AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘No!’ Hannah tried to hide her horrified expression, but Matt saw it anyway.
‘Definitely not Travis. Okay, what about Oliver?’
‘Oliver. I like the sound of that.’ She looked out of the window, saying the name to herself. It felt as if it fitted.
‘We’re here,’ Matt announced, turning onto a long driveway that led to a magnificent white stone mansion with peaked roofs and flowing stonework.
Hannah’s mouth was agape. Once Matt removed their bags from the boot and shut the lid, a stunning blonde with familiar kind, green eyes stepped outside.
‘Bear!’ She ran up to Matt, who caught her in a crushing hug. ‘You’re early.’
‘Hey, Shrimp.’ He extended a hand to Hannah who took it, allowing him to pull her close. ‘This is Hannah. Hannah, my sister Sarah. Don’t let her bully you.’
Hannah couldn’t help but laugh when Sarah smacked his arm. Just like that, her Matt, the man she’d met months ago, was standing before her. She wished Sarah was around all the time, if this was the effect she had on him.
‘I would do no such thing,’ Sarah said with mock-outrage. ‘Before we go in, I should warn you there are a few more people here than I mentioned.’
Hannah expected a scowl, some sign to show his displeasure. After all, this was the man who tried to control everything. Instead, he laughed, a warm sound. His eyes filled with affection.
‘Why am I not surprised?’
‘Sorry,’ Sarah said sheepishly. Hannah was certain she wasn’t sorry at all.
‘It’s fine.’ Matt wrapped his arm around Hannah’s shoulders. ‘Lead the way.’
Hannah was still smiling when Sarah showed them to the guest rooms on the opposite side of the house. ‘For privacy,’ she announced with a wink.
She liked Sarah a great deal already.
* * *
Hannah closed her eyes, turning her face to the sun as she basked in the warmth soaking into her bones. She really did love summer. It was made all the more special by their beautiful surroundings. The back of Sarah’s home opened onto a massive green lawn with large trees and picture-perfect flowerbeds. Sarah, Hannah had learnt, was a jewellery designer, and the white orangery in the corner of the property had been converted into her studio.
Taking a sip of her chilled mocktail—Sarah had made sure plenty of the drinks were pregnancy-friendly—she heard squeals of laughter. Sarah had invited a horde of people—her closest friends, she’d assured Hannah.
Matt rose from the table, kissing Hannah on the cheek as if it was the most natural thing in the world, when a family arrived, the two kids bursting through the door and making a beeline for him. The little boy leaped on and clung to his back while his younger sister insisted on swinging from his arms.
The sight made her smile. She could see with crystal clarity what an amazing father he would be. He was so relaxed here. Every strain on him had simply vanished.
‘They love him,’ Sarah said, watching the children, just as Hannah did. They sat at a long table set on the grass with all manner of summery foods upon it.
‘I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t.’ She pulled her gaze away from the man who was making her feel all sorts of things, even though he wasn’t even looking at her. ‘You have a beautiful home.’
‘Thank you,’ Sarah replied, looking at the behemoth of a house. ‘It’s so beautiful and tranquil out here. I feel a lot more inspired to design here than in the city.’
‘I can understand that. Was this a family home?’ Hannah imagined it must have been. Estates like these were normally passed through the generations, weren’t they? This place felt different from the townhouse. There were bright pops of colour everywhere, while still oozing glamour. It felt welcoming.
‘Heavens, no.’ Sarah laughed. ‘I bought this place a few years ago, before Mum got sick. After she passed, I inherited their estate. It’s quite far from here, or London for that matter, and I hated it. Sold it as soon as I could.’
Hannah didn’t know how to respond to that. There seemed to be so much that Sarah wasn’t saying. Why had she hated it? And why did her mother’s death seem so matter of fact?
‘You can ask, you know,’ Sarah said. ‘I can see the questions on your face.’
Hannah laughed. Seeing through people seemed to be a gift both siblings possessed. ‘Just trying to wrap my head around it. Why would you hate a family home? Even Matt was being weird at the townhouse.’
‘I’m not surprised.’ Hannah watched Sarah’s expression soften when she looked over at her brother, who was now flat on his back, being wrestled into submission by the two kids whose energy showed no signs of running out. ‘Matt doesn’t have too many happy memories there. I know I certainly don’t. Or rather, all the ones I do have are with him. He used to take me across to the park to play.’
Hannah remembered seeing the children and how far away Matt had seemed that day.
