Chapter 13 #2
Tapping fast on my phone, I make a reservation. According to the confirmation, the jet should be ready in four hours. Plenty of time for June to kick my ass. Fuck, I should get my own jet. If my family plans on staying in Colorado, it’s actually a good move; I’m just two hours away.
June grunts, and when I turn to look at her, her face is a weird combination of worry and anger.
“Everything okay?” I play dumb.
She nods once, biting her lip. “I’m not sure,” she answers and walks away.
I follow her because her mind is working fast, and she’s about to do something crazy.
“Hey, talk to me,” she says, and as I’m about to open my mouth, I realize she’s on the phone. “When did this happen?”
As she listens, she begins putting on her winter gear. Wait, is she leaving? I debate between calling Sterling who’s somewhere in the house or following her. I choose the latter but text Sterling.
Spearman III: June’s taking a walk.
Ahern: She okay?
Spearman III: I think so, I’ll update you on our way back.
What has her all worked up?
Thankfully, I catch up with her pretty fast. From the looks of the direction she’s taking, we’re going to her place. She and Sterling own a cabin next to Jack’s. Maybe I should buy a vacation home around this neighborhood, too.
“Just like that, you’re taking a sabbatical?” she yells and then listens to whoever is on the other line. “No, when you put it that way, it makes sense. I don’t understand why you didn’t call me?”
She nods, shakes her head, and comes to a sudden stop.
“I don’t want to sound petty, but you always choose them.
Yeah, if Alex didn’t ask me for your number, you wouldn’t have told me.
You knew he wanted it? I’ll let him know that you’ll be out of town, so there’s no point.
He might have a little puppy crush on you. ”
What the fuck is she talking about?
“Well, this doesn’t sound like nothing!”
I feel for whoever is on the phone with her. June is pissed.
“Hannah, you’re human, of course it’s affecting you. She was your mother.”
I stop, and my heart speeds up. Did something happen to Sadie?
“You go on a search for all these wonderful things. Or at least try. You’re amazing.”
She sighs. “Fine, we all need to grow and all that new age, old world shit. Go and do what you need to...I wish I could remember what you told me that time.”
Spearman III: We’re at your place :shrug emoji:
I text Sterling once we arrive at their house. Instead of waiting for her, I punch the code and open the door.
“No...I’m pretty sure you said something.” She begins walking again. “As long as you don’t attend to your wounds, you’ll never heal.”
She pauses briefly to listen to the other side of the line and then she says, “I’m here for you, okay?”
“No, you’re doing the right thing. It’s messing up your life, and you don’t want to lose what you’ve built. Everything and everyone will be here when you’re ready to come back. We all love you, Hannah.”
My blood freezes, and it’s not falling flakes nor hypothermia. It’s warm and nice inside the house.
“What happened?” I ask once she hangs up.
“Why did you follow me?”
Sterling rushes through the door. “Are you okay, babe?”
June glares at me. “Yeah, I was on the phone with Hannah. I have to send her some stuff, and I’m short on time.”
“What happened?” I ask, with a demanding tone that grants me a glare.
“Her mother died,” she answers.
“But what happened to her mother? How did she die?” I press for more details.
“Why do you care?” she responds and turns to Sterling. “Long story short, she went in for surgery, and there were complications. She had the audacity to put Hannah as her next of kin.”
“Why not her father?”
“They’ve been divorced since she was super young,” June answers exasperated, and I sigh with relief.
“So, her mother died,” I confirm.
She looks at me, and I swear she might just kill me right now.
“That’s what I just said. To spell it out for you, the bitch who brought Hannah into this world died, and she screwed with her even after her death.
Hannah is in a bad place, and I need to send her some stuff before she leaves to go who knows where. ”
I nod, understanding clearly. Hannah needs a care package. I put my gear back on and head for the door.
“Alex?”
“Yeah?”
“What are you doing?”
“None of your business,” I answer.
“You’re not what she needs.” My lovely sister slaps me, without even using her hand.
My nostrils flare as she walks to where I stand and smiles. “I get it, she’s special. But, ultimately, you don’t know her. Neither one of you are in a good place. She doesn’t need a playboy who has trouble committing to...one thing.”
“June, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Of course, I know. You’re a serial monogamist, but you never fully committed to any of the women you’ve dated.
I know because I was just like that. You keep all the women you’re with close enough that they don’t complain, but you don’t let yourself fall in love with them.
Make a real friend, then fall in love with her.
Better yet, figure out what you really want from a relationship, Alex.
Afterward, look for someone but not Hannah,” she insists.