Page 76 of Soft Flannel Hank

Magda kept running nimble fingers through her red curls. It was an awkward position for Esther’s body, but she wasn’t about to move. Magda’s hands felt so comforting, as if she were sifting through all of Esther’s troublesome thoughts as well as her hair.

“They won’t hurt me,” Magda said confidently.

“But what about Hank? What if they hurt him? He won’t let me leave him behind where he’d be safe.”

Magda was quiet for a moment, stroking gently. She smelled like the kitchen. Onion and herbs and coffee. The smell of Magda in her home was so familiar, so similar to her grandmother’s smell, that Esther felt the tears rising again.

“Honey, I think one of the things that would hurt Hank the most right now would be something happening to you.”

“Why do you think that?” Esther mumbled.

“Because I know him. I delivered him.”

“Youdeliveredhim?” Esther said, sitting up suddenly.

Magda smiled and beckoned her hand. Esther leaned in close again.

“His dad was at work. Cecelia’s labor came on fast. I drove as fast as I could, but she started crowning while we were on the highway.”

“What did you do?”

“I was six months pregnant myself, but I parked the car on the shoulder and was able to get her into the backseat. She pushed maybe three times, and there I was, kneeling in road gravel with my big belly pressing against the car seat, holding a wet, screaming baby in my arms. We all just cried and cried. I didn’t have any kind of blanket or anything, so I took off my shirt, which was a flannel I’d stolen from my husband, and wrapped him in it before passing him to Cecelia.”

“Were they okay?”

Esther could almost feel Magda’s smile. “Oh yes. I got back in the car and got them to the hospital. Hank squalled the whole way there. Believe it or not, he was a tiny little baby. Six pounds, I think. And now look at him. Whoever would have thought that such a big man, such a big heart, would have grown from such a tiny thing?

“All this to say, toots, is that I’ve known Hank Dove as long as he’s been earthside, and I can say with absolute confidence that one of the only things that could truly hurt him any worse after everything he’s faced would be something happening to Anna. Or you.”

Esther bit her lips between her teeth.

“So hear me when I say this. You’ll take care of Hank by taking care of yourself. Keep yourself safe, and Hank will be okay. Okay?”

Esther looked down at her lap. “Shannon still thinks I’ll be safe in World’s End. She’s… psychic. But Callum knows where I am, and I just don’t see how it’s possible that she’s right this time.”

“I don’t get the sight like that,” Magda admitted, “but maybe she is right. Either way, I know Hank wants to get you out of Dodge for a while. It’ll be good. You two can stop making everyone else uncomfortable undressing each other with your eyes and just go ahead and do it for real with no one to interrupt you.”

“Magda!” Esther laughed. She felt hot color rising in her cheeks.

“And then, when you’ve gotten it all out of your system and can be mature, functioning adults again, and the coast is clear, you can come back to us, and we can talk about combining all of this magic and know-how we’ve got between the two of us. Maybe Jory would be interested in carrying a line of high-end herbal tinctures.”

Esther smiled. “I’dlovethat.”

Magda beamed at her.

“Hey, Magda?” Esther began, sobering. “What happened with Hank’s ex-wife?”

“Marnie? That’s Hank’s story to tell.” Magda squeezed Esther’s knee. “You’ve got a long drive tomorrow, and there’s no better time for long stories than that. Ask him. It’ll help you understand him better.”

* * *

Esther had protested loudly about not helpingHank and Jamie with the dishes, but Magda had herded her back into the office, where they’d been cloistered for more than an hour now. Jamie had grabbed two cookies from the Cookie Monster jar on the counter, hugged Hank, and left for home.

Hank locked the door behind him and stared out through the sidelight window into the night. He didn’t see any movement on Magda’s street, but Callum and his group were probably still at his house looking for clues. Or whatever they hoped to find.

It surprised Hank that he didn’t care at all. They could burn the house down behind them. Hank’s mourning would have been limited to family photos and a few keepsakes from Anna that he’d stored in boxes in the attic. But let them take it all. As long as Esther was safe and away from them. Safe with him.

Hank felt like he’d been placed on pause, like his body hovered in a tense state of readiness—and had for hours now. Probably because he’d been seconds away from making a mess of Esther’s jeans when Nat had interrupted.