Sam’s expression darkened slightly, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve known Hannah’s dad for a few years. Bill’s a hard worker and a decent guy, but he’s been through the wringer since his wife passed. Doesn’t excuse his anger, though.”
“Do you think he’ll kick her out?” Maddie asked, her voice laced with worry.
Sam’s lips pressed together, but after a second, he shook his head. “I don’t think so. He might get angry, sure, but he loves Hannah. He’s just lost. He’s grieving, too.”
Maddie nodded slowly, her thoughts spinning. It made sense—grief could warp a person, make them act in ways they normally wouldn’t. She knew that all too well.
“I’ll talk to him,” Sam offered, his voice steady. “When Hannah’s ready, I’ll be there to help break the news. We’ll figure it out. You’re not in this alone.”
Maddie blinked, her heart swelling with gratitude. Sam had a way of easing her burdens without making her feel like she was asking too much. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to ask, but I knew you could help, and I was right.”
Sam smiled gently, his eyes full of warmth. “You don’t have to ask. That’s what neighbors, and friends, do.”
As the fire crackled and the snow continued to fall outside, Maddie felt a small spark of happiness ignite in her chest. Friends. That was nice.
Maybe, with Sam’s help, they could give Hannah the support she needed. And maybe they could all navigate this new ground together, as a sort of community.
It was a comforting thought. For the first time since Hannah had shared her news, Maddie felt like things were going to be okay.
Chapter Twelve
The next few days passed in a quiet blur, the snow outside piling higher as the mountain became an isolated world of its own. Inside Aunt Schatzi’s cozy house, Maddie tried to keep things as normal as possible, though her mind was constantly occupied with thoughts of Hannah and the difficult conversations that had yet to happen.
When the girl came by to clean, Maddie watched her move through the house with heavy steps, the weight of her secret still hanging over her. It only increased Maddie’s desire to help, but just like Hannah’s last visit, the girl was in no mood to talk.
Schatzi was resting more, as the sling kept her movements limited, and she spent most of her time sitting by the fire reading books or watching television, Ernie snuggled up beside her. Maddie could sense Schatzi’s worry for Hannah too, though they hadn’t spoken much more about it. The quiet hum of shared concerns and unspoken words was a constant presence in the house.
One afternoon, as Maddie stood in the kitchen making sandwiches for lunch, there was a knock at the door. Startled, she jumped—Hannah wasn’t due to come by until later in the week, so she knew it must be Sam. He had been stopping bymore frequently, checking in, and though Maddie was growing accustomed to his presence, every visit brought a new mix of relief and nerves.
As she’d expected, Maddie opened the door to find Sam standing there, his brown eyes warm despite the biting cold. Fargo, as usual, stood beside him, his tail wagging, the dog always happy to be included.. He barked softly in greeting.
“Hi, Fargo. Hi, Sam.”
“Afternoon,” Sam said, stepping inside as the cold air followed him. “Thought I’d drop by and see how things are going. Check if you needed anything.”
Maddie smiled, though it didn’t quite feel it. “Thanks. Come in. I was just making some sandwiches for lunch.”
“Afternoon, Sam,” Schatzi called out from her chair.
“Afternoon, Schatzi.” Sam kicked the snow from his boots before coming in, then hung his coat on a peg by the door, the familiar scent of cold air and pine clinging to him. He lowered his voice when he spoke to Maddie next. “How’s she doing today?”
“She’s getting better, though I can tell she’s frustrated with the sling,” Maddie replied, leading him into the kitchen. “She hates sitting still for too long but the best she can do is take a few laps around the living room when she gets antsy. Which is often.”
Sam chuckled, leaning against the counter as Fargo went into the living room and made himself comfortable on the rug by the fire. “That sounds like Schatzi.”
Maddie busied herself fixing the rest of the sandwiches, trying to ignore the way her stomach fluttered in Sam’s presence. He was so steady, so easy to be around, but every time he was close, something inside her shifted, like an old door creaking open after being shut for years. She wasn’t ready to face what that meant just yet.
“Any updates on how Hannah’s doing?” Sam asked after a beat, his voice lowering further. “I haven’t seen her dad lately. Guess he’s trying to work as many hours as he can before the holidays.”
Maddie hesitated, her hand stilling as she spread mayonnaise on the bread with a knife.. “She’s still scared. She hasn’t told her dad yet. I don’t want to push her, but I don’t know how long she can keep this a secret. Eventually, it’s going to come out.”
Sam crossed his arms, his brow furrowing in thought. “Have you talked to her about it again? About telling him?”
“I’ve tried,” Maddie said, setting the knife down and turning to face him. “She clams up every time I bring it up. Like maybe she regrets telling me. I don’t want to scare her off by pushing too hard, but we can’t avoid this forever. She certainly can’t.”
Sam nodded, his face softening with understanding. “It’s tough. But you’re right. She can’t keep it a secret forever. Even if this wasn’t a small town, it’s the kind of thing that becomes impossible to ignore at a certain point.”
Maddie sighed, leaning against the counter. “I know. But she’s just so afraid. I don’t want to make it harder for her than it already is.”
