“Absolutely,” she agreed, taking a bite of eggs.
When they finished, she rubbed her stomach as they walked to the truck. “I ate way too much. Everything tasted delicious.”
“I can park the truck by the hospital and we can walk the trail to the training facility,” he suggested as he secured Brody.
“Do a lot of people walk it?”
“They do on the trails by the hospital. Usually, the staff uses this one. Brody and I will be right beside you. We can bring Nine home with us,” he added.
She swallowed and nodded.
“Two wins in one day, Stormy,” he said, shaking his head. “Again, I never know what you’re doing.”
He drove to the parking lot and opened her door. A gentle breeze blew her hair in her face, and he brushed it behind her ear. “You got this.”
“I hope it’s like the coffee and pancakes, and I’m pleasantly surprised,” she said shakily.
Brody jumped down and Cole took her hand. “Nine will be happy to see you. She’s missed you. In fact, we all missed you. I worried you read ahead to discover how big Tad’s hose actually turned out to be. I bet it wasn’t more than three inches.”
“Nah. They’re at least eight inches in those types of books,” she said, staring down the path. Her head swiveled from side to side.
“The ex seemed pretty stalkerish. You’re probably right.”
Hannah’s phone rang and she took it from her pocket. Her mom’s number flashed across the screen. “Excuse me. Hello, Mom.”
“Hannah, it’s your father. I set up another flight for you, and I called Kassie Winters. She assured us you’re doing great. Why can’t you return home, then?” he demanded.
“Ugh, I’m sure she meant I’m doing great with my treatment. I’m not leaving until they say I’m in the clear,” she said, angrily. “I’m not a child. As an adult, I’ll make decisions concerning my healthcare. Tell Mom I’m sorry. Why must I return for the holiday when you clearly didn’t plan on visiting me until after the new year?”
Her dad went silent. Cole squeezed her hand, lending her his support.
“We, ugh, planned to come. You know how the airports can be during the holiday rush. Your mom wanted to feel relaxed when we saw you,” he stammered.
“Does she feel agitated all the other times she sees me? Somehow, I think you’re the one who needs to relax. I’m not coming home. You can’t stick me in a nursing home or put me somewhere, so you can forget your daughter ever existed.”
“Hannah—"
“I’m done with this conversation. Tell Mom I’ll call her later,” she said, hanging up the phone. Her eyes filled with tears and she tried to breathe like Claire taught her.
Cole stopped and Brody leaned against her leg. “Stop for a minute and gather yourself. What’s this all about?”
“It’s nothing,” she said, angrily wiping the tears away.
Cole pulled her into his arms and held her close as he rubbed her back.
“I meant it when I said I’m here for you. If you don’t want to return home, I won’t let them take you,” he vowed.
Hannah stepped back and shook her head. “Do you know how many times they visited me in eighteen months? Twice. My dad paced the room like he wanted to crawl out of his skin, and my mom patted my cheek and kept saying ‘I know you’re in there, Hannah. Please speak to me.’ Why? For her to tell me how much Dad missed me? Ha! It probably embarrassed him to see his daughter in such a state.”
“You’re not a fucking embarrassment. You’re a damn miracle and a fighter. You survived, Hannah. Do you still have stuff to work through? Absolutely. But guess what? I do, too. None of us can come back from serving and be the same as we were when we left. Take Patch, for instance, that bastard has some screws loose.”
Hannah burst out laughing. “Scarlett told me all about him and his PT time.”
“Don’t let them steal your joy,” he insisted. “Turn off the phone and ignore them if you must. You need to heal, not be distracted by some asshole’s demands.”
“Thank you,” she said, hugging him tightly. Cole’s arms wrapped around her waist. He inhaled the scent of her vanilla shampoo and a hint of maple syrup. It suited her. He didn’t fail to notice how she fit in his arms.
Another staff member appeared on the trail and he stepped back. “Shall we continue?”
