How shallow does that make me?
I pinch the bridge of my nose and walk back inside, where Hannah is already looking at me with a sense of expectancy in her eyes.
"Is she still on the phone?" she asks, her words laced with disappointment—because she already knows the answer.
"No, baby," I say. "She said to tell you, 'Hannah Banana,' that she loves you, though."
"Oh," she whispers, her gaze dropping to the pencil in her hand.
My heart twists into a knot as she lifts her gaze to mine, trying not to cry. I try every day to love my little girl enough to fill the empty space left by her mother, but no matter how hard I try, I know it’s a void I can never fully fill.
"Do you want to help me chop some broccoli?" I ask, hoping it’ll distract her.
"Can I have some cheese and bacon in my soup?" she asks, her tone brightening.
"You bet!" I exclaim, "But first, let's finish that homework."
***
"Bye, Daddy," Hannah says as she steps onto the school bus.
"Bye, Princess," I say, waving goodbye. "Have a good day at school."
When I tucked her in last night, she gave me a smile that seemed to say she understands what we have to deal with when it comes to Meg. Her eyes said,Don't feel bad, Daddy. It's not your fault.Or at least, that’s what I like to believe she was trying to say. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, because I hate the idea of Hannah having to grow up without a mother when she’s just ten miles away, and I can’t help but feel responsible.
"Cal!" Elle's voice instantly lifts my mood, helping me set that part of my life aside for now.
"Are you sure you're ready to tackle six miles?" I tease.
"Is that a challenge?" she says, shooting me a playful smile.
The air is warmer than expected for a morning run, except for a gentle breeze swirling through the trees. We’re about a mile into the six-mile loop, the sound of our feet pounding the gravel road the only noise between us, aside from the occasional breath.
“So, I have to ask,” Elle says, breaking the rhythm of our strides with a smile. “You sure you can keep up with me for six miles? I don’t want to embarrass you.”
I glance sideways at her, amused by the challenge in her eyes. “Please, I’ve run half marathons. This is a walk in the park.”
She raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “Half marathon? How did I not know that?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Maybe ‘cause we just met? What about you? You’ve run one too, haven’t you?”
Elle grins, the kind of smile that brightens her whole face. “I ran a half marathon three years ago with Tina. She’s always pushing me out of my comfort zone. Running, zip-lining, skydiving, bungee jumping... She’s one of those people who makes you want to try everything, even if you’re terrified. Keeps me on my toes.” She laughs lightly, her tone playful. “And surprisingly, I’m actually in decent shape because of her.”
“I can tell,” I say, giving her a sideways glance. “You’ve definitely got some speed.”
We keep a comfortable pace, but the distance seems to shrink between us as the conversation keeps flowing.
“Sounds like you and Tina are pretty close," I say, pushing myself to keep up with her quicker pace. She’s fast, but I can handle it.
“She's my best friend,” Elle says with a soft smile, like thinking about Tina brings her comfort. “We met in our college dorm, and we've been inseparable ever since."
Her pace steadies as she talks, her gaze forward, but there's a softness to her voice, like she’s reliving a cherishedmemory. “We’ve had our ups and downs, of course. We’re different in a lot of ways, but that’s what makes our friendship work.
We run in comfortable silence for a while, each of us focused on the steady rhythm of our breathing and our strides. A mile later, Elle breaks the quiet again.
“So, you’re really doing this on your own with Hannah? You said you have a big family. Do they help you out?”
I nod, pushing myself a little harder as we hit the gravel path. “They do what they can,” I admit, glancing over at her. “My grandparents don't live here, but even if they lived did, there’s no way they could keep up with Hannah for long stretches. My brothers all work long hours. Mom and Dad help, but they still have a teenager at home who keeps them busy. Besides being a social butterfly, my little sister's in ballet, cheerleading, soccer, piano and guitar lessons, and she plays tennis.”
