Chapter 19
Danielle
“Where’s Hannah?” I say, dropping the bag of bagels on the table and setting down the drink carrier—two coffees, a smoothie for Hannah, and a chocolate mocha for Beth.
I glance over at Tina and Beth. They're both sitting on the couch. Beth is biting her fingernail, Tina is fuming.
“What happened?” I ask, a sudden wave of panic crawling up my spine. “Where is she?”
“Meghan picked her up,” Tina says, exhaling sharply. “If Hannah hadn’t been here, I swear to you, I would’ve socked that woman right in the jaw. I’d be in handcuffs right now, getting hauled off to jail.”
She throws her hands up. “But level heads prevailed. In other words, Beth held me back. So yeah, she took her.”
“She took her,” I repeat, stunned. The words don’t feel real.
“She also accused me of trying to steal her husband. Said I was using her daughter to get Jackson to like me. She apparently calls him Jackson. It was verbal vomit. I couldn’t keep up.
And apparently, she thought I was you—the other woman.
The one ‘Jackson’s sleeping with.’” Tina scoffs.
“She didn’t stop to breathe between flinging insults.
And then poor Beth… she had plenty to say to her, too. ”
“Tina,” I say, trying to gather my thoughts. “Take a breath. Let me think. Please.”
“Sorry,” she mutters. “I’m just really ticked off.”
“Beth,” I say, turning toward her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m used to it,” Beth replies, still seated—cool, calm, and collected, not a single flinch.
I pull out my phone to call Cal.
“I think he’s already on his flight home,” Beth says gently. “I talked to Mom earlier. She said Nate was heading to the airport to pick him up.”
Tina lets out a frustrated sigh. “She’s her mother,” she says, like she’s reminding herself as much as me. “She had every right to take her. There was nothing we could do.”
“You’re right,” I admit, even though the words feel like sand in my mouth. “How did she even know Hannah was here?”
“I have no idea,” Tina says, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
“Maybe she called Mom,” Beth offers. “And Mom mentioned Hannah was here with us. I mean, with Cal out of town, she’d normally be at my house.”
“Meghan has no idea I’m Cal’s neighbor,” I say, letting that little truth nugget settle over me.
“No, she doesn’t,” Tina replies. “The death stare she gave me wasn’t about Hannah. It was pure jealousy. She thought I was the one involved with Cal. What a piece of work she is.”
I glance at Beth, who’s still quiet but watching us intently.
“I know Meghan," she says. "And I know she’s never liked me. I just never knew why.”
“What the heck is wrong with that woman?” Tina chimes in. “The fact that she felt threatened by a fourteen-year-old is beyond me. It’s like she knew you’d have Cal’s heart one day—and if she’s not careful, Hannah’s too.”
“I don’t have anything,” I whisper, more to myself than anyone else. I can’t lie to myself by letting my heart get pulled into a fairytale that will never have a happily ever after.
“You have me!” Beth exclaims, jumping to her feet and throwing her arms around me. I hug her back, letting myself sink into the memory of what we once were. My little sister. My whole world. Us holding each other because, for a long time, we were all we had.
Before I can fully process the moment, Tina wraps her arms around us both. “You have me too!”
***
Tina offers to take Beth home on her way to work, so after they leave, I start picking up the remnants of the birthday party we threw for her.
Empty gift bags, tissue paper scattered across the floor, and Chinese food containers still open on the coffee table. Purple and pink balloons hover in the corners, including one oversized butterfly balloon that reads Happy 15th Birthday.
I gather them up and take them to her room. She said she had the perfect spot on the wall for the big balloon, so she left them here.
I boxed up the leftover coconut cake I made her, and she took it home to share with her mom and dad.
As a birthday gift, I made copies of the only photos I have of us from when we were little and placed them in a white frame with delicate butterfly accents.
She cried when she opened it.
And in that moment, I knew: no matter how happy the Callahans made her over the last ten years, she still missed me.
I had planned to take Hannah to the park and be home in time to cook dinner for her and Cal. But now, with everyone gone, I’m left alone with my thoughts—and all I can think about is Cal and his win at the convention.
He’s probably still riding that high, still feeling proud and accomplished.
And the second he walks in and sees Hannah’s not here, that feeling is going to vanish.
I sent him a text to congratulate him after Johanna called Beth to let her know he’d won an award. He didn’t respond. Not even a thank you.
The last time he and I really talked was weeks ago, when I hurt my ankle. I haven’t seen him out on the trail. He hasn’t tried to call or visit, except when we made the plans for me to watch Hannah.
And when he dropped her off, he was distant. Aloof.
I wish I didn’t care. But I do.
And it hurts more than I’d like to admit.
I miss him.
God, I miss him.
***
I’m stirring leftover tomato soup from the other night when the doorbell rings.
“Cal,” I breathe, opening the door to find him standing there, a soft smile tugging at his lips.
I don’t waste a second. “Meghan came by while I went out to grab breakfast. She took Hannah. I shouldn’t have left, but even if I’d been here…
there wasn’t much I could do. She’s her mother.
I could’ve tried to talk her out of it, but after the scene at the group home, I doubt she would’ve listened to anything I had to say. I’m so sorry, Cal. Maybe if I had—”
“Elle, Elle,” he says, cutting me off gently. “Relax, honey. If this is what it takes to get Meghan to spend time with Hannah, I’ll take it.”
“You’re not mad?” My throat tightens, tears threatening.
“No, I’m not mad,” he says, and his smile deepens.
Without thinking, I throw my arms around him. I don’t care if we’re supposed to be angry or distant. He’s here. He’s smiling that smile I’ve missed every single day. That’s all that matters.
He pulls back just enough to look at me, and when his eyes drop to my lips, I don’t wait. I kiss him—desperate, needy, starved for the feel of him. He pushes the door shut behind us without breaking the kiss, then wraps his arms around me like he’s never letting go.
I missed him. I missed this. And I’m done letting resentment come between me and the man I love.
Because I do love him.
He draws back just enough to whisper, “Elle… I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I murmur, pulling him into another kiss.
This time, the urgency softens into something slower, deeper.
His scruff brushes against my skin, his lips coaxing mine in a way that makes the world fall away.
His arms, his scent, the strength in his hold—it’s everything I’ve needed. Everything I’ve ached for.
Even if it’s only for now, I’ll take it.
Because what I feel for him has grown into something stronger than all the pain I thought would keep us apart forever.
I pull back and search his face. He’s smiling—really smiling—and I can see it in his eyes. He’s happy to be here with me. I see it in the way his blue gaze softens when it meets mine. I know he feels it too.
For a moment, I think he’s going to kiss me again. But instead, he speaks.
“I love you, Elle. Even if you don’t feel the same way, I need you to know. I love you.”
His words leave me speechless, even as my heart races.
He searches my eyes. “You don't have to say it, but is what you feel for me strong enough to heal the hurt I caused you?”
I don’t answer right away. I want to say yes. I hope it will be. But hope isn't a promise.
He takes a breath, then adds quietly, “If you break my heart, I’ll survive. But it’s not just me. It’s Hannah, too. She loves you. And for her sake, I need to know. Can this, what we have, really be enough?”
"I need time, Cal."
He nods and lets go of my hands. “That’s what Meghan used to say. ‘Dani needs time, Cal.’”
“That’s not fair,” I say, my voice catching.
“Nothing about what happened to you or Beth was fair,” he says. “But what’s happening right now—what’s happening to us—isn’t fair either.”
He leans down and presses a kiss to my cheek, soft and lingering. The intimate moment we shared just seconds ago now broken and quickly slipping away.
“I love you, Elle,” he says, offering a smile that never quite reaches his eyes. “I have to go pick up Hannah. Thank you for watching her. I'm sure she had a lot of fun.”
And with that, he turns and walks out the door.
***
“Hi, you two!” I say, opening the door to let Beth and Hannah in.
I hug my sister, then scoop Hannah into my arms and kiss her cheek. “Are you ready for Christmas?”
“Well,” Beth says, “Hannah and I were hoping you’d take us shopping today, so we can pick out something for Cal.”
“Of course,” I say. “But… did Cal say it was okay?”
“I asked him this morning before he left. He said it was fine.”
“Before he left?” I ask, trying to keep the curiosity out of my voice.
“He went to New York,” Beth replies. “To meet with some guy about building pieces for his gallery. Something like that.”
"I haven't seen him in so long, I had no idea," I say quietly. "I’ve seen a ton of supplies being dropped off at his shop. Sounds like business is really picking up.”
“Elle.” The way Beth says my name sends a ripple of dread through me.
“What is it?”
She hesitates. “Cal and Hannah… they’re moving to New York next year.”
“What?” The word catches in my throat. I cough, then try again. “What did you just say?”
“It's not official," she says. "But I overheard him talking to Mom and Dad last week."
I glance at Hannah, who’s nodding like this isn’t news to her.
“Sweetie,” I begin gently, “has your daddy talked to you about moving?”
“Yep!” she chirps. “I’m gonna go to a new school in Men-hah-ten.”
“A new school in Manhattan,” I repeat, as I slowly set her back down.
“Elle, you’re turning pale,” Beth says, concern in her eyes.
“I’m okay,” I lie, forcing a smile. “Just… surprised, that’s all.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty big news,” Beth says.
“What about the house?”
“Nate’s moving in," Beth says. "Cal said he doesn’t want to sell it.”
"I can't believe he's leaving," I murmur, feeling like he's leaving me.
***
After hours of shopping, lunch at one of Beth’s favorite restaurants, and banana splits from Hannah’s favorite ice cream parlor, we finally return to the house—exhausted.
It doesn’t take long before Hannah drifts off to sleep on the couch, leaving Beth and me to finish our conversation about the move to New York.
“What about Meghan?” I ask, still trying to wrap my head around the idea of Cal leaving.
“She said she’s fine with it. Especially because it means Cal can’t keep ‘shacking up with his neighbor.’”
“She said that?” I gasp, my head snapping toward her.
Beth nods. “That’s what Cal told Nate.”
“She’s going to let them go,” I say, mostly to myself, the weight of it hitting all over again.
“You’re letting them go too,” Beth says quietly.
“It’s complicated,” I murmur, my mind spinning. He’s really leaving.
“Love is only complicated when it’s one-sided.”
I smile and give her a side glance. “And what do you know about love?”
She smirks. “Okay, nothing yet. But that’s what Cal told Mom and Dad. He said it’s complicated because what he feels for you isn’t returned. But I know that’s not true.”
There’s a beat of silence before I say it, softly but without hesitation.
“I do. I love him.”
"Then don't let them leave," she says. "And don't say it's complicated."
***
The front door slams shut with a sharp crack, and I hear footsteps barreling down the hall. I barely have time to look up before Tina storms into the office, her purse flying onto the armchair like it personally offended her.
“What happened?” I ask, rising from the desk. “Are you okay?”
She spins around, eyes blazing. “No I'm not okay. I just met Nate Callahan.”
My stomach sinks. “Was it that bad?”
“That’s putting it mildly,” she says. “He was lurking around the porch at Cal’s house.
I thought he was casing the place. So naturally, I got out of the car and marched over there, ready to confront him.
I was polite at first, but then he had the nerve to look me dead in the eye and say, ‘And you are?’”
I cover my mouth to keep from laughing. “Oh no…”
“That’s exactly what I said—oh, heck no. So I snapped back, ‘Who am I? Who the heck are you?’ And we just stood there, glaring at each other. He’s tall, broad, and strong, but he wasn’t about to stare me down.”
“Oh my gosh,” I murmur.
“And then,” she continues, pacing now, “I tell him he’s giving off major peeping tom energy, and this man—a complete stranger—actually laughs. So I pulled out my phone.”
I blink. “You were about to call the cops on Nate?”
“Yes! And right when I’m about to hit dial, Beth opens the door.”
“Oh no…”
“Oh yes. She opens the door, sees us mid-standoff, and casually says, ‘Hi, Nate.’ I turned to Beth as it quickly dawned on me that I had made a colossal mistake. Then she goes, ‘Oh, have you two met?’ and Nate says, ‘I haven’t had the pleasure.’ Beth introduced me, and instead of shaking my hand, he folded his arms tightly across his chest.”
I press my lips together, trying to keep a straight face. “Please tell me you apologized.”
“I was going to!” Tina says, placing a hand on her chest like she’s deeply wounded.
“I was going to, Elle. But then he turns to me and says—get this—‘I'm really glad we were able to establish who actually belongs here.’” She crosses her arms and glares at nothing.
“Like I was the one intruding in his space.”
I gasp. “He didn't.”
“Oh, he did. He said it with this smug, dimpled smirk that made me want to punch him—and maybe kiss him—but mostly punch him. And Beth just stood there like she was watching a tennis match, eyes bouncing back and forth. Neither of us would back down.”
I can’t hold it in anymore. I burst out laughing. “Tina!”
“Don’t laugh!” she says. “You didn’t see him. That stupid Callahan face, those blue eyes, those dimples. He’s basically Cal’s evil twin with extra sarcasm.”
“Beth must’ve loved every second.”
“Oh, she did,” Tina huffs. “She stood there sipping her drink like she’d paid for front-row seats. The only thing missing was the popcorn. Part of me wanted to apologize, the other part wanted to kick him—but I just stood there, because I was too distracted by his stupid… handsome face.”
I wipe my eyes, still laughing. “So what you’re saying is… you met your match.”
“We’ll see about that,” she mutters. “We’ll just have to see about that.”