I pause, forcing Happy to stop, and he turns, looking down at me, a knowing smile curling his lips when he sees my face which, I’m sure, is fraught with sheer panic.
“You go in,” I say. “I’ll wait here.”
“Baby Draper?” He ducks his chin, offering me a knowing look. “Don’t pussy out on me now.”
I narrow my eyes, and he chuckles lowly. “But… won’t this upset her more?” I shrug because I really don’t have any idea.
Happy shakes his head. “Trust me.”
And I release a stammering breath, because this isn’t the first time tonight that he’s told me to trust him. And I do. Trust him. More than I ever thought I could trust Happy Slater.
Turning, Happy leads me, gently pushing open the door and walking inside.
I’m met with the bedroom of every little girl’s dream: soft pink walls, a canopy bed, twinkling fairy lights hung from the ceiling, toys and dolls galore. And there, in the center of the huge bed crowded with pillows and plushies, sits Lucky in the arms of Linda Estes in all her timeless beauty, both of them staring directly at me.
“Hey, Lucky Duck,” Happy says softly, letting go of my handand rounding the bed, hopping onto the mattress and wrapping his arms around the little girl who looks so much like him it’s uncanny.
Lucky doesn’t speak, her big chocolate eyes still focused on me as she goes willingly into her daddy’s arms.
“I missed you,” Happy whispers, pressing a kiss to the top of her blonde curls.
Feeling more than a little awkward, I remain on the spot, legs crossed at the ankles, hands wringing together behind my back. My eyes dart to Linda to find her quietly assessing me, the faintest hint of a smile barely grazing her lips. And normally I would introduce myself, but I don’t want to interrupt the moment between Happy and Lucky, so I just stand here, like a fucking imbecile, doing all that I can not to look directly into Linda’s intense eyes that are so dark they’re almost black, like a bottomless ocean.
“Hannah.”
The whisper of my name makes me snap my head up, meeting Lucky’s curious gaze over Happy’s shoulder.
Happy turns his head, his eyes smiling as he murmurs into Lucky’s hair, “Yeah, that’s right. Hannah.” He waves me closer, and I go willingly, nervously, Lucky pulling away from her dad to get a better look at me.
“Hi, Lucky.” I wave.
“Hi…” she says so tentatively, her voice so sweet and fragile, it pulls at my heart.
“Well, now, since everyone knows each other, does someone want to introduceme?”
We all turn to see Linda sitting up a little straighter, an expectant look on her face as she holds a hand to her chest.
Happy chuckles. “Mom, this is Hannah Draper.” He glances back at me, winking secretly. “Hannah, this is my mother, and Lucky’s Grandma, Linda.”
Linda pushes herself up off the bed and walks around to me.God, she’s beautiful. So stunning and poised. At least six-foot something.
I hold my hand out, but she just stands there, looking me up and down for a long beat that makes me instinctively shrink. Glancing sideways at Happy, she offers him an arched brow, a wry smile curling her lips as she says, “Brand meeting, huh?”
My eyes flit between the two of them, noticing the sheepish smile Happy tries to hide, and confusion piques my anxiety. I have no idea what she’s talking about, and I hate not being included in a joke because it immediately makes me think I’m the butt of it. But, before I can overthink too much, Linda wraps her arms around me in an unexpected embrace that doesn’t feel as awkward or weird as it probably should. It feels, dare I say, perfect.
“Nice to meet you, honey,” Linda whispers to me before releasing me from her hold and walking away to where there is a sippy cup on the nightstand. She holds the empty cup up in Happy’s direction. “She just finished.”
Happy nods, smiling down at Lucky. “Wanna read a story, Lucky Duck?”
Lucky nods, still looking at me.
“I’ll leave you to it,” Linda says, winking at me before exiting the room.
I point at the door, nodding at Happy. “I’ll… I’ll go, too.”
“Read a book?” Lucky asks, her eyebrows climbing higher in hope as she continues looking at me.
I pause, flashing a questioning glance at Happy.
