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“Even messy she was organized,” Hannah smiled. “That’s so her.”
“I miss her a lot, Hannah.”
“I know you do. I miss her too. You probably miss her even more now. You know how happy she’d be right now?”
“Yeah, right. Her granddaughter pregnant by a hockey player?”
“That’s how you see it. You know what she would say, right?”
“What would she say?” I asked.
“She would be happy for you. Thrilled for you. She would sit you down with a cup of hot tea like she was going to get serious about things. Then she’d ask you about Atlas. She’d want to know how big he was.How big… everywhere…”
I smiled. “Stop it.”
“She’d do anything to make you laugh and then she’d remind you that you’re never alone.”
“Except she’s not here.”
“But I am,” Hannah said. “And you should get in touch with Atlas.”
“He can get in touch with me.”
“You know what? You’re right. He can. He’s an idiot. A total jock fool.”
“But…?”
Hannah shook her head. “I’m not saying anything else.” She looked at my stomach and smiled. “Can I?”
“Don’t even,” I said.
I turned and walked back into the house.
I felt Hannah right behind me.
Making silly giggling noises.
I walked to the kitchen, pretending I didn’t hear her.
Until I finally stopped and she hurried around me and crouched down.
“This is so weird,” I said.
“What’s weird? I can’t talk to my baby?”
“Your baby?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m claiming this baby as mine,” she said. “No way I’m going to suffer through pregnancy. I won’t look right with stretch marks.”
“Wow. Thanks.”
“You look beautiful, Hazel. You know you do. And look at this belly.”
Hannah put her hands to my stomach and nuzzled her nose.
I looked up to the ceiling.
Yeah, a month without Atlas in my life and a month longer into the pregnancy and I finally did the thing women called…popping.
