Page 9 of Better Than Expected
It had been the tissues, that small package of tissues that Hannah still had yet to get rid of, that convinced her to find Caroline’s new number after she’d switched firms, months ago.
Because Caroline didn’t have to show her a kindness that night. A kindness that no one else had shown her, even people who had pretended to be friendly with her for years.
Hannah shook her head slowly as her phone screen darkened, and she looked up at Robyn. “I have to take the chance.”
April 22 – Last Year
“All right! I’m off to save the world with this Abbacado,” Caroline informed them as she stretched.
She wrapped an arm around Abbie’s shoulders, before she stroked her hand over Hannah’s shoulder.
It was Earth Day, and Caroline’s environmentally-friendly firm was having a big cleanup along the river to promote an anti-littering campaign. Abbie had been so excited to take part, and Hannah would have, too, if she wasn’t working shortly.
Caroline had dropped by her place to pick up Abbie for the afternoon ten minutes ago, where she’d paused to chat with Hannah and Robyn.
She looked up from where she sat at the kitchen table, still with Robyn. “Thanks so much for taking her; she’s been talking about it all week.”
Really, Abbie talked about Caroline all of the time, all days, all weeks.
Caroline was already smiling down at her. “Well, good. So have I.”
“You have?” Abbie asked, zipping up her jacket in the doorway.
Caroline turned to face her. “Been telling everyone I know about it, obviously.”
Abbie beamed at her.
Caroline turned to face her again. “You just come by when you’re done at the café? We’ll be back at mine by then.” Hannah nodded, and Caroline gave Robyn a smaller, more polite smile. “It was really nice to meet you.”
Robyn waited only until the door was closed behind them before she stared Hannah down and asked, “You know that woman is in love with you, right?”
Hannah gaped in surprise at the comment, her cheeks feeling uncontrollably warm as she quickly denied, “No, she isn’t.”
Robyn shot her with a knowing look. “Hannah, I just think you need to be a little careful is all. You are taking a major chance trusting her with everything and I think you’re walking a fine line. That’s all.” She held her hands up as if to say she’d said her piece.
Hannah just shook her head, her stomach twisting for a lot of reasons – but, no. Caroline could have any woman she wanted. She didn’t want a mess like Hannah. Thankfully, or this could get really messy, given how much she’d tossed into this chance in the last few months.
No. Definitely not.
June 20 – Last Year
Thechance paid off. It really did.
It didn’t fully hit her until the summer solstice, two full weeks after the divorce had been finalized.
“Mom! Look!” Abbie shouted as she rollerbladed by her – a little wobbly still, but getting so much better by the minute.
Hannah put her hand up to shield her gaze from the sun as she lounged in the park near Abbie’s school. Yesterday had been the official last day, and today the school was hosting a big cookout party for all of the future fifth-graders.
“You’re doing so great, honey!”
Abbie’s friends in her class had been particularly excited for the rollerskating area of the park, therefore, Abbie was rearing to try it as well. Though, she’d never been particularly into skating before, so Hannah was decently sure it wasn’t something her daughter was going to obsess over.
Still, she was giggling so brightly, so loudly, having such a good time, that Hannah couldn’t help but smile as she reclined against the picnic table at her back. She’d been more than happy to agree to sit down here and keep an eye on the girls.
“Mom, you gotta come and skate, too!” Abbie shouted, a little out of breath as she skated quickly by her.
Hannah arched her eyebrows and shook her head as she laughed.