Page 2 of Better Than Expected
So, reality wasn’t a fairytale, but – at least she wasn’t holding onto that naivety even longer in her life.
And Michael was right – she didn’t ever have to struggle to pay for anything, her daughter never experienced what she went through as a child when she’d seen her mother stress herself to the bone trying to figure out how all of the bills were going to get paid or ducking down under the windowsill when they saw the water or electric companies park outside. She got to spend her days raising her daughter and experiencing every little moment with her. That was a blessing.
When Hannah had been younger, her mom would always focus on the positive side and tell her they would “make the best of it.”
So, Hannah was “making the best of” her marriage, as much as she could. And generally, most days, it was – it was fine. It was just fine.
Not that her mother would ever want to hear about her making the best of her marriage. There was a reason her mom had always kicked her romantic interests to the curb at slightest transgressions. After Hannah’s dad had left them high and dry when she’d been four, Hannah’s mom had been very focused on making sure that the two of them would never settle, again.
Perhaps that was where Hannah had gotten those unrealistic romance expectations of her youth.
No, her mother didn’t hide any of her feelings about Michael at all, and they weren’t pleasant. She understood that; it was also… fine.
Hannah hummed along to the Christmas music on the radio, smiling at the way Abbie kicked her feet out where she sat at her booster seat and sang along in half made-up words as well.
She continued to mix her sugar cookie dough, only realizing Michael entered the kitchen when he sighed loudly behind her.
She spun around, fixing on a smile in spite of the aggravated look on his face. Marriage was all a learning curve, but something she’d learned very early was that if she could get Michael off to work in a decent mood, then she could look forward to a better evening when he came home.
“Good morning. How’d you sleep?”
“Fine. Tired, still,” he grunted back, adjusting his tie as he took in the kitchen.
Hannah bit the inside of her cheek as she looked down at the bowl and continued to mix. “Yes, well, you got in a bit late, so I can imagine.”
She did her best to temper her tone and not sound too inquisitive or, worse, accusatory. She never really even meant to sound accusing, but apparently, sometimes she did. And Michael did not appreciate those times. But his last secretary had quit so suddenly and had showed up at their house to yell at Michael only three weeks ago, so it was on Hannah’s mind, still. In spite of Michael’s seemingly-heartfelt assurances that nothing had happened.
“What the hell is going on in here?” He stepped closer, narrowing his eyes into the bowl. “First thing in the morning and you’re making dessert?”
“I made you a coffee and put it in your to-go thermos with your briefcase and jacket, in the mudroom,” she informed him, tone light. Not only did she not want to spark another fight in general, but she hated whenever it happened in front of Abbie. She knew, as Michael always said, that she was so young, she wouldn’t remember but… Hannah didn’t want to take any chances.
Michael was close enough that she could smell his aftershave and fresh cologne after his shower.
She could feel the deep breath he took in. And her stomach was littered with nerves.
“But what are you doing? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for tonight? This Christmas party is important. Junior partner is only a stepping stone, and Wilkens is going to be taking note of everything. We have to impress – the both of us.
Hannah bit back a sigh, her nerves just barely lightening at the fact that this wasn’t an immediate fight.
Marriage was a learning curve, she thought again, especially when you married far beyond your own social and financial class. That was also something she was still adjusting to. The way to work a room at a function, the right designers to wear, the committees to join as a housewife, what topics to bring up at dinner parties.
His face darkened, his eyes going out of focus in the way they did that did calm her a bit. It meant he was upset at something or someone else, and not her. “Especially now that they hired Parker. I swear, Granger is so up her ass, and she’s trying to put on this act and try to charm as many people as possible before they see right through her.”
Hannah nodded to placate him. This was far from the first rant she’d heard about Caroline Parker, the new hire at the firm a couple of months ago. The woman who had come in and had been given some of Michael’s cases and bungled them. A reason he’d had to stay late for several weeks in a row. Then they’d had to work together on a handful of cases, in which Caroline had messed up a bunch of small details that Michael was left to fix – causing even more late nights.
Some weekends.
This wasn’t even to speak about the horrendous attitude and rude behaviors she’d heard about.
Ice bitch was Michael’s preferred term, though there were many. Hannah… didn’t love them, but it wasn’t usually worth a fight that directed the attitude her way.
And so, she fixed on a small smile and turned to look at him. “Of course, I remember the party, Michael. I’m on the events committee at your firm,” she reminded, managing to hold back her sigh. “And these cookies are for the party.”
The frown on his face deepened, though. It was less of his angry look now, and more of a confused annoyance. Much better. She could manage that. “Then why are you baking? Shouldn’t you just leave that to the caterers? I mean, Hannah, come on. This sort of thing is what we pay people for.”
Hannah grit her teeth and cut her eyes toward Abbie. God, the last thing she wanted was for Abbie to grow up thinking like that. Her daughter seemed to be paying absolutely no mind to them, thankfully.
“I think it offers your company a nice personal touch. Something like that could set you apart from other people,” she spoke lightly. And she wanted to do it. She wanted to have something else to do and to offer, other than simply hanging from Michael’s arm.