Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-six
Hannah opened her door to a bundled-up Brandee bearing food. Brandee gave Hannah a hug. She smelled of the promise of snow. “It’s cold out there, huh?” Hannah said.
“Chris saw a few snowflakes as I was leaving, and he wanted to go build a snowman.”
Even though she felt like crap, a crooked smile slipped out. She could picture Chris’s dimpled face overjoyed at the prospect of snow.
“I’m just glad it’s not sticking around. I’ll be happy if we can avoid accumulating snow until the Mistletoe Market closes on Christmas Eve.”
Brandee handed Hannah several plastic carryout containers loaded with food. Then she unwound her scarf, took off her coat, and slipped out of her boots.
Hannah put the food on her kitchen counter and opened the lids.
She was starving, and she was grateful for the food.
She couldn’t afford to spiral with anxiety so much that she wasn’t eating.
Hannah knew from past experience, that only made her question her will to live.
She pulled out a plate. “Did you want anything to drink?”
“Do you have any tea?”
“Of course! I even have the chai you love. It’s there.
” Hannah pointed to where the counter met the wall.
Hannah turned on the tea kettle she had sitting on the stove.
Then she piled her plate with turkey, mashed potatoes, and roasted vegetables.
Hannah stood at the counter and started eating.
“This is so good. Thank you for taking pity on me and coming over.”
“It’s not pity! Whenever you’re ready, tell me what happened with your mom.”
Hannah scarfed down the lukewarm dinner that was better than any Thanksgiving dinner she ever had as a kid.
Then she made herself a cup of her favorite tea from work, Anti-anxie-tea.
It was a chamomile blend, and it always helped her relax.
Once she had her hands wrapped around her favorite Christmas mug, she sat down on the couch facing Brandee.
Hannah frowned, “I hate even having to retell what happened tonight. It feels jinxy, like if I say his name too many times, I’ll summon him. ”
Brandee paused with her cup almost to her mouth. “The asshole?”
Hannah nodded. “Maybe I’ll feel better if I start calling him that too.”
“What’s going on? Did he contact you?”
Hannah took off her glasses, cleaned them with her shirt, and then put them back on. “Yes, and dammit, I should have saved the text or at least taken a screenshot, but I panicked and deleted it and blocked the number.”
“How did he get your phone number?”
“It had to be from my mom or dad.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Because they are the worst.”
Brandee set down her mug and crossed her arms. “It makes me so mad. I don’t understand how any parent could choose a relationship with an abuser over their own child. The fact that you even speak to them at all—they don’t realize how lucky they are.”
Hannah shrugged. She’d had a version of this conversation before with both Zaina and Brandee.
“I like to think it’s because they are usually at least tipsy–and most often drunk, and Chad seems very likable when you have beer goggles on.
If the asshole shows up in Marley Creek and turns on the charm, people might wonder why I left him. ”
“No way, Hannah. I don’t care how fake-charming he can be. I would never.” Brandee reached over and grabbed Hannah’s hand. Brandee’s hand was warm against her icy fingers.
Hannah gave Brandee’s hand a squeeze. “I know you’ll have my back.”
Brandee’s eyes widened, “Is he coming to Marley Creek? Should we call the cops?”
“My parents couldn’t give him my address because they don’t know it, and that’s more the result of them not bothering to ask than me trying to hide it from them. My mom told him where I work.”
“And your phone number?”
“Yep, that too.”
Hannah wrapped her arms around a red and green pillow that said, ‘This is my Hallmark Movie Watching Pillow.’
Brandee leaned back on the couch and put her stocking feet against the coffee table. Smoky appeared out of nowhere and hopped into her lap. “Hey buddy, long time no see.” She stroked his black fur.
Hannah watched her friend and her cat and slowly mustered up the courage to talk about the text. “The cops can’t stop him because he hasn’t done anything except contact me. Plus, the restraining order I had in Michigan expired.”
“Well, shit, I don’t like that. What did the text say? Do you remember?”
Hannah pressed her head into the back of the couch and looked up at the ceiling. “I think it’s burned into my brain. He said he knew where to find me.”
“Well, that doesn’t mean he is coming here, does it?” Brandee asked.
“I would love for that to be the case, but I’m like a hundred percent sure he is coming to town.”
“Girl, I know this is some serious shit right now, but you said he’s coming to town, and now I have Santa Claus is Coming to Town playing in my head.”
A quiet chuckle escaped Hannah’s throat. “Even when I’m scared and sad, you know how to make me laugh.”
“That’s why we are best friends. When shit is bad, we still have our black humor to cling to. So, what can we do about The Asshole, who may or may not be coming to town?”
“Honestly, a small part of me is like, do I need to go get a gun?”
Brandee froze. “Oh my God, Hannah.”
Hannah waved her off, “I’m not going to do that, and you know why?”
Brandee shook her head.
“Because I’m too afraid that if he showed up somehow, he’d get a hold of the gun.”
“You need to come live with me.” Brandee stood up suddenly and pulled on Hannah’s arm.
Hannah remained unmoved on the couch. “It’s super sweet of you to offer, but I will not let him change my life—especially when I don’t even know for sure if he is really planning to come to Marley Creek.”
“What are you going to do if you come home one night and he’s at your door?”
“Then I’ll come to you. And I have mace—and Smoky.”
Brandee sat back down and rubbed her knuckles against Smoky’s head. He was nestled inside Hannah’s crossed legs.
“Have I told you how strong you are?”
“Probably, but tell me some more.”
“I’m so lucky to have you as a best friend.”
“Right back at you. Thanks again for the food. My pot roast was a bust.”
“Did you use a recipe?”
Hannah had stopped clenching her teeth. Talking with Brandee, along with the food and her calming tea, had done wonders for her, and hopefully she would be able to take this strength with her tomorrow and through the weekend when she worked at the Mistletoe Market.
She was able to joke and even laugh as she told Brandee about her pot roast fail.
Who knew you had to cook the heck out of it before it was tender? Not her.
“To be honest, I’ve been in a mood since yesterday when it was clear Kate wasn’t going to invite me to come with to her family’s place for Thanksgiving. And then today, well, it was one bad thing after another.”
“I wonder why Kate didn’t invite you. Do you think you two are on the same page about your relationship status? Ugh, that sounds so lame, ‘relationship status,’ but you know what I mean.”
Hannah gathered her hair and moved it to the side.
Then she ran her hand through it. “It’s pretty clear we aren’t, but I don’t think we’ve been on the same page since the first time we hooked up.
I just… She’s so fucking amazing. Gorgeous, super-extroverted in the best way, funny, cute, freaking hot. ”
“You’re crazy about her.”
A flush of heat rose on Hannah’s chest, and it climbed up her neck and onto her cheeks. All she could do was nod.
“Oh, Han,” Brandee said as she wrapped her arms around her friend.
Big, fat tears threatened to fall. “And on top of that, I’m PMSing.”
“You poor baby, I should have brought the leftover chocolate silk pie that Luc’s mom made.”
Hannah sniffed, “It’s not too late to run home and bring me back some.” Laughter bubbled out of Brandee, and Hannah was grateful to stay in her warm embrace a moment longer.
“Maybe she just needs a little more time. Or maybe a serious relationship looks different for her?”
“Well, like I said earlier, I’m not going anywhere, so if she needs more time, I can take it as slow as she needs.”
“For what it’s worth, it took me a long time to let Luc in. Remember it was so bad he broke up with me?”
“I can’t even break up with her because we aren’t even really a couple. I feel like we are—and I hate this phrase—fuck buddies.” Hannah’s face scrunched up.
“Kate doesn’t sound like the kind of person who would take a fuck buddy to her Friendsgiving.”
“I suppose you are right. Maybe I am just expecting too much too fast. Arg!” Hannah put her hands on her head. “I don’t know what I am doing! Is it Kate or is this some secret lesbian ritual of dating in the twenty-first century?”
“Obviously, I don’t know. But I feel like this is more of a Kate thing.”
“No offense, but I need more queer friends.”
Brandee waved her off, “No, I get it. And I think you are right.”
“I was so happy to go to Kate’s Friendsgiving. I mean, it wasn’t just for LGBTQIA people, but it was mostly queer people, and honestly, the biggest group of not-plain old straight people I’ve ever been in.”
“So, you just need more of that.”
“I do! Now how do I find it? I can’t expect Kate to be my guide.”
“Han, you know you are great at getting people together. Look at all the classes you’ve sold out at New Age Stones and Witch Crafts.”
“Yeah, but that’s work stuff.”
“It’s still building community. You should start a group in Marley Creek! For anyone who identifies as LGBTQIA!”
Hannah’s heart sped up, and she felt ideas began to bubble up. “Maybe we could use the events room at the shop. Would the group need a name? Maybe I should buy a pride flag. You know this town doesn’t do anything for Pride Month. We need to make it a whole thing.”
Brandee smiled slyly.
“Did you encourage me to start thinking about this to take my mind off my crummy Thanksgiving and TA?”
“TA?” Brandee ran her hands through her hair. “Oh, right. The asshole.”
“Exactly.”
“And yes, I was trying to think of a way to distract you. I hate to see you upset.”
“Aw, thanks, Bran. You’re the best!” Hannah threw her arms around her friend.
Once Hannah let go, Brandee looked at her phone. “It’s getting late, and I promised Chris I’d come home in time to tuck him in. Are you good? Do I need to give you an assignment to keep you focused on the future Marley Creek Queer Community Support Group?”
“You’re such a teacher.”
“This time next year I’ll be halfway done with student teaching!”
Hannah beamed at her friend. “I’m so excited for you!
And maybe next year will be a big year for me too.
The cards said transformational times are ahead.
” Hannah’s stomach flip-flopped as she remembered her most recent reading that basically said she was in immediate danger.
She pressed those worries down and stood up.
“Thanks again for bringing me leftovers. Let Luc’s mom know I think she is an amazing cook and thank Luc for letting me have you for a few hours tonight. ”
Brandee balanced on one foot and then the other as she put on her boots. “You’re sweet. You don’t have to thank Luc. We both think of you as family and Thanksgiving is for family. I should have called you earlier and made you come over for dinner this afternoon.”
“I didn’t want to impose on your first Thanksgiving with Luc’s family.”
“Stop. Like I said,” Brandee stopped with her arm in one jacket sleeve and locked eyes with her friend. “You are part of my family. From here on out, you are invited over for all holiday dinners. Got it?”
“Got it.” Hannah nodded.
Brandee finished bundling up, and Hannah opened the door.
She stepped out of Hannah’s apartment, and Hannah closed the door behind her.
She walked over to the sliding glass door so she could make sure her friend got to her car safely.
Enough snow had fallen that Brandee’s boots left footprints in the snow as she hustled down the sidewalk and over to her car that was parked alone on the street.
Hannah sighed in relief. The street was empty, and the dusting of snow was undisturbed.
Wherever Chad was tonight, it wasn’t here, and that was all she cared about.
Hannah wasn’t a fan of doorbell cameras, but she needed to consider getting a camera she could put outside that would notify her of anyone coming to her door.
She wished she could just brush off her fears as paranoia, but she couldn’t take that chance.
Hannah pulled out her laptop, and within five minutes a camera with a phone app was ordered.
Once that was complete, a wave of exhaustion hit her.
She dragged herself to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth, and then she practically crawled into bed.
After double-checking that her alarm was set for the morning and her notifications for any texts from Kate were on, she closed her eyes and fell asleep, thinking about the community group she planned to build.