense of helplessness, and it broke her heart.
“Hey, you’re not doing this alone, remember?” Maddie whispered, her voice steady. “We’re all here for you. One step at a time, okay?”
Hannah nodded against her shoulder, her sobs slowing as she took deep, shaky breaths. Maddie held her for a while before pulling back and looking her in the eye. Hannah was calming down a little.
“Let’s talk to Lisa,” Maddie said gently. “Let’s hear what she has to say. And if you don’t want to do anything with that information, you don’t have to. You’re in control. This is your life. Your decisions. Your baby, right?”
“Right.” Still Hannah hesitated, her tear-filled eyes flicking to Lisa, who stood quietly by the fire. After a long pause, she nodded, her voice barely a whisper. “Okay.”
“Good girl,” Schatzi said.
Maddie gave her a small, encouraging smile, and together they moved toward the sofa, where Lisa sat down again, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and relief.
As the four of them sat down together, the fire crackling in the background, Maddie knew that the road ahead remained uncertain. But in this moment, at least, they were moving forward.
And for now, that had to be enough.