Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
A lex
I stood in the kitchen and watched Hannah leave the guesthouse. I didn’t plan on knocking on her door when I returned, but I needed to see her. As hard as I tried not to think about her while I was away, I couldn’t stop, which posed a problem for me. I regretted renting her the guesthouse. Access to her was too easy and something I didn’t think about at first.
While I was away, I did a lot of thinking. Some of that thinking involved Hannah and our ‘situation.’ She was becoming a distraction, and I couldn’t have that. Taking my bag up to the bedroom, I unpacked and put everything away. Opening the door to my mother’s old room, I stared at it one last time before the crew came to the house tomorrow to start working on it.
It was seven p.m. when the front door opened, and Lucy walked in.
“Hi, Dad.” She walked over and hugged me.
“Hi, sweetheart. How was your day?”
“It was a lot of fun. I’m happy you’re back.”
“It’s good to be back. I’m sorry Mara had to leave like that. She’ll be back in a couple of days. How was your time with Hannah?”
“It was okay. I had to sleep in her bed one night because she let me watch that scary movie. She was so excited about it and made us popcorn. She was really mad when you texted and told her to turn it off. Then she said I never should have told you we were watching it. She basically said I should have lied to you.”
“She said that?” I narrowed my eye.
“Yeah, Dad. She also said I could swim in the ocean if I wanted to, and she’d watch me from the shore. I told her I’m not allowed to go in without an adult, and she said I’d be fine.”
“Did you go into the ocean?”
“No, Dad.” She slowly shook her head. “I promised you I wouldn’t, even though she said it was okay. Please don’t ever leave me with her again. Please, Dad,” she whined, hugging me.
“I’m home now. Why don’t you go upstairs and take a bath? You have school tomorrow, and you smell like chlorine.” I smiled.
“Okay.”
“Did you eat dinner?”
“Yeah. Isabelle’s dad took us all to the Seaside after the waterpark.”
After she ran upstairs, I looked out front and didn’t see Hannah’s car in the driveway. Pouring a double scotch, I took it out on the patio and sat down in one of the loungers. Thirty minutes later, I saw her walking to the guesthouse.
“Hannah, can I talk to you for a moment?”
She turned and looked at me. “Sure.”
“I’ll come to you,” I said, getting up from my seat and walking to the guesthouse.
“What’s up?” She unlocked the door, and we stepped inside.
“Did you tell Lucy she could swim alone in the ocean?”
“No.” Her brows furrowed. “I told her that I would go in with her.”
“She told me that you told her it was fine and you’d watch her from the shore.”
“She lied to you. I would never tell her that. I know she’s not allowed to go in alone,” she said.
“She also said that she had to sleep with you one night because she was scared after watching that horror movie you let her watch.”
“I already told you, Alex, that she told me you let her watch scary movies all the time.”
“She also said you told her she should have lied to me.”
Hannah’s eyes steadily narrowed. “And what did I tell her to lie about?” She cocked her head.
“You told her she never should have told me she was watching that movie.”
“No! That is not how it happened. I picked up the remote to turn it off and told her you said I had to. She got all mad and shouted ‘no’ at me. That’s when I said she shouldn’t have told you. But I didn’t mean it in that way. I meant it sarcastically because she was angry. I asked her why she lied to me about it, and she shrugged and screamed at me to leave her alone.”
I sighed, running my hand down my face.
“And you’re welcome!” she spoke in an irritated tone.
“Welcome for what?”
“Lucy started her period while she was in my care. I took her to the store, explained pads and tampons to her, and bought her some. She doesn’t want you to know, and I promised I wouldn’t tell you, so don’t mention it.”
“She started her period?”
“Yep. Again, you’re welcome.”
“Thank you for helping her with that.”
“Whatever, Alex. Are we done here? I have things to do.”
“Why do you have an attitude with me?”
“Because you come here and grill me about your daughter's lies. That child has been nothing but mean to me since the day we met. I didn’t have to help out after Mara got called away, but I did. So, instead of being grateful, you come in here and accuse me of shit I didn’t even say or do.”
“I’m not accusing you, Hannah. I was asking.”
“No, Alex.” I wiggled my finger. “You were using an accusatory tone.”
“I’m going to go now before one of us says something we regret,” I said.
“Yeah. You should leave.”
I turned, opened the door, and left. Walking over to the table by the pool, I grabbed my scotch and took it inside. I was angry. I knew my daughter, and she probably lied about Hannah, knowing I’d confront her and that Hannah would defend herself.
The following morning, Lucy and I climbed into the car. Hannah’s car was already gone, which I thought was strange this early in the morning.
“Did you hear that Adalyn is pregnant?” Lucy asked.
“No. I didn’t,” I spoke with surprise. “Is she really?”
“Yeah. She and Colin announced it at the engagement party. Too bad you weren’t there, Dad. Annie made the best desserts.”
“I may stop by Annie’s shop today. Is there anything special you want?”
“Can you pick up those oatmeal chip cookies if she has them?”
“You know I will.” I winked. “Those are my favorites, too. Listen, kiddo. I spoke with Hannah last night about everything you told me.”
“Okay. And?”
“She was upset and said you’re lying.”
“She’s the one lying, Dad. Why would I lie?”
“I think you have a problem with Hannah,” I said.
“I don’t really like her.”
“Why not?” I glanced over.
“I don’t know. There’s something about her. I can’t pinpoint it, but I think she’s fake.”
I sighed as I pulled into the school parking lot. “Have a good day.”
“You too, Dad. Bye.” Lucy smiled, shutting the door.