“I really have.” Hannah bit her bottom lip and glanced away briefly. “I guess I didn’t realize how much I missed him.”
“So at least one good thing came out of my meltdown,” Janie said and raised her eyebrows.
“More than one thing.” Hannah twirled a strand of Janie’s hair between her fingers. “Can you remember the last time we lay in bed, just talking and being with each other?”
Janie shook her head and continued her slow exploration of Hannah’s lines and contours. “It’s nice.”
“He really likes you, you know? He’s been worried about you, and he’s so glad you’re coming home.”
Happy tears edged her eyes. Her depression had convincedher she was worthless and unlovable, but her familywantedher home. “I like him too. And I’m glad he’ll still be close. The girls love him.”
“They really do.” Hannah caressed Janie’s cheek. “But I also really like the idea of it being just us in the house again. Our family. Our space. Does that make sense or does it make me a bad daughter?”
Janie laughed lightly. “I think it makes perfect sense, and I like it just being us too.” She slipped her hand under Hannah’s tee and ran her finger over Hannah’s nipple, thinking of her early morning enthusiasm to do something other than sleep in their bed tonight. But she seriously lacked the energy to put her desires into action, and her hand stilled.
Outside, ordinary life continued. The faint sound of the occasional car passing, a dog barking somewhere down the street, the normal sounds of their neighborhood. The normal sounds ofhome. She snuggled in, trying to get even closer to Hannah’s body.
“We should probably shower,” Hannah said but made no move to get up.
“We should probably do a lot of things,” Janie murmured, equally immobile.
“Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow,” Janie said and shifted to the little spoon position.
“Thank you for coming home again tonight.” Hannah kissed Janie’s neck. “I know it might be a little scary, but I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Me too.” Janie pushed her butt further into Hannah’s crotch. “Even though I’m exhausted and smell like toddler bathwater.”
“You smell perfect,” Hannah said. “You smell like home.”
Janie heard the smile in Hannah’s voice and began to drift on the seas of sleep.
“You still awake?” Hannah murmured into Janie’s hair.
Janie startled, then let out a long sigh as she pulled Hannah’s arm around her. “Barely.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” Janie whispered and began to drift again, the exhaustion of the day pulling her under. But just as she was about to slip into sleep, her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She tried to ignore it, but it buzzed again. And then a third time.
“You should check that.” Hannah nudged her gently. “It might be important.”
All the important people in her life were tucked up safely in bed, but she reached for her phone anyway and squinted at the bright screen in the dark room. Three texts from David.
Janie’s entire body went cold. Behind her, Hannah propped herself up on one elbow.
“What is it?”
“David. He says my mother filed a motion.” Janie’s voice sounded thin and scared, even to her own ears. “He says it changes things.”
“Christ,” Hannah said, “why did he wait until this late to send a nuclear missile into our house?”
Janie dropped her phone onto the table and turned into Hannah’s arms. “He was in San Francisco for another case this week. It’s probably just the time difference.”
“What kind of motion?” Hannah asked.
“He doesn’t say.” Janie’s earlier contentment evaporated like morning mist in the early sun. “He wants us to call him first thing tomorrow.”
