“Oh, I must be thinking of someone else. What can I get you, sweetie?”
“I’ll take a large, steeped tea with milk and a coffee cake muffin please.”
“No donut today?” I ask. The Hannah I remember would choose a donut over a muffin every single time.
“I don’t eat donuts every day,” she blusters.
Maggie rolls her eyes and chuckles before busying herself preparing our orders. I turn to Hannah and try to engage her in conversation.
“We didn’t get a chance to talk yesterday. I was wondering if I could take you out for dinner sometime this week so I—” She holds up her hand and cuts me off before I can finish my sentence.
“No, I’m not interested in having dinner with you,” she says looking around the bakery to see who may be listening.
“Lunch? Breakfast?” I try.
“Not happening. I don’t want to eat with you, Logan.” She closes her eyes, trying to find her patience.
“I would really like to talk,” I say, moving closer to her. If only I could get her to listen to me, maybe she would understand why I did what I did.
“I can’t.”
“Or you won’t?”
“Same thing.”
Maggie brings over our orders. We both reach for our wallets the same time. “I’ll get it, Maggie,” I say, holding up my card.
“I can pay for myself, Logan,” she says, looking at my outstretched hand as I tap. Her wide, green eyes dart up to meet my own for the first time. She starts to reach out and touch the natural stone beads and string leather circling my wrist, then quickly pulls back like she has been burned.
“Is that the necklace I made you,” she pauses, her voice thick with emotion, “in high school?” she finishes quickly.
“Yeah. I outgrew it,” I reply, touching my neck, “so I wear it as a bracelet now.”
“Why?” She looks baffled.
“Why?” I echo. “Because you made it for me. Of course I wear it,” I reply, turning the bracelet on my wrist.
The truth is I use it to ground me, and I would feel naked without it.
“Do you still have yours?” I hope she kept the one that matches mine.
“Nope,” she answers quickly.
“I’ve got to go. Thanks, Maggie.” Hannah turns and rushes towards the door.
“Hannah, wait.” I turn to go after her. Maggie touches my hand to stop me.
“Give her time, Logan. She needs to get used to you living here again, and she doesn’t need you running after her.”
“I don’t want to give her more time. I just want to talk to her.”
“She needs time,” Maggie says more firmly.
“I will only say this once, Logan James, so pay attention. Hannah has been hurt enough in this lifetime, so you think long and hard before you chase after her.”
Never have I ever heard Maggie speak so sternly. I feel like a dickhead.
“Okay,” I concede, running my hand through my hair. “I’ll give her time.”
