Ward knew exactly what she thought about him and, worse, even how she felt, almost right from the beginning. Goodandbad. She had bared her soul in those notes, grateful for the opportunity to open up to someone who it seemed was equally happy to remain anonymous.
Hadn’t Ward done the same though? she reasoned, feeling a little less vulnerable. Hadn’t he too laid bare his own reservations, his lack of confidence in matters of the heart?
And all the while he’d been talking about her. Or so she’d recently learned.
If she hadn’t spoken to him just now she’d have assumed he was referring to Shelley, or the ex who’d moved away to Chicago. But no it was her, it was definitely her.
He’d made that crystal clear by setting it all up with Frank beforehand, the cannoli and this final note.
I think you’ll know exactly where to find me...
Taking a quick bite (it was way too good to ignore) Hannah stuffed the note in her pocket, paid and said goodbye to Frank, thenhurried back out onto the street, still dazed and utterly confused by what she’d just learned.
Yet excited too.
Back in the building, she waved a quick hello at a smiling Bruno, who if she didn’t know better looked to be in on the whole thing, despite Ed/Ward’s protestations to the contrary.
Which was his real name by the way? She’d only ever known him as Ward, how he’d always been known as a professional. And since she’d only dealt with him in that capacity why would she know any better? Perhaps he went by Ed day to day, using a variation of his real name like some actors or other high-profile public figures did to help preserve their anonymity.
Which was why she was completely confused when Frank had referred to him that way just now. And of course, she and next door had only ever addressed one another as their apartment numbers, P-1 and P-2.
It was all too surreal to take in properly but Hannah knew that she needed to see him now, was desperate to find out the answers to all of her questions and presumably answer some of his too.
There’s so much more I want to say.
Finally alone in the elevator, she exhaled and gripped the wall for support, all of a sudden uncertain as to what to expect when she reached the penthouse floor.
And suddenly concerned that she’d read the note all wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d completely missed the mark, would it? But no, there was no reading between the lines this time. He had been pretty clear. He was going home and now Hannah knew exactly where that was.
Had done so all along.
When the doors pinged open on the penthouse floor and shestepped out into the hallway, something registered in her brain – something she had never before seen.
The door to P-1 was open, daylight spilling out from the inside, some of it partially obstructed by the shadow of a lone figure standing in the doorway. Hannah stopped in her tracks and looked over at the entrance to P-2, her brain feeling like a bowl of mashed potatoes.
A soft meow came from the open doorway and the cat appeared, wrapping itself around its master’s legs and looking at Hannah with an expression that suggested, ‘Duh, do you get it now?’
Hold on… she had another sudden revelation.Was that the mangy stray from the shelter Ward had got so worked up about? The one that was doomed to be destroyed...
‘Hey, P-2,’ a voice said softly, and she glanced up to meet Ward’s gaze as he leaned lazily on the doorframe.
Hannah opened and closed her mouth, unsure what to say. She pointed a finger at him and the cat and then back again down the hallway. ‘You … you …’
‘I know,’ he said, with a rueful smile. ‘But I didn’t find out until yesterday.’
He stood up straight then and began to approach her cautiously, as if still gauging her reaction, cognisant that she was still in the middle of an information overload.
‘But Ed …’ she whispered, pointing at the door. ‘He’s old and he can’t get around and had a nurse visit some days and …’
‘Edward is my full name, but I’ve been Ward since Jefferson Prince decided it went better with Wildcat. I go by Ed to my friends. As you know, my knee was busted, hence my need for strength and conditioning visits from Shelley. I believe you’ve already met Pretzel. Andyou’rethe one who always said I was a relic from a different time …’
Pretzel?She squinted at him. ‘You never told me your real name was Edward,’ Hannah admonished weakly as he continued to get closer.
‘You never asked.’ His green eyes were intent on her face and she tilted her head up, still trying to make all of this make sense. But suddenly she was within striking distance of his chest, and she could feel the heat of his body as he moved ever closer. ‘And you read all my notes, all my thoughts and personal stuff.’
‘Not your notes – our notes.Ourthoughts and personal stuff, Hannah. This whole time. It was both of us.’
She felt herself sinking into his embrace as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Yes, she hadn’t been the only one expressing what she was feeling and experiencing, Ward too had confessed that he was falling for someone but was scared to tell her how he felt.
