All the air whooshes from my lungs as I sigh in relief. “Really? Next week?”
“Yep. We have a few things to straighten out, but once I get the all clear, I’ll give you a call. Feel free to call your families and let them know you’ll be home soon.”
We chat another minute longer about Henry and his recovery, but with each passing minute, it’s like the reality of it is hitting us both. Hannah is shrinking further away from me into the couch, and I can tell she’s pulling away from me. Physically and metaphorically. It hurts, knowing that we have come so far, only for one phone call to change it all.
“Thanks, Elena,” I say as we hang up.
Hannah is picking at the skin around her fingernails. “Stop that.” I reach out, taking her hand to keep her from making herself bleed. “Talk to me.”
She shakes her head. “I’ll give you some time alone to call your family.” Without another word, she stands,stepping away from the couch to head outside. Arson follows her, glancing back at me like he’s waiting for me to follow.
I wave him off. I should have stopped her, but I might have made it worse. She needs time to herself to process. I only hope she doesn’t pull away from me.
I sit for a moment before I pull up Jason’s contact and hit call. It rings twice before he picks up, only it’s not his voice. “Daddy’s phone,” a familiar child’s voice answers.
“Hey Lenners,” I greet my niece.
“Uncle Tommy!” she yells, her voice raising an octave. “Are you coming home yet? Presley and I miss you.”
“I miss you too, kiddo. Hopefully, soon,” I answer her question. “Can I talk to your dad, or Fallon?”
Instead of acknowledging my question, the phone muffles, and there’s a loud yell.“Daddy!”her shrieking voice calls, making me laugh.
In the background, I can hear Jason approaching. “Lennie, what did I say about answering my phone? It might be someone from work.”
“Sorry, Daddy,” she replies sweetly. “It’s not someone from work. It’s Uncle Tommy.”
“It is?” There’s static on the line, then my brother’s voice. “Thomas?”
“Hey, man,” I answer.
“Sorry about Lennie. Her new thing is answering everyone’s phones,” Jase explains.
“No problem,” I reply with a laugh. “It was good to talk to her for a second.”
“Please tell me this isn’t just another check-in,” Jason pleads. “Please tell me you’re coming home.”
I take a deep breath and exhale the words. “We’re coming home. We don’t have a for sure date, but it’s sometime next week, Elena says.”
“Oh, thank god. Josie went into labor this morning. Andrew sent an update that they’re keeping her at the hospital. It’s really happening.”
My heart twists. I’d wanted to be home when she went into labor so I could visit them in the hospital, but that probably won’t happen now. The only thing stopping me from being angry is knowing that there’s an end in sight. We got the official word that we’re going home.
“How’s Andrew holding up?” I ask with a laugh. Knowing him, he’s probably freaking out.
“Marley went with, she’s taking photos for them. According to her, he’s not handling Josie being in pain well.”
I imagine Hannah being in that much pain and sympathize with my youngest brother. “I can understand that. I don’t know how I’d handle seeing Hannah in that much pain,” I say.
“Speaking of, how are things with yourfiancée?” Jason asks curiously, enunciating the word fiancée.
“Ten minutes ago, I would have said amazing,” I reply with a sigh, running a hand over my face. “Now, I’m not so sure. As soon as we got the call that we could go home, she distanced herself from me. She left as soon as we hung up the phone to give me space to call you guys. But I don’t want space. I want her to be part of this, part of the family.”
“I mean, maybe she thought she was being respectful,” Jason tries to say, but I’m shaking my head, even though he can’t see me.
“Sure, maybe that was part of it, but you don’t know her like I do. I’ve spent the entire time we’ve been here getting to know her, falling in love with her, and trying to show her that this isn’t temporary, but I’m worried she doesn't see that like I do.”
“So, show her, then. Don’t let her get away from you. Do you want her?”
