Page 85 of From This Moment (After We Fall 4)
“Abby, Uncle Wes has work,” Hannah said.
“I can arrange a morning off.” I smiled at Abby. “I’d be glad to be your special person. Thanks for asking me.”
I got in and started the engine. “Do you need anything from home, Abby?”
“No, I brought my elephant with me.”
“Okay, good.”
“Want to drop me off?” asked Hannah after I’d turned out of the lot.
“Not unless you’re tired of my company.”
She laughed. “Not at all.”
Once Abby was settled on the couch with my mother and a huge bowl of microwave popcorn, a Disney movie on the TV screen, I told my mom I was taking Hannah home.
“Okay, darling. And you’re coming right back?” She eyed me expectantly.
“Not sure. I might meet Pete and Jack for a drink later.”
Her eyebrows went up. “You’ve been seeing quite a bit of them.”
“Not really.”
“Just about every night last week.”
“We’re catching up, Mom. Anyway, have a good night.”
“Night, darling. Night, Hannah.”
“Goodnight.”
I opened the front door, and Hannah went out, walking silently toward the car with her head down. She said nothing until we were halfway to her house.
“I hate that we have to lie about this.”
I took her hand. “We won’t always.”
She sighed. “You can’t keep telling her you’re out with Pete every night. It’s not even plausible. He has a family. Plus you could get caught in that lie if she sees him.”
“I don’t care. I’m thirty-six years old, Hannah, and it’s not my mother’s business what I do. I only told the lie to protect you. If you want me to tell her the truth, I will.”
“No,” she said quickly. “No, I’m not ready for that.”
“You just let me know.” I kissed the back of her hand and held it in my lap. “I loved taking you and Abby out all day.”
“We loved it, too. You’re much too generous.”
“It makes me happy, doing things for you.”
“I can tell.” She squeezed my hand. “Pull in my driveway. I’ll go in and open the garage door for you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
She went inside the house and a moment later, her garage door opened. I pulled inside and parked next to her car, a Honda Civic. Briefly looking it over, I wondered if it was in good condition and when her last oil change had been. I went into the kitchen through the back door and was about to ask her when I saw her staring at her phone and shaking her head.
