Chapter 5
HANNAH
“Grandma, I’m home!” I call into the house as I kick off my shoes in the entryway. My sister’s car is parked out front, so I know she’s here too.
“In the kitchen, Han,” my sister calls. I should’ve known she would be the one to answer.
My Grandma’s hearing is long gone outside of a five-foot radius, and she hates wearing her hearing aids at home.
Well, she hates wearing them outside of the house too, so really, she just hates them altogether.
I round the corner into the familiar space to see my sister, Julia, standing beside my grandma. “Hi,” I greet, heading over to give them both a kiss on the cheek, and Julia a hug. “Where’s Tiff?” I ask, wondering where her wife is.
“She’s on her way. Got stuck an extra hour at work on a new contract.”
“Good, I haven’t seen her in a while.”
Tiff and Julia have been married for just over two years, but together since college.
Watching their relationship bloom from being best friends to realizing they were actually in love with each other was cool.
I, of course, got all of the freak out calls and texts from Julia when she realized she was actually bisexual.
It was honestly magical. Grandma knew Tiff from the many nights she had come to the house with Julia as a friend, and when they walked in holding hands, she glanced down, smiled, and asked Tiff what she wanted for dinner.
There was no questioning, no anger, only acceptance and happiness for my sister and her partner.
Julia was so worried about what Grandma would say about her bringing a woman home instead of a man, but Grandma was only happy for her.
I know not all people are that lucky to have the immediate acceptance, but my sister and I have been pretty blessed with our Grandma. Our parents would have been the same. They would have wanted us to be happy, no matter what.
"Hannah, can you grab me the cream?” Grandma asks. I nod, and pull it out of the fridge, handing it over to her. “Say, do you have anything you’d like to tell us?”
I tilt my head. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I was at my grief group the other day, and I heard Earl Cunningham talking to Fred McAllister.” She waits for a beat, like she’s waiting for me to catch on. Of course I know who they are. Earl Cunningham is Thomas’s grandfather, and Fred, well, Fred is the town gossip.
I motion for her to continue, raising my brow. I grab plates from the cupboard and set the table as she speaks. “Fred was telling Earl all about how his grandson, Thomas, was out with a young blonde girl who is a paramedic. Would you happen to know anything about that?”
Turning so she can’t see the swift reddening of my face, I swallow harshly. “Nope. I don’t.”
“Oh my god,” Julia says, her voice raising an octave with realization. “Did you go on a date with Thomas Cunningham?”
I forgot that my sister graduated with Thomas.
She knows him, probably better than I do.
They were in the same friend groups. I think maybe they were even in the same prom group.
Crap crap crap. This is horrible. What if Julia thinks he’s too old for me, or worse, what if she hates him from high school?
Though, I’m not sure how anyone could hate him.
“No!”
“Liar! Why didn’t you tell me?” Julia rounds the table to stand next to me. She takes the plate from my hand, plopping it onto the hardwood table.
“There’s nothing to tell!” I shriek. “It wasn’t a date. It was two co-workers decompressing after a very bad night. It wasn’t even supposed to be just us. The rest of the crew on duty were supposed to join, but no one did. There is no story, no date, no nothing!”
“Hmm.” Julia crosses her arms and her deep brown hair cascades over her shoulders with the movement. I can tell she totally doesn’t believe me, but I think she will drop it for now.
“I say go for him,” Grandma says, shocking me.
“Grandma!” I shout. “He’s Julia’s age. I can’t. And even if I wanted to, he’d never go for someone like me.”
Julia pinches my side.
“Ouch, what the hell?” I cry.
“Uhh, what’s goin’ on?” Tiff says, appearing in the kitchen in her navy blue pantsuit and short blonde pixie cut.
“We’re convincing Hannah here that she’s beautiful and any man deserves her.”
“I second the shit out of that,” Tiff states.
She walks over, pulling my sister in for a quick kiss, and a whispered hello before stepping over to pull me into a hug.
I melt into my sister-in-law's arms. “Hey sis.” She’s called me that pretty much since day one.
I adore Tiff and have always felt safe with her.
“Hi,” I say into her neck. “I need you to save me.”
“Quit asking her to save you,” Julia says. “You don’t need saving. You’re fine.”
Pulling back, I dramatically gasp. “Rude.”
“I’m just trying to make sure you know how amazing you are. I know dating is hard for you, but if you wanted it, Thomas, or any man would be lucky to have you, Han.”
My eyes burn with tears that I won’t shed. “Thanks.”
“Time to eat,” Grandma calls, setting down the homemade chicken alfredo onto the table.