Chapter 37
HANNA
“Hey there, handsome.”
I answer my phone and smile when I hear him chuckle on the other end. I can picture his face, cheeks pulled back and smirking to himself. The thought of him running his fingers through his hair makes my insides warm.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he hums back.
I’m up earlier than normal for a Saturday morning but he told me he’d call on his way to work so I wanted to make sure I was awake to take it.
He’s on duty the entire weekend and I want to be able to hear his voice while I can.
Over the last few months I’ve learned he takes being on duty very seriously.
When he’s working, he’s working, and only really texts me when he goes out and gets back from calls like I asked him to.
I knew what I was getting into when I decided to date a fireman but the fear of him going out on a call and never coming back still hits me from time to time.
“You heading in for the weekend?” I ask, sitting up in bed and looking out the window.
The sun is still asleep as it’s only the third weekend of February.
While we never have traditional winters here in the lowcountry with snowfall and subzero temps, we still have perpetually gray ones.
As someone who prefers the warmth of summer, I’m ready for the sun to be back on a more consistent schedule.
He sighs heavily before replying. “That I am.”
“Something wrong?” I stand from my bed and tuck my phone between my shoulder and my ear, using both hands to twist my hair up into a messy bun on the top of my head. I feel my forehead wrinkle as I pull my eyebrows together.
“It’s Carter,” he says after a beat. “He’s still acting weird. Sometimes he’s his normal, happy-go-lucky, goofy self and other times it’s like he’s trying to piss people off or cause trouble.”
“That doesn’t sound like him at all. Knowing you, I’m sure you’ve tried talking to him about it?”
We’ve talked about Carter a few times over the last few weeks so I know how concerning his behavior is.
The last time they all got together for family breakfast, he told me that Carter stormed out and left after Coop said Willow wasn’t coming.
I’ve had half a mind to try and ask Miles whether or not something was going on between them but I don’t want to cause any more conflict than there already is.
“Oh, yeah. I’ve tried talking to him; Coop’s tried talking to him. We even tried talking to him together one night when he agreed to grab a drink with us. That didn’t end well,” he mutters.
“Have you asked Willow if she has any ideas?”
“That’s another weird thing. Anytime either of us tries to ask her about Carter, she gets all flaky. I don’t get it.”
I think I do.
“Well maybe this weekend you can take some time to hang out with him when you aren’t on a call.
Maybe showing him that you’re there will help him open up,” I offer, trying to not sound too much like a therapist. I don’t care how cute he tells me it is, I don’t want to psychoanalyze my boyfriend and his family if I can avoid it.
“That’s not a bad idea, doc. I’ll try that.” When he sighs again, I feel my lips press together into a tight line. Family is everything to Miles. Knowing he and Carter are in a riff doesn’t make me feel good for either of them.
“Alright, well, I’m here. I need to go in and get my shift started,” he says after a beat of silence. I know that this is going to weigh on his heart and I hate that there’s only so much I can do for him.
“Okay, be safe this weekend. Text me if you go out on any calls, even the two in the morning ones. And text me when you’re back.”
“I will, beautiful.”
“Promise?”
A warm chuckle comes over the line. “I promise, Hanna.”
I smile when I hear him say my name because the sound of it on his tongue is almost too perfect to survive. “I love you, fireman.”
“I love you, too, doc.”
“Come back to me.”
“I always will. As long as you’ll have me.”
“So how’s the boyfriend?” my dad asks as we walk down the sidewalk. After hanging up with Miles and getting ready for the day, I did a little crocheting until he came and met me at my place like he always does for our weekend walks.
“Richie,” I groan, tipping my head to one side and glaring at him out of the corner of my eye. I only ever call him by his name when he annoys me. He loops his arm around mine and laughs.
“Oh, honey, you don’t need to be so private about it. Your mom and I are happy for you. George too.”
While he was the first person to know that I had someone special in my life by pure observation, George was also the one who seemed to care the least that I’m finally dating someone.
I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t care, more so that he wants me to be able to talk about it in my own time.
He knows how my parents can get when they’re excited about something and gives me the personal boundaries I wish they would when it comes to my dating life.
“I wish you and Mom gave me the same space he does when it comes to Miles and I,” I say, externalizing the thought with a squeeze of his arm.
“Baby girl, he didn’t raise you nor did he take part in bringing you into this world. He has no right to butt into your private life like your mom and I do.”
“Hmm, I’d argue that you actually don’t have that right seeing as how I’m a grown adult,” I say with a touch more annoyance in my voice than I mean.
He drops my arm and gives me a quintessential dad look. The one where he’s half-smirking and half-sizing me up with his eyebrows pushed together. The one that tells me he knows he touched a nerve but is trying to remind me he’s just teasing.
“Okay, we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.
I’m sorry if I upset you, I’m just happy to see you so happy, that’s all.
You’re a good kid, even though you’re not a kid anymore.
But no matter how old you are you’ll always be my kid.
And it makes me happy seeing my kid so happy, that’s all.
That’s all I’ll say.” He raises his hands up and flashes me his palms with a closed-lipped smile.
When we cover another block and cross the street, I take his arm back into mine and pull him close.
I’m lucky to have this kind of relationship with him—not many people do and I know that.
I talk to plenty of clients every week who struggle with the relationships they have with their families.
And while I honor their decision to have whatever kind of relationship with their parents they want, I also love the relationship I have with mine.
And part of that relationship is letting my parents be excited for me—even if it means they butt in where they don’t really belong.
“I love him, Daddy,” I say quietly. As if anyone else hearing me say it would result in some big celebration or parade I’d rather avoid.
He smiles at the ground, pulling me forward as I look at him. “Does he love you?”
I nod silently. “And he tells me every day that he does.”
“That’s how you know it’s real. Men who aren’t afraid to voice their emotions—good, hard, or otherwise—are the kind of men you keep around.”
“Mmhmm, I know.” I bite my bottom lip, trying to bite back the stupid smile that’s threatening to spread across my face.
“His name is Miles?”
“Yep. Miles Adler. He’s a fireman at Firehouse Nine here downtown.”
“Is he now?” My dad’s voice picks up and his eyes dart up to the street signs. He pulls us to the left sharply, taking us off route from our standard walking path we tend to follow.
“He’s worked for the city for five years and has a brother, well, foster brother, but they grew up together so they’re practically brothers,” I explain.
My mind is so wrapped up in spilling my guts about him that I’ve stopped paying attention to where we’re going.
I blindly follow him as we turn down side streets and walk up the old slate sidewalks.
“What are his parents like?” he asks. His voice sounds a little distracted but I answer his question.
“It’s just his mom, Ivy. I’ve met her once, she’s really great. She adopted both Miles and his brother, Carter. He goes home every Sunday for family breakfast with everyone.”
“A man who’s emotionally mature and close with his family. What more could you ask for?”
“I know, right?” I squeak. “And he talks about his company members like they’re his family and takes his job so seriously. He’s a good man, Daddy. The best.”
He finally stops and pats my hand that’s still wrapped around his arm. I’m almost panting since he’s been dragging us down the sidewalk like a man on a mission for the last few blocks. Smiling at me, he finally speaks.
“He sounds amazing. I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Meet him? When are you meeting him?” I haven’t offered for them to meet anytime soon.
“Right now,” he says confidently and turns his head to look up. I follow his line of view and feel my jaw hit the ground.
“Daddy, no. We cannot do this,” I hurry out, trying to pull him away.
Without realizing it, he walked us right up to the entrance of Firehouse Nine.
A few people wearing navy blue T-shirts and work pants are sitting under the open garage doors, enjoying the sunny February morning.
Seemingly unable to hear me, he marches right up to them.
“Good morning!” he calls out cheerfully as he approaches. “I’m wondering if Miles Adler is here today?”
“Richie, Richie, come back here,” I snarl from the sidewalk before storming up behind him. I look at the three men sitting in chairs and smile. “I’m so sorry about him, he’s old and lost. We’ll be going now.”
“Honey, don’t lie to the nice men in uniform,” he says under his breath. “Miles Adler, is he here?” he asks, turning back to the men.
They stare at us with confused expressions before one of them leans over his shoulder and shouts. “Adler!”
He must have been close because he steps out from inside the firehouse within a few seconds.
“What’s going on?” he asks, looking at his company members. He doesn’t notice us standing a few feet away.
“You have company,” one of them says, jutting their chin out in our direction. When he turns to look, his entire face lights up when he sees me.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” he asks, closing the space between us with a few purposeful steps. He doesn’t hesitate to pull me into a hug and kiss me on the cheek in front of everyone. I hear one of the men behind us snicker when he pulls away and keeps a hold of my hand.
“Hey, I’m sorry to surprise you at work. I was out on a walk with my dad and I mentioned this was your station and well…” my voice trails off. Hearing him mentioned, my dad steps up and offers Miles his hand.
“I’m the dad,” he says with a massive smile on his face.
“Mr. Smith, it’s so nice to meet you,” Miles says, shaking his hand.
His brows are reaching for his hairline but he keeps his composure otherwise.
I know I’ve met his family already but we haven’t talked about him meeting mine.
Not that there is anything to fear, my dad would lose in a fight with a teddy bear.
“Oh, please, call me Richie,” Dad gushes, waving a hand at Miles. “I’ve heard so much about you. You’re just as handsome as my daughter says you are.”
“Dad,” I hiss, glaring at him out of the corner of my eye.
“Honey, relax, I’m not going to hit on your boyfriend. I’m a happily kept man. My partner, George, is great; you should meet him sometime.” I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment and suddenly I feel like I’m back in middle school again.
“Daddy, please.”
“I would love to meet him one day. And Hanna’s mom. I’ve only heard good things about all her parents,” Miles responds easily. He reaches for my hand again and squeezes it three times, smirking at me. I squeeze his back the same number of times. Dad glances at our hands then back at the two of us.
“Well, we love our honey bee more than anything. We’re so happy she’s found someone who cares about her so much,” Dad says.
“I don’t know if you know this, sir, but I’m completely in love with your daughter.” My heart flips as he says it so casually. Not just to my dad but also in front of the men he works with.
Dad bumps my shoulder and gives me a comforting smile. “Yeah, she’s mentioned that. She’s a good one to be in love with.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he replies, looking at me. My head tips back as I look up at him knowing full well my face is telling everyone around me that I’m screaming on the inside.
“Well, we will be going. We don’t want to keep you from any of your work,” Dad says after a pause. He leans around where Miles and I are standing and waves at the other men. “Thank you for everything you do for our city. We’re very grateful for all of your hard work.”
“I’ll see you Monday?” Miles asks me under his breath.
“I hope so,” I reply with a nod.
“I promise you will,” he says, and I know he means every word.
“It was lovely meeting you, Miles. Sorry again for the intrusion. When I realized how close we were, I truly couldn’t help myself,” Dad gushes.
“It’s no intrusion at all,” Miles says in my direction before turning to look at Dad. “I always have time for Hanna and anyone she calls family.”
“Good man.” Dad nods and takes his hand again to shake. When he drops Miles’s hand, he takes a few steps down the drive and lets us say our goodbyes.
“Be safe, fireman.”
“I will be. I have a beautiful woman to come home to now,” he says, smiling down at me.
Then, he pulls me into a kiss, right there in front of God and the small crowd that’s gathered outside the firehouse.
A few men whistle and someone claps as he dips me back, kissing me harder.
My cheeks hurt from how hard I’m smiling when he finally pulls away.
I give his hand another squeeze and wait for him to reciprocate before dropping it.
Looking over my shoulder, he winks at me as he watches me join my dad and continue on with our walk.
“Well isn’t he a cutie,” Dad says, pulling me back into him as we head in the opposite direction of the firehouse.
“I am so going to kill you,” I sneer, pinching his arm.
He erupts in a fit of joyful laughter as we walk back towards my place to finish out our walk.
I want to be mad at him for embarrassing me but I can’t.
The feeling of having Miles love me so publicly is too strong to let any other feeling ruin it.