Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-three
Kate crept as silently as one could when wearing a ridiculous furry green costume down the walkway toward New Age Stones and Witch Crafts’s hut.
Chad was clad in a hooded black ski jacket.
But she still saw his face. She’d made it a point to look at his picture both with and without the scribble beard daily.
It was a good thing she had made the modified picture, because there he was with a beard.
He was smaller than she’d expected. He walked closer to Hannah’s hut.
How had he known she would be here? Then again, she’d been here all but two days since the market had started.
It would have made less sense if he had run into her somewhere else.
Looking at her phone while she walked, she sent a text to the group chat.
She wrote “Call Sadie” in all caps. Kate’s boot slipped on a patch of ice, and she almost lost her footing.
She steadied herself and put the phone away.
There was a small walkway between the aisles of huts.
It was used by vendors to bring in more inventory during the day, so they weren’t in the walkway with the patrons.
Kate walked quickly between the huts, stopping every few huts to make sure she could see Chad.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out.
Sadie had on her location, so Kate could see that she was only a few minutes out.
Kate could stay and wait for Sadie, or she could help stall whatever was about to happen and intervene if she had to.
Kate continued nodding to other vendors, who looked surprised to see the Grinch in the walkway.
Finally, she was just south of Hannah’s hut.
She moved out of the walkway but stood where she could see Hannah, but not be seen by anyone.
She dropped a pin and checked her phone.
Sadie was only two minutes away. Brandee and Zaina had texted Kate.
She texted them to stay put for now and let her and Sadie take care of Hannah.
As soon as she sent the text, she got back responses from Brandee and Zaina saying hell no, they were on their way.
Kate watched as Chad came around the corner.
He pushed down his hood, and Kate held her breath waiting to see what he would do—and if Hannah saw him.
Should Kate rush out and tackle Chad? Her hands and her jaw remained clenched.
Come on, Sadie and Hansel, I need you. Just as Kate had decided to rush out and stop Chad, Hannah looked up and saw him.
Every fiber of her being wanted to pull Hannah away, to protect her.
What did he want from her? She couldn’t hear anything they were saying, so she was forced to read Hannah’s body language, and it just made her sick to see the woman she loved afraid.
She chanced a glance at her phone and saw that Sadie was in front of her hut. Kate called Sadie.
“Hey, where are you?” Sadie asked.
“Go back to the entrance and then come down the furthest west aisle. I’ll look for you. He’s here talking to her right now. Please hurry, I don’t know how much time we have. If he takes off—or God forbid, gets her to go somewhere with him, we’re screwed.”
“On it.” Sadie hung up.
Kate pocketed her phone. She cringed as she watched Chad hug a very stiff Hannah.
Kate pulled at her costume, wishing she had time to take it off and hoping it didn’t slow her down because she didn’t think she could wait any longer to have a peaceful end to this situation.
She was ready to bust Chad’s head. She’d never been in a fight before, but for Hannah, she’d do anything.
Hannah pulled back, and Chad let her go.
Then he grabbed Hannah’s arm. Kate saw red, and she rushed toward Hannah and Chad. “Hey! Let her go!” she shouted.
Hannah looked up with her eyes wide. She shook her head no.
But Kate wasn’t going to be deterred. “You need to leave.” She pointed at Chad, and then she jerked her head slightly toward Hannah’s hut.
She hoped Hannah understood she was saying to get back behind the counter and block the entrance with anything to slow Chad down in case he tried to reach her again.
Kate’s heart went back into her chest as she watched Chad drop Hannah’s arm.
“Who are you?” he scoffed.
“I’m Hannah’s friend, and you need to leave.”
“Okay, Grinch, like you’re going to make me?” The condescending tone, paired with his puffy red face, made Kate want to laugh.
“You’re a fucking fraud. They might think you’re hot shit back home at the VFW, but here in Marley Creek, you are no one.”
Hannah shook her head and wildly waved her hands. Kate’s heart sank. She hated what this doofus had done to Hannah.
A low growl made the hairs on the back of Kate’s neck rise, even though she knew Hansel was coming.
Sadie was clad in brown coveralls and had her dark hair pulled back under a baseball cap embroidered with the State Police logo. She wasn’t a cop, and she wasn’t impersonating a cop, but if Chad got the wrong idea, so be it.
“Hansel here is Hannah’s friend too,” Kate said.
Sadie made a clicking sound with her tongue, and Hansel pulled on the leash and began barking. Chad started backing away.
“W-what are you going to do to me? I-I haven’t done anything wrong,” he said.
“You’ve been stalking our friend!” Brandee shouted as she moved to stand next to Sadie. Kate looked at Hannah and saw Hannah was smiling now. Zaina, who had been a few steps behind Brandee, chimed in as well. “You need to leave Marley Creek and never come back.”
“A-and if I don’t?”
Sadie leaned down and unclipped Hansel’s lead. If Kate didn’t know how disciplined Hansel was, she’d probably be peeing herself right now. She hoped Chad would. Hansel pawed at the ground and barked. “I only have to say one word, then frankly, I don’t know if you’ll have a face left,” Sadie said.
Kate watched Chad’s red face pale. He dropped his eyes to the ground and started stepping backward. Kate wanted to jump for joy. This was it! He was going to run like the coward he was. Good.
“You know what? Fuck Hannah.” He continued to back up, and now he pointed at Hannah. “You’re right. You’re too dried up and old for me. I’m out of here.” He held up both his middle fingers and then turned around and started walking away.
Sadie whispered a low command, and Hansel started running, barking at Chad’s heels.
Chad started running furiously toward the exit of the market, slipping and sliding as his feet slipped on patches of melting ice.
Kate ran over, and even though she was in the Grinch costume, she vaulted over the counter and hugged Hannah.
Sadie whistled once and Hansel returned to her side.
Kate cupped Hannah’s face. “Are you okay?”
Hannah nodded but didn’t speak. Kate continued talking, “I’m so sorry this happened. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here for you these last few weeks. I was so stupid and selfish and stubborn–all the negative S-words.”
Hannah sniffed. “Go on.”
Kate saw tears behind Hannah’s glasses. She had been practicing this speech for a few days and was glad she was going to have the opportunity to beg for Hannah’s forgiveness.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach; she didn’t want to mess this up.
“I was a complete fool. I should have been a grown woman and told you I was scared. I’d been hurt so bad by Brittany, all I could think was if we broke up, then I couldn’t bear having to see you around town, watching you move on with your life. ”
“When you cut things off after Thanksgiving, did you think you’d be fine seeing me around town?”
Kate’s throat was tight. “I did,” she admitted. She swallowed hard, “I was so scared, especially after Jax and Ellie split.” She held up her hand. “I know, I know. It’s ridiculous to make a life choice based on how things worked out for someone else.”
“And now?” Hannah asked.
Kate reached out and held Hannah’s hand. “Now I know you are worth everything to me. If you give me a second chance, I promise to communicate better, and if I get scared, you’ll be the first to know. I love you, Hannah.”
Hannah leaned in and kissed Kate’s cheek. The soft touch of her lips on her cheek, combined with the smell that was singularly Hannah, made her want to weep with joy. Please take me back, please take me back.
“Thank you for letting me know. I’m going to need a little time to process all of this,” Hannah said.
Kate’s shoulders slumped. “Of course,” she said, even though she wanted nothing more than to leave hand in hand with her right now and go back to her place where she could worship Hannah like she deserved.
“How about cocoa?”
Kate let out a breath. Hannah was giving her a lifetime. “Where? When?”
“I think I’m free now.”
Brandee, Zaina, and Sadie were standing a few feet away from Hannah and Kate, obviously trying to give them space. Hannah walked over to the women, and Kate followed behind.
“Is it okay if I pet him?” Hannah asked.
“Of course,” Sadie said.
Hannah started rubbing the fur between Hansel’s ears. “Thank you so much for chasing away that awful man. You’re such a good boy.” Then she straightened up. “You might have saved my life. Can I give you a hug?”
“I’m Sadie, and yes.”
“Thank you so much, Sadie!” Hannah hugged Sadie, and then she hugged her best friends.
Kate felt tears flowing down her face. She sniffed and wiped her face.
She came away with green hands. Hannah turned and grabbed her green hand.
“Group hug, ladies.” The four women hugged as Hansel sat at their feet while the crowd began flowing toward them from the A Christmas Carol performance.
When they separated, each one of them managed to come away with some green makeup on their face or hands.
Zaina pulled out her ever-present baby wipes from her crossbody bag.
They moved over to stand at the New Age Stones and Witch Crafts hut and cleaned their faces and hands.
“Boss, can I have the rest of the day off?” Hannah asked.
“Of course, take tomorrow off too.”
“If you all don’t mind, I think I’m going to go get some hot chocolate,” Hannah announced.
“Text me if you need anything,” Brandee said. She gave Hannah a side hug. Then she looked at Kate. Kate gulped and nodded. Brandee didn’t need to speak to convey her message—don’t hurt my friend again. Kate nodded.
“Ready?” Hannah said, holding out her hand to Kate.
Kate rubbed her sweaty palm on the green fur of her costume and then clasped Hannah’s hand.
They were quiet as they walked. “You sit. I’ll get the cocoa,” Kate said.
Hannah sat down at an empty table next to a warmer.
Kate was relieved that there wasn’t anyone in line, and she was handing Hannah a small mug in no time.
“I asked them for double whipped cream.”
“Amazing,” Hannah said.
Once Kate was sitting across from her, Hannah giggled. “Your face. You look more Halloween than Christmas.”
Kate’s heart soared. Hannah was laughing and joking. Could things get any better?
“I’m not going home with you tonight.”
Kate bit her lip and then she spoke, “Okay. I understand.”
“Good. You need to know I’m going to give you–to give us, a second chance. You know why?”
Kate shook her head.
“Because I love you, Kate. I want you to be my family.”
Kate wanted to hurdle over the table and pull Hannah onto her lap.
Instead, she sat on her hands and let Hannah continue.
“This will only work if we are honest with each other. I will get scared sometimes too. As you saw, I have a shit ton of baggage, and sometimes I’ll worry you’ll get tired of that and leave me. ”
“I’m not going to leave. I promise.”
“Just promise to be honest and talk to me if things get hard. Can you do that?”
“Yes.” Kate held up her hand with her pinky sticking up.
Hannah wrapped her pinky around Kate’s. “Pinky promises are forever, you know.”
“Good, because that’s exactly what I want. Forever.” Hannah leaned over the table just as Kate did, and they met in the middle and kissed.