Looking back and forth between the boys, I ask, “You did this for me? Thank you.”
“No problem, we were glad to do it. Meg pitched in too,” Carson answers for all of them. Riot stands to the side quietly. He can’t take his eyes off Claire.
“Thank you,” I mouth to Meg, and she nods her head in response.
I look over my shoulder and ask, “Did you know she was coming, Logan?”
“Maybe.” He winks before kissing me on the cheek. “We are just going to go over to the buffet and get something to eat before all the food is gone. Do you want me to make you a plate?”
There is no chance of running out of food, the ladies of Emerley provide, but I appreciate that he is giving me a moment alone with my girlfriends.
“I’m good, thank you.”
“Let’s go over there so we can talk.” Meg points to a private corner.
I glance over at my mom to make sure she is okay before following my friends. She’s still sitting in the same place but now Beth is there too. I’m glad to have a few minutes that I don’t have to worry about her.
“How long are you going to be here?” I ask Claire. I still can’t believe she came home to see me.
Her smile briefly falls before she says, “Just two days. I’m sorry, I wish I could stay longer, but I need to be in Jasper before Thursday. I’m going to spend the night at Meg’s, but we can spend all day with you tomorrow. Is that okay?”
“That is the best news I have had in a week.”
My circle of friends may be small, but they are the best friends I could ever ask for.
Chapter Seven
Tonight, we are taking a break from the overwhelming sadness at Hannah’s house. My mom offered to stay with Grace for the night, and I gratefully accepted for both of us. Hannah was reluctant to leave her mom, but I insisted. I have been following her lead on most things, but she desperately needs some downtime.
We have retreated to the yellow house where I grew up. I confirmed with my dad that Jackson is with him for the night. After I told my parents he had been drinking they grounded him for the foreseeable future, and he’s pissed off at me for telling. I’ll deal with him later; he’s not my priority right now.
Hannah and I need this time alone, we are both peopled out. Though I am very grateful for all the support and the community food train, I am desperate for something other than a casserole, soup, and questionable meatloaf. I’m sure Hannah is too.
Before coming here, I picked up our favourite, stone-fired pizza from a small, family-owned restaurant in the village. The smell of pepperoni and melted cheese is mouth-watering.
We are currently camped out on a bunch of blankets and pillows, having a picnic on the living room floor. There is a small buffet of hot pizza and cold soda, and it feels like this is the firsttime I have been able to take a full breath since before we arrived home.
Hannah has been so brave and capable of dealing with the house, her dad’s business, and making sure her mom gets the care she needs. It’s only at night, when she’s curled up in my arms, that she allows her mask to slip. I’m worried about her. I can see the exhaustion in her eyes and hear the weariness in her voice. Her fair skin is paler, making her freckles more prominent, and it looks like she has lost weight.
“Do you think she knew?” Hannah asks out of the blue, pushing her hair from her face. “About Dad’s affair?” she clarifies. “She’s barely talking at all, but she has never said anything about the other woman.”
“I have no idea. I was going to ask my mom if she knows anything, but she has enough on her plate.”
My mom started working for Mr. Knight around the time her and my dad split up. She had limited work experience, because she stayed home to raise my brother and I, but he was willing to give her a chance. It was a good fit for them both.
“I hope she knows how much I appreciate her taking the lead with his office. It must be hard for her. Now that she has redistributed all his listings, I can think about selling the business. Hopefully, someone internally will be interested. I don’t want to sell, but I can’t manage keeping both it and the gallery and I won’t sell my mom’s gallery.”
She pauses her thoughts long enough to take another big bite of pizza. I’m glad she has an appetite tonight.
“She knows, Hannah. She loved working for your dad, and she wants to help you and Grace.”
Thankfully, my mom knows the inner workings of his business. Hannah should have never been put in the position of taking care of his estate in the first place.
I feel guilty for the next thing I’m going to pile on her.
“I really hate to do this, but we need to talk about school. Do you think you will be able to leave your mom and go back next week?”
This is a discussion I have been putting off since the funeral. She needs time, but we must make some big decisions soon. School has been accommodating, but that won’t last forever.
