She exchanged a look with Will and wondered briefly what would happen if they told the whole truth. “I’ll let Will take this one,” she said instead.
Will didn’t miss a beat. He walked through the story they’d crafted together, but this time, it was sprinkled with truths from their marriage—how they crashed a wedding on their honeymoon, how he’d taken them to a laundromat on a date because of some silly quip she’d made. She watched them fall in love through his eyes. It was beautiful, it was theirs, and it was real.
“What made you say yes?” her dad asked, returning his full attention to Hannah.
“She liked my butt,” Will said before Hannah could answer.
She shoved him, a blush heating her cheeks. “He was sweet, and we were in love.”
“My daughter, the hopeless romantic? I never thought I’d see the day.” He held a hand mockingly to his heart. “Charlanie rubbed off on you.”
“You too?” Will exclaimed with a laugh.
“It’s just so damn catchy.”
Hannah didn’t know how to feel about her dad’s statement. There was no malice in it, but she had never been cold or jaded. In fact, she’d put in a great amount of effort to not let any of her past relationships taint her feelings on love. No matter how sideways things with Brian had gone, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Sometimes you picked wrong. And sometimes you got Will. Maybe one had to happen before the other.
She listened to Will and her dad talk about work, football, and some new phone that was supposed to come out next month. They were a good fit. Her dad would enjoy having someone to watch sports with—someone who cared, at least. Hannah placated him, but half of the time, she had no idea which team had the ball. The longer they talked, the more relaxed she felt. This was how she’d imagined it.
“How’s your knee doing?” her father asked as they were finishing up their entrées.
“Surprisingly well! Madison—Will’s brother’s fiancée—is my physical therapist, and”—she pushed her leg out from under the table—“I can straighten it and everything.”
“Wow,” Will and her dad said at the same time.
“I have an appointment with an orthopedist next week, and then I’ll know if I need surgery or not.”
“Hopefully not,” Will said, squeezing her hand. “Madison is good at what she does, and Hannah has been diligent about doing all her exercises at home.”
“Madison kind of threatened my life, but yeah. I’m looking forward to getting back out there,” she said. “Will’s a runner, and he’s been totally rubbing it in my face that he can go for runs every day.”
Will’s eyes widened, and his gaze swiveled to her father. “I swear I have done no such thing.”
Her father’s laugh filled the restaurant. “You two are fun. You know, the New Jersey half marathon is in April. Perhaps the Abbotts and Thornes can team up.”
The memory of runner’s high coursed through her. Was that even a possibility? Back on the pavement by April? They’d have to add Daniel to the team. She’d be so outpaced. But maybe. “Team Thabbott!”
Her father waved his hand in front of his face as if wafting away a bad smell. “Oh no, no, honey. That’s just awful.”
Chapter 36Hannah
Hannah redialed Riley for the third time. Riley was going to be so annoyed when she picked up, but that was what she got for scheduling meetings unannounced while on maternity leave.
“Why do we have a two o’clock scheduled for today?” Hannah asked when Riley finally answered, her tone calmer than expected.
“Because we need to... hold on.” Hannah could hear the high-pitched and aspirational sounds of a Disney movie playing in the background as Riley shuffled the phone around. “Sorry, Jo is being needy.”
“Is there any other way for an eight-week-old to be?”
“Yes,” Riley said amidst more shuffling. “Anyway, we need to talk, so you’re coming to me at two.”
“You’re on maternity leave.”
“Which is why you are coming to my house.”
“That’s all I get?” Hannah asked.
Much to her disbelief, Riley had stayed away during this maternity leave. With Cecilia, she’d been in the office constantly, baby strapped to her chest in one of those weird wrap things. She couldn’t stand to be home or away from her first baby. But the bigger, more experienced staff seemed to help keep her at home this time.
“See you at two!”
Hannah ended the call, staring at her phone incredulously. What could this possibly be about? Godmother duties, a fatal flaw in the latest issue, or health insurance finally coming through? No—Riley could email about all that. Hannah would have to worry about it later—and she’d have plenty of time while she sat in an MRI machine. Today was the day. Riley had better hope for good news if she was about to drop a bomb.
Hannah stared up at the hospital towering over the East River. She hadn’t been there since the days following her accident. The sight of the building filled her with trepidation. What if the news was bad and time made everything worse? She shook her head. This was why she married Will. She couldn’t lose more time. New Jersey half in April. Team Thabbott. She kept those thoughts in her mind. Whatever the outcome, she needed a goal.
“Hannah!”
She turned at the sound of Daniel’s voice. Will hadn’t been sure about Daniel’s schedule, but there he was, scrubs and all. At least they weren’t blood splattered.
“Ready?” he asked, enveloping her in a hug.
It still amazed her how quickly Daniel had taken her into the fold. Jon was warm but still distant. Not that she expected anything else—even in a normal situation, it had only been a few months. But Daniel seemed genuinely excited by her existence.
“As I’ll ever be,” she said, wishing again that she hadn’t told Will she’d be fine on her own.
“Listen,” he said as they entered the hospital through the main entrance. So far, it was much more welcoming than the emergency room—less chaotic and not so frightening. “I know my brother is trapped in some god-awful meeting right now, so I was thinking...”
