Her eyes well with tears as she looks up at me. “I don’t know why I’m emotional. We haven’t even called them yet.”
“Probably because you’ve been worried for nearly two weeks, and having that confirmation settled your nerves,” I explain, pushing her hair behind her ear and cupping her cheek. “Come on, let’s call your grandma. It will help.”
I help her sit at the table, scooting my chair close to hers and wrapping an arm around her shoulder, hoping to provide comfort. If I had it my way, I would pull her into my lap, but I’m not sure she’d like that right now.
I hand her the phone and tell her to dial. The line rings and rings, until it picks up. “Hello?” a woman's voice comes on the line.
“Grandma?” Hannah greets, her voice shaking.
“Hannah, is that you?”
“Yes,” Hannah responds.
“Oh, my sweet girl. How are you? Are you okay?”
“I’m okay. We got the okay to call you today, and I needed to check in. Are you okay? Are you safe?”
“I'm safe,” her grandma replies. “Julia and Tiff have been staying with me, even though I’ve told them a million times I’m fine. I think they need me more than I need them.”
That makes Hannah chuckle, and I’m glad to see her humor returning. “I’m glad they’re staying there. Are they there now?”
“They’re out back. I’ll yell at them.” In the background, there’s scuffling, and then the distant sound of her grandma yelling Tiff and Julia’s names. “Here they come.”
“Hannah?” Julia’s voice is next on the line. “Oh my god, we’ve been worried sick. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Hannah says. “Thomas is taking really good care of me. We’re in a nice little cottage, and the people hosting us are so sweet.”
“Thank goodness,” her grandma says. “It’s so good to hear your voice, Hannah.”
“Yours too,” Hannah replies, her entire body relaxing. They chat for a few minutes, asking me how I am before Julia asks Hannah to step away for a private conversation.
I shift my arm off of her and stand. “I’ll go outside. Let me know when you’re done, and we can call my family next.”
Hannah looks up with me, and nods. “Thanks. It won’t be long.”
I lean down, kissing her lips quickly. “I’ll be outside ifyou need me, freckles.” With that, I head outside, leaving Hannah some much needed alone time with her family.
I wish it was a Sunday morning so I could know that all my family was together at Sunday brunch, but it’s okay. Whoever I can get a hold of will be great.
32
HANNAH
As soon as the door audibly clicks behind Thomas, Julia is hounding me. “Tell meeverything,” she says.
“I can’t,” I murmur. I am not about to let my grandma hear all about how I am about ready to climb Thomas like a tree and beg him to touch me. We haven’t touched since the night on the couch, and I need more. Arson is tangled in my feet, snoring loudly.
“What do you mean, you can’t? Grandma excused herself to give us a minute. It’s only Tiff and me now.”
Tiff says a quiet affirmative, letting me know my sister was telling the truth. I take a deep breath, thankful that I have this alone time with them. I’ve needed this, needed their advice. On my exhale, I tell them everything.
I tell them all about how I wasn’t sleeping, and how Thomas was my first kiss. Then, I emphasize how comfortable and safe I feel with him, how we’ve done more than kiss now too, and how nervous I am for the next step, even though I feel ready.
They listen intently, only popping in the occasional reactionary noises and affirmations as they do.
“And now, I can’t stop drooling every time I see him, especially when he wears his glasses at night,” I finish with a groan.
“Oh, you’ve got it bad,” Tiff says with a laugh.
