I remember when Mom told us, after a few failed relationships, that she was going on a date with her boss. Lauren and I took bets on how long it was going to last because if our mom did anything, she failed at relationships. But here they are,all these years later and Paul is just about the best person I know. A saint among saints to put up with my mom. Then again just “putting up” with her wouldn’t be fair. He loves her. A lot.
“No.” Paul shakes his head. “Hannah, when you’re ready and if you evenwantthe job, it’s yours. But no. We are not talking about jobs today. Today has had enough worries of its own.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Lauren raises her cup. “To Hannah.”
“Beers!” Winnie calls out with her kid’s cup raised.
“Did you say beers?” Paul asks.
“Yeah, it’s what you say when you clink cups. Beers!”
“Cheers, honey.” I tuck a strand of her hair. “We say cheers.”
“Oh. You always drink beers.”
My eyes shut and I know the involuntary blush of embarrassment covers my face.
“I love this kid.” Rhett laughs and clinks his cup off Winnie's.
Once we finish, we gather in the parking lot, Winnie clinging to Paul’s hand while she talks his ear off. She suddenly seems older. Taller. I don’t know when she stopped being a baby. Her toddler legs must have stretched over the winter under her snow pants. Her blonde curls no longer thin and wispy, but thick and strong as they bounce with her. Her dress is too small now, even though it was too big at the end of last summer.
“Did you tell her what was going on today?” Lauren asks as we both watch her giggle and avoid cracks in the cement.
“I told her that her dad and I would be officially not married anymore and that she probably won’t see him for a while.”
“Was she upset?”
I shake my head. “She asked if we could go to Chili’s still since it’s Friday. Then asked if she could quit dance and go to ABC camp.”
Lauren’s brows furrow. “Summer school?”
“The YMCA. One of her friends at dance goes and it’s all she can talk about.”
“Wow, Hell hath no fury like a child indifferent.”
“Alright kiddo. Hop on up.” Paul slides open my minivan door and helps Winnie into her seat.
“Laur, are you and Rhett going to stay the night?” Mom asks but Lauren shakes her head.
“No, I'm not feeling great. I just want to be in my bed tonight. But we will be back down for Winnie’s recital next weekend.”
“I am going to quit dance,” Winnie announces.
“Not before we finish the recital,” I tell her and help her buckle in.
To see Lauren and know her home is hours away breaks my heart a little bit. I don’t think she even remembers those promises we made back when we were little, while our mom and dad were fighting. We promised each other that we would live together one day. Get our own place where dad wouldn’t be allowed, but he died before we even got a chance to move out of the house and enforce that rule.
“Your mom and I are gonna go ahead and head out. We’ll wait up for you to put onDateline,” Paul tells me.
Ever since I moved in about six months ago, and I introduced my parents to streaming, we end just about every evening with Keith Morrison and Lester Holt.
“I'm proud of you.” Rhett hugs me. “If Ethan causes any more trouble, just give me a call. Tanner and I will take care of it.”
“You got it.”
He kisses Winnie on the head, and she gives a sleepy goodbye before he returns to his truck. Lauren waits behind with her own set of dark circles under her eyes.
“Are you okay?” I ask and she shakes her head with a smile.
