Chapter 10
JACK
I knocked on the door at the top of the stairs with my knuckles, aiming for not too loud in case she was still asleep, but loud enough that she’d hear me if she wasn’t. ‘Hannah?’
‘One second,’ she called.
There was the shuffling sound of footsteps and then the door opened and she smiled at me, stepping to one side to let me pass. She’d changed into a pair of old faded jeans and a white T-shirt. Her long blonde hair was loose.
‘You know you don’t have to knock, Jack,’ she said.
‘This is your home too. Well it was, until you abandoned me.’ Her tone was light, jovial.
But her face told the real story. I knew it had hurt her when I’d moved out to the cabin.
But I’d had good reasons. And I hoped that one day she’d see that.
She looked at the bags I was carrying. ‘What have you got there?’
‘Just the staples.’ I turned sideways to pass her and headed for the kitchen. ‘Enough to get you through a couple of days. I ducked out and got them before closing up the restaurant.’
‘You didn’t have to do that.’ She closed the door and followed me, perching herself up onto one of the black metal barstools and watching as I started pulling items out of the bags and putting them away. ‘I told you I’d go to the shop later.’
‘I know. But you also said you were tired,’ I reminded her. ‘This way you don’t have to go.’
‘You’re too good to me, Jack.’
‘I’d do the same for anyone.’
‘Oh, well that makes me feel less special.’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘Any wine in those bags?’
I lifted out a bottle of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc that I knew she loved and held it up. She sighed happily.
‘Oh yes,’ she said, reaching out and taking it from me. ‘I need this. Join me?’
I reached up into a cupboard and got her a glass, holding it up against the light to check for cleanliness out of habit. ‘Not tonight.’
‘Why not?’
‘I had a beer earlier, at lunch. And I have to drive home.’
Her face tightened ever so slightly at the word home, before she relaxed it again. ‘You could just sleep here. Your room is right there, all made up still. Just like it was back in L.A.’
‘Hannah.’
‘God, is this still about that stupid kiss?’
‘I’m doing what I think is right for both of us.’
‘I was drunk and sad. You overreacted.’
‘Maybe. But this way we don’t have to worry about being in that situation again.’
She sighed, then poured herself a wine and walked over to the couch, curling herself up with her feet tucked underneath her. ‘I can tell you’re itching to get to the boring stuff. How is the business going?’
‘It’s not boring,’ I chided her gently, taking a seat on an armchair. ‘And business is doing well. Really well. I can run through the books and figures with you tomorrow, but it’s been a good start to summer. Profits are even up on the same time in the last few years.’
She took a sip of wine. ‘I’ll take your word for it.’
‘Hannah.’
‘I know.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘You want me to learn how all that stuff works. But I’ve never been a numbers girl, Jack. I just don’t understand all that ingoing and outgoing stuff.’
‘That’s why I’m here. To help you. It’s your business.’
She ran a finger around the rim of her glass and there was a quiet, high-pitched ringing noise. ‘Is that the only reason you’re here?’
I shook my head. ‘Don’t.’
‘I’m sorry. I’m just… I hate this, Jack. When I’m back home in the city, I feel so alone. There are reminders of him, and you, and our life before…’ She trailed off, her voice breaking. ‘But I feel alone here too, especially with you moving out. It’s like I don’t belong anywhere any more.’
‘That’s not true.’
‘Maybe not, but it’s how I feel. I mean, how can my life have gone so horribly wrong? I had everything, and now?’
‘You still have me. And you have this place.’
She chuckled bitterly. ‘This place was Alex’s dream, not mine.
I bought it on a whim because I thought it would make me feel closer to him, but of course it doesn’t.
How could it? He was never here. And I have no idea what I’m doing.
If it wasn’t for you stepping in to save me, I would have lost it all. ’
‘It’s not that hard; you’re overthinking things. If I can figure it out, you sure as hell can.’
She stared up at me with her big, puppy-dog eyes. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you.’
When she looked at me like that, lines got blurred. I stood up. ‘You don’t have to worry about that.’
‘Where are you going?’
‘Home.’
‘That cabin is not your home,’ she snapped, then composed herself again. ‘Does that woman live there? On the property?’
‘What woman? Taylor?’
‘I don’t remember her name. The one you were with today.’
‘Yeah, that’s Taylor. And yes, she is staying in her mother’s house.’
‘For how long?’
‘I’m not sure. Her mother is away on a cruise, so she’s back to look after the old man.’
‘That’s nice of her.’
‘It is.’
‘Will you be seeing her again?’
‘Why are you asking?’
‘I’m just making conversation.’
‘I have no idea. But it’s a small town, and we do live on the same property. Our paths are bound to cross. Right, I’ll get going, but I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Do you really have to go? I can cook you dinner. That pasta dish you love. We can catch up.’
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
She looked desperate. ‘I just got back. What am I supposed to do?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe watch a show, or read a book, or even go for a walk or swim?
’ I suggested, my voice softening. It broke my heart to see how sad she looked, but I knew I had to be firm to be kind.
‘I’m here for you, Hannah. I always will be.
But some of this stuff you’ve got to figure out for yourself. ’