“She still has seizures. Not a lot, but when she does, they’re bad. She loses her ability to speak. To see. The doctors have to sedate her; otherwise she gets agitated and that’s not good.” Hannah sighed.
“I’m so sorry,” I told her. She covered my hand with hers and squeezed.
“Thanks. She’s in a decent place. An expensive place but a good one.”
“I don’t mean to pry, but how do you and your mother afford her care?”
Hannah bit her lip. “It’s a struggle. The insurance premiums are ridiculous. We’re fighting all the time to have her care covered. It makes me so angry the way these insurance companies try to deny care to people who need it. Of all the things that are against the law,thatshould be one of them! What they do is criminal!” Hannah fumed. She was getting worked up. I had never seen her so passionate about something.
“I agree. It’s not right. I remember after Dillon died, my parents had to pay almost forty thousand dollars in hospital bills that the insurance company refused to cover.”
“Something should be done about that!” Hannah declared, looking at me, her eyes snapping.
I nodded. “I agree. I know there’s legislation—”
“No! You can’t leave it up to the government. They won’t do anything. Sometimes it’s up to the people. Don’t you think?” Hannah was incredibly animated. Like a preacher at the pulpit, she seemed filled with an almost fanaticism. I could tell this meant a lot to her.
“I’m not sure what people can do against insurance companies, though,” I said slowly, not entirely sure what she was getting at.
“There are things…” Her voice trailed off and she glanced at me again. “Never mind. I just get so angry thinking about it.” She shook her head. “Ignore me.” She chuckled, seeming self-conscious.
I squeezed her thigh. “I get what you’re saying. I really do. But we have to trust our government to sort it out. To make it right.”
She snorted. “You can’t be serious. Trust the government?” She rolled her eyes.
“Hey, I’m government, don’t forget. You can trust me,” I remarked lightly.
“Yeah. You are,” she said with a strange note in her voice.
The mood in the car became oddly tense. I didn’t know why.
“We’re almost there; close your eyes,” Hannah said suddenly, breaking the mood.
“Close my eyes?”
“Yes. Do it. Hurry.” Hannah giggled.
I did as I was asked. We drove for another five minutes before I felt Hannah turn left, then put the car in reverse, obviously backing into a parking spot. She turned off the engine and then I felt her lips on mine.
“You can open your eyes now,” she murmured against my mouth.
“I think I’d like to keep them closed for a few more minutes,” I whispered, cupping her face and deepening the kiss. I felt her tongue invade my mouth and I tangled mine with hers.
“We need to get inside,” Hannah said with a laugh, pulling away.
“If we have to,” I said, opening my eyes. I looked around and realized we were in the parking lot of a large old building.
“Do you know where we are?” she asked excitedly.
I opened my door and got out. People dressed in nice clothes made their way to the front of the grand building. A lit marquee above the front door saidALTRIA THEATER.
Hannah handed me a ticket. I looked up at her in surprise. “You bought tickets toLes Misérables?” She nodded.
I grabbed her arm and tugged her toward me. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her again. Softly this time. Tenderly. My heart felt full. How had I gotten so lucky?
“Thank you,” I said quietly, kissing her temple, smelling the sweet vanilla scent of her hair.
“Is it a good surprise?” She grinned, clearly excited.
