“Oh, hun.” Cathy put her hand on Hannah’s forearm. “I’m so sorry you felt like that! It was a lovely reading. I was sad, yes. But it was a bittersweet kind of sad. And now that I know what the cards were trying to tell me, I feel good! Writing has become a weight I didn’t even realize I was carrying.”
Kate watched Hannah and Cathy. Hannah was blinking fast. Kate rubbed small circles on her back.
“Well then, I see Jax is bringing over some drinks; are those for you two?” Cathy said.
Kate nodded. “Yep, do you have room at your table?”
“I’ve had a table to myself. Come join me.”
“Where are we sitting?” Jax asked as they handed Kate and Hannah their beers.
“I snagged the last booth. We are over there,” Cathy said.
The four walked over to the booth. Cathy and Hannah slid in first, facing each other, and then Jax and Kate sat down. Kate put her hand on Hannah’s knee. She could feel Hannah’s warmth through the thin material of her pants. She moved her hand down, closer to Hannah’s inner thigh. Hannah made a squeak and clamped Kate’s hand between her legs.
Jax set down their beer. “I need to go pile my plate with food. Do you want to come with, Cathy?”
“I’m ready to sample all the desserts,” Cathy replied. Jax stood, and Cathy slid out next to them. She locked her arm in theirs and they walked over to the food.
Hannah and Kate looked at each other. “I hope you don’t mind sitting with Jax and Cathy tonight?” Kate asked.
“No! This is great, I’m so excited to meet your friends. I mean, I know them a little, but not in the context of them being your friends—or that they aren’t straight! Well, I knew Jax was non-binary, and now I find out Cathy had a wife. I’m feeling like I belong to a little community.”
Kate cupped Hannah’s cheek and leaned in for a kiss. Hannah kissed her back softly. Then they leaned back against the booth. “Ready for some food?” Kate asked.
“Definitely, I hardly ever drink. This beer is making me a little tipsy, I think.”
They got up and piled their plates with food.
Chapter Twenty-one
Hannah was having the best time. During the years with Chad, when she’d gone places with him, he hadn’t bothered to introduce her to anyone. He was always too busy drinking and either charming other women or just a second away from blowing up at her. And since then, she hadn’t gone on more than a couple of dates with anyone. Nothing long enough to merit meeting any friends. Tonight, she felt like she was finally with her people. For a moment, she wondered again what her life would have been like if she hadn’t gotten involved with Chad. Would she have allowed herself to date women when she was younger? Then she could have avoided the abuse and never had to escape him and live in her car for a few months. Then again, those experiences brought her to this moment. Her throat was tight, and her eyes were stinging again. It was hard not to cry as happiness overwhelmed her. She took off her glasses and carefully rubbed her eyes.
Kate stopped halfway to her mouth with a forkful of green bean casserole and turned to Hannah. The caring in Kate’s eyes made Hannah’s heart feel like it had doubled in size. “Are you okay? Do you need me to get you something?”
Hannah cleared her throat, “I’m great, actually.”
Kate gave her a toothy grin and went back to devouring her dinner.
“Kate, how is the prep for the Mistletoe Market going?” Jax asked.
“You’re going to be there this year?” Cathy asked.
Kate held up a finger and finished chewing her food. “I’ve got my extra inventory. I’m praying daily that we get weather that’s not too cold and not too hot, and no rain from Black Friday through Christmas Eve.”
“How are you going to manage being there every day?” Jax asked.
“I’ve hired a couple of seniors from Marley Creek High to help out with the store and at the market.”
“It seems like a ton of work. I wish you luck,” Cathy said.
“I’m going to be there, too,” Hannah said.
“I’ll have to make sure to stop by and see you both,” said Jax.
“More than stopping by my booth, I could really use some help with something,” Kate said.
Cathy leaned back against the booth; her plate of sweet treats was gone. “What’s up?”
