Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
H annah
“Have you heard from Alex?” Adalyn asked as I sat at the island, sipping a glass of wine.
“No. It’s been three days and nothing. Not a phone call, text, nothing. It’s crickets.”
“I’m sure he’s busy with everything he has to do in Chicago.”
“Maybe. I don’t know, and I don’t really care. I’m too busy to deal with man drama. Besides, his daughter hates me.”
“Oh, come on, Hannah. No, she doesn’t.”
“Yes, she does. I put on my swimsuit to go for a swim. Lucy was in the pool, so I asked if I could join her. She told me no, and I could wait until she got out. Then she told me that just because I’m renting the guesthouse doesn’t mean everything on the property is available to me. Do you believe that?”
“Have you talked to Alex about it?”
“No, and I won’t. He doesn’t need that kind of stress. I’m really thinking I made a huge mistake moving in there.”
“You sound irritated that he hasn’t been in contact since he left.”
“No, I’m—maybe a little. Ugh, Addy.” I lay my forehead down on the granite. “I really like him. I don’t want to like him because that’s not why I moved here. I moved here to start fresh, not fall in love with a guy.”
“Love? You’re in love with him?”
“Yeah.” I lifted my head and stared at her. “And the worst part is that this feeling inside me is different. I thought I was in love with Matthew, but I wasn’t. So, yeah. I am a little mad that Alex hasn’t bothered to reach out since he left. Even just a quick text would be nice.”
“Well, I think—” Suddenly, Adalyn placed her hand over her mouth.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I feel really sick.”
“Just all of a sudden?” My brows furrowed.
“I haven’t felt well all day. I think I need to go lie down.”
I stood up from the stool and hooked my arm around her. “Come on. I’ll help you upstairs. You better not be sick for your engagement party.”
After leaving Adalyn’s, I went home. As I unlocked the door, Mara came running out of the house.
“Hannah!”
“Hi, Mara. What’s wrong?”
“I just got a call from my brother-in-law. My sister is very ill and in the hospital.”
“Oh no. I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
“I booked a flight out first thing tomorrow morning to New York. Can you please look after Lucy until Alex returns? I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. What could I say? I couldn’t very well tell her no.
“Of course, Mara.”
“Thank you, Hannah. You’ll need to drive her to and pick her up from school.”
“That’s not a problem.”
“I tried to call Alex, but he didn’t answer. I can’t thank you enough.” She hugged me.
I went inside the house, set my purse down, and pulled a bottle of wine from the refrigerator. The last thing I needed was to take care of an eleven-year-old who hated my guts.
Sighing, I tipped the bottle to my lips.
The following morning, I was up and dressed at five thirty a.m. to see Mara off.
“Lucy will be getting up soon,” Mara said.
“Does she know?”
“No. She was sleeping last night when I got the call. Please explain to her for me.”
“I will. You better go, or you’ll miss your flight. I’ll see you when you get back.” I hugged her.
I made a cup of coffee and sat down at the island with my hands wrapped around the mug.
“What are you doing in here?” Lucy yawned as she entered the kitchen and walked over to the refrigerator. “Where’s Mara?”
“Good morning to you too.” I looked at her. “Mara got a call last night that her sister is very ill and in the hospital. She had to fly to New York. I’ll be staying with you until your dad gets back.”
“But he won’t be back for a couple more days. This is bullshit.” She stormed out of the kitchen, and I sighed.
“What do you want for breakfast?” I shouted as she ran up the stairs.
She ignored me, and I didn’t know what to do. Picking up my phone, I texted Adalyn.
“Morning. How are you feeling? You’ll never guess the predicament I’m in.”
“Morning. I’m feeling blah and thinking I need to stay home today. What’s wrong?”
“Good idea. Just stay in bed all day and rest. Mara’s sister is ill and in the hospital. She left for New York and asked me to look after Lucy until Alex returns.”
“Does Lucy know?”
“Yes, and she’s pissed. I don’t know what to do, sis.”
“Try and bond with her. Gotta go. Going to be sick.”
Lucy walked back into the kitchen and took down a bowl from the cabinet.
“What are you doing?”
“Pouring myself some cereal,” she said in a snotty tone.
“I can do that for you.”
“I’m not a baby. I can do it myself.”
She took her bowl, the box of cereal, and the milk over to the table. I got up from the stool and sat in the chair across from her. She looked at me, grabbed her bowl, and took it to the island. My phone pinged with a text from Alex, and my belly fluttered.
“Good morning. I spoke to Mara. Thank you for looking after Lucy. I appreciate it.”
Not a ‘How are you? How’ve you been?’ Nothing.
“Not a problem,” I replied.
I waited a moment to see if he’d respond, but he didn’t. I told Lucy to get her backpack because it was time to leave for school. She stomped up the stairs, grabbed her backpack, and went out the door with an attitude.
“Listen, kid,” I said, climbing into the car. “I don’t know what your problem is with me, but we need to talk about it.”
“I’m not talking about anything. Sometimes people just don’t like other people. Can’t be helped.”
I furrowed my brows. “What did I ever do to you?”
“I said I’m not talking about anything.” She stared out the passenger window. “You missed the turn to the school.”
“Shit,” I heavily sighed as I made a U-turn in the middle of the road.
I pulled into the school and up to the curb. Lucy grabbed her backpack and opened the door.
“Have a good day. I’ll be here at three o’clock to pick you up.”
“Yep.” She climbed out and slammed the door shut.
I ran some errands for the engagement party and then went over to Adalyn’s to check on her. Walking into the house, I went upstairs.
“Hey, how are you?” I asked, climbing on the bed next to her.
“Nauseous as hell. I didn’t know anything was going around. Nobody I know has been sick.”
I stared at her momentarily, noting the exhaustion in her eyes. “Don’t be mad at me.”
“Mad at you for what?” she asked.
I got up from the bed, walked over to where my purse was, and pulled out a pregnancy test.
“I stopped at the store and picked this up.” I held up the box. “I think you should take it.”
“That’s not even funny, Hannah.”
“Think back to last month’s period,” I said, taking the test out of the box.
Her brows furrowed. “It was only for one day and very light. I remember thinking it was strange, but I’ve been so busy I didn’t give it another thought. Oh, my God! Do you think I’m pregnant?”
“Possibly.” I grinned. “Go take it.”
“I’m scared. What if I’m not? You know how badly I want a child. If it’s negative, I don’t think I could handle it.”
“Have you and Colin been trying?”
“No.”
“Come on.” I lightly gripped her arm and pulled her out of bed. “How could you be disappointed if you aren’t even trying? What if you are and you get wasted at your engagement party? Isn’t it better to be safe than sorry?”
“I guess.” She took the test in the bathroom.
“Let me know when you pee on the stick, and I’ll set the timer.”
“Come here!” she shouted.
I went into the bathroom as she sat on the toilet, staring at the stick.
“We don’t have to set the timer. Look.” Her eyes widened.
I took the stick from her, and two lines were already visible. “Oh, my God, Addy.” I placed my hand over my mouth as tears filled my eyes. “You’re pregnant.”
She got up from the toilet, washed her hands, and threw her arms around me as tears streamed down her face.
“I am so happy for you!” I hugged her tight. “You’re not sick. You have morning sickness.”
“I can’t believe it. I can’t wait to tell Colin. He’s going to be so shocked.”
“He’s going to be so happy.” I smiled.
I left Adalyn’s house in a spectacular mood. She was going to finally be a mother, and I was going to be an aunt. Nothing could ruin my mood except one person.
When I pulled into the school, I sat and watched for Lucy to come out the door. When I saw her, I exited the car, waved, and called her name.
“How was school?” I asked.
“Fine.”
“Any homework?”
“Nope.”
“If you want, I’ll take you swimming in the ocean when we get home.”
“Nope. I don’t want to go with you.”
And there went my good mood.
“I’m sorry Mara’s sister became ill, and I’m sorry you’re stuck with me. But it is what it is, and there’s nothing neither one of us can do about it until your dad returns.”
“Just leave me alone, Hannah.” She rolled her eyes.
She climbed out of the car, grabbed her backpack, went into the house, and straight up the stairs without saying a word. Grabbing the bottle of wine from the refrigerator, I poured myself a glass, grabbed my laptop, and took it out on the patio. As I looked up things for the shop, the sliding door opened, and Lucy walked over to me.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
She stared at me momentarily and didn’t say anything.
“I need your help,” she finally said.
“Okay. With what?”
“I’m bleeding down there.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“You started your period?”
“Yeah. I think so.”
“Is this the first time?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“Okay.” I smiled. “Come with me.” I led her to the guesthouse and into the bathroom upstairs.
I pulled out a regular pad from the cabinet and handed it to her. “Put this on, and we’ll run to the store, and I’ll buy you your own.”
“I want to wear tampons. That’s what Isabelle wears.”
“Okay. I’ll get you a box of those.”
“My stomach hurts.”
“Cramps?” I asked.
“Yeah. I think so.”
“Those come with the territory. Come on, I’ll get you some Motrin. It’ll help.”
“Don’t tell my dad. Please. It’s embarrassing.”
“Lucy, he’s your father. He knows all about women’s periods.”
“I don’t care. It’s embarrassing.”
“Okay. I won’t tell him.”
I took her to the store, bought her what she needed, and then picked up a pizza on the way home for dinner.
“Thanks,” Lucy said.
“You’re welcome. Welcome to womanhood.” I smiled.
“I don’t like it.”
“Me either. But you’ll get used to it. Want to spread out a blanket on the beach and eat our dinner by the water?”
“I guess.”
“Okay. You grab the bottled water, and I’ll grab the blanket and the pizza box.”