Chapter Thirty-One #2
We wait for his next words while his finger rubs the creases of his forehead.
His eyes shut tight. “I’m not saying this very well…
. so I’ll be straight with you.” He sits up and smiles, “Daniel, when you look at my daughter, I can tell exactly how you feel because you see her in the same way as I saw her mother. If I’m reading you right boy, you’re in love with my daughter, yes? ”
Daniel takes my hand, “I am Stewart, yes.” At that point we only have eyes for each other for just a few seconds before I break the contact between us. I shift in my seat, bringing my attention back to dad, whose smile has grown considerably.
“There it is. There’s the look. It’s very rare in life to find someone who you love so completely and who loves you the same in return.
We could tell a while ago you two were falling.
Every time your mother and I spoke to you on FaceTime, by the photos you sent home, we could see the love between you both.
I can’t be a part of breaking that bond.
I want you to go back to Australia, Hannah, and live your life with Daniel. It’s meant to be.”
His words are amazing, but I imagine a small part of his heart breaking.
He is letting me go to be with the man I love, but I also love my dad.
He’s doing this for me and I love him all the more for it, but I’m still not sure I can return to Sydney.
I don’t think I can take the burden of leaving him by himself.
Before I open my mouth, Daniel cuts in, “Thank you, Stewart. You’re prepared to let your daughter go and that means a lot, it really does, but I’ve got something to tell you both.
” I give Daniel a puzzled look. I’m slightly worried about what he will say. He doesn’t want me to go back with him?
“In the office today, I was sorting out my flights. There are things I need to arrange and some business to take care of.” He turns to me and places the palm of his hand on my face and speaks to me directly, “It was always my intention for us to be together, Han. For always. You’re a part of me now and I love you so much, it hurts. ”
I’m silent, still unsure of what this means.
“I’ve been making plans. This decision was pulling your heart apart and I don’t want you to hurt like this.
Not after everything that’s happened. I’m not just talking about losing your mum, I’m talking about the stuff we went through at home.
You’ve stuck with me through some tough times and handled more shit and trouble than any partner should have to.
It’s my responsibility to be strong for both of us right now.
” His Adam's apple sticks in his throat as he swallows deeply. “I’m taking the decision out of your hands.”
“You are?” I’m fearful, almost scared to hear how this will end and what he’s decided.
“I’ve decided to move here, to England.”
Relieved tears threaten to overflow as I choke out my response, “Wh… what? Oh, my God, you can’t! What about your family?” It’s a knee-jerk reaction .
“I’ve spoken to them. We’ve talked everything through, several times. It makes sense.”
My dad interrupts at this point. He knows this has come out of the blue and there are things we need to talk about.
“Right, you two, I’ve put my two-penneth in.
Hannah, please don’t stay here out of loyalty to me.
I want you to be happy. In fact, I want you both to be happy, so I’ll leave you to talk now.
Whatever you decide, you have my full support.
” He smiles before leaving and squeezes my shoulder on his way out.
As soon as the door closes behind him, Daniel wastes no time in telling me his plans.
“I’ve already put the wheels in motion. We can do this, baby. My dad is on board for me to transfer offices to London.”
He seems so enthusiastic. Does he realise what a move like this would mean?
“What about your parents and Joe? What will they do without you?” He gives me one of his killer smiles.
“Mum told me she was looking forward to holidaying more in the UK, although I’d be lying if I said she was overjoyed.
She’ll get used to it,” he smirks. “And Joe was happy that we’d worked it out.
Actually, I have some news but you have to keep a secret.
” He Takes a deep breath and says, “Joe has somebody.”
Now it’s my turn to raise an eyebrow. “I beg your pardon?”
“He’s started seeing someone.”
“You’re kidding me.”
I am truly shocked and strangely disappointed; when all is said and done, he’s still married.
Surely it should mean something, shouldn’t it?
Then I think about Freya. How she is a first-class meddling bitch.
I won’t deny I’m scared of the lengths she has gone to, to get what she wants, which is ultimately, my man.
She can’t leave him alone, which makes her a constant thought at the back of Daniel’s mind and a noose around Joe’s neck.
“Hannah, where have you gone?” he asks trying to catch my eyes .
“Sorry, I was just thinking.”
“About the fact you don’t approve?”
“No… yes… I’m not sure…”
“Okay, it’s not ideal, but it is the only way Joe can cope. He’s trapped and Jennifer gives him… normality.”
I double take. “What? Jennifer? Your father’s assistant?” He nods as my mouth drops.
“They haven’t been together long, a few weeks maybe. She seems to help him and now he has something for himself. Please try to understand.”
It’s a lot to take in and not what I was expecting him to say at all. “I will… I mean, it’s not for me to judge and I suppose I’ll get used to it.”
It will take a while to get my head around this news.
I never met Jennifer. Our paths didn’t cross, and I always imagined her as a vision rather than an actual person.
Now here she is having an affair with Daniel’s brother, although part of me is relieved that Joe has someone.
There is little or no relationship with Freya.
They are forced to stay together out of circumstance and not love.
My mind wanders back to the farm, the arguments, and the upset caused by Freya until Daniel pulls me out of my thoughts once again.
“So, what do you think then… about me living here, with you?”
“How do you know this is the right move for you? How can you be so sure?”
“Why wouldn’t I be sure?” He seems frustrated and gets up from the sofa and walks around the room while running his fingers through his short dark hair.
“What else can I do to convince you? You’re the one.
You’ve given me back my life. I just existed before and was forever looking for something I didn’t think I’d find.
I didn’t know at the time that my destiny was living on the other side of the world.
Now I’ve found you, I’m not prepared to let you go.
I need you to breathe, to live and… fuck it!
” With that, he purposely strides towards me and promptly drops to the floor on one knee and takes my hands in his.
Oh God! Oh my God! No, not like this! No!
“Hannah, I love you. You’ve given me more love and understanding than I deserve. My crazy, beautiful, patient girl, I can never let you go. Marry me?”
Shit! He did it, the one thing I didn’t want him to do. I can’t speak. I just sit and stare at him.
“Please say something, baby.”
“I can’t.”
Maybe it’s shock or the fact his reasons are wrong, but he can’t ask me like this. He looks utterly devastated. “I don’t understand.”
My body trembles. I don’t want to break his heart, but I also don’t want him to do something he may well regret.
“Daniel, I love you so much, my heart aches. The thing is… I think you’re asking me in haste—because of the situation. When and if you ever ask me, I want it to be because you really want me to be your wife. Not because you feel you have to prove a point.”
“No, Hannah.” Daniel pushes up from the floor and pulls me to him.
“Please, baby, listen to me. I am moving here to be with you. I was flying back to Sydney to complete my move and after that, I was coming back here to ask you to marry me, anyway. I have a ring. It’s in Seaforth, in our home.
The home we share. The one in which I fell in love with you.
I won’t give up our life, Han. We can be anywhere in the world.
I don’t care. I can’t function when you’re not with me.
” He draws breath with a weary smile, “I wasn’t sure when or how, but I wanted to ask you a while ago.
Then your mother became ill and you know the rest.”
He looks at my hands and holds them in his. “If we were to begin again here, in London, we could be free. Free from all the shit at home. Freya, the cameras— ”
“And the ex-girlfriends.” I can’t help myself, and at least it makes him smile.
“Rebounds. Yeah, those too.” He pauses, his eyes locking with mine. “Marry me. Please?”
“You’re telling the truth?”
“You know I am. Hannah May, you are the love of my life.”
“What about when you go home for a few weeks?”
“For Christ’s sake, Hannah, say yes!”
I need to stop tormenting us both with ‘what ifs.’ This time, I don’t hesitate. “Yes… yes, Daniel Grant. I’ll marry you!”
Daniel’s eyes widen, and the smile on his face is like nothing I’ve seen before.
He sweeps me off my feet and dots kisses on my lips, cheeks, forehead, chin and the top of my chest before heading back to the other side.
When he reaches my lips for the second time, his mouth takes mine deeply.
It’s the most seductive kiss we’ve ever shared, although it’s interrupted by a slight clearing of the throat.
Dad stands in the doorway supporting a huge grin.
“I trust you two have some wonderful news to share?”