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What if Troy got custody?
“Hey,” Olivia said, walking toward her from the pasture. Hannah hadn’t even noticed her approach, she was so lost in her own thoughts.
“Connor, stop being such a goofball,” Olivia called, then sat on the blanket and kissed Mae’s neck. “How’s it going?”
“Good.” Hannah could feel disappointment flood through her, realizing that Olivia might not need her for the rest of the day. That she’d have to go back to the apartment with Emma. The apartment she still could barely afford. Olivia was generous with her pay, but life was expensive. Gas, electric, water, taxes, food, a tween… her salary barely covered it all. “You all done?”
“For today, at least.” Olivia shook her head. “You’d think Mae was gettingmarried. The aunts have gone nuts.”
Hannah laughed, understanding exactly what she meant. She had lived at the farm and been there through all the weddings, christenings, and birthdays. Everything was over the top. They always had twice as much food as they needed, everyone was always included, and the women started preparing weeks ahead of time.
“Look, I know it’s none of my business, and I should’ve stayed out of it, but…”
“But…?” Hannah said, with some trepidation.
“I talked to Julia.”
“Did… you guys talk about Jesse?”
Olivia shook head. “I asked her about her brother.”
“Oh.” Her heart sped up with anxiety. “What did you say?”
“I just, you know, mentioned that he moved in down the road,” she said sheepishly, but there was something else she was holding back.
“What is it?” From the look on her face, it had to be something bad.
“She told me Jake’s got a girlfriend.”
Hannah suddenly realized how ridiculous she must look. Was that what Julia wanted to really talk to her about? To tell her not to get any ideas about her already-taken brother?
“I know.” She shook the image of the beautiful blonde out of her head. Her emotions surged, but she pushed them down hard. She didn’t want Olivia feeling sorry for her, like Jake did.
All her daydreams were so embarrassing now. All they’d done was go for a walk. It wasn’t like he had pledged his undying love. If anything, the fact that he hadn’t brought up his girlfriend just showed how casual the relationship was. She was just a neighbor he was helping out. Nothing more.
She tried to stop her chin from trembling, but it felt like the whole world was against her, sometimes. “I told you that someone like him would never be interested in a woman like me.”
Tears blurred the vision of Emma romping with the boys.
“What?” Olivia leaned over and took a closer look at her. “He’d beluckyto have someone like you.”
Hannah huffed, then sniffled, wiping away a loose tear before it fell. “I’ve been a burden all my life. A burden to my mother, my father, Troy, you guys, and someday I’ll be Emma’s burden.”
“Hannah, that’s ridiculous.”
Olivia didn’t understand. The truth was the truth. She didn’t have a clue what it was like. Everyone fought for Olivia to be in their lives. Nobody ever really wanted Hannah.
“I should’ve known better than to get my hopes up about a guy like Jake.” She laughed at her stupidity. “He only felt sorry for me.”
“No way.” Olivia shook her head. “I saw the way he looked at you. I would’ve sworn he was into you. Maybe he still is, but Allison’s got her talons into him.”
“She’s probably really nice.” Hannah got up on her hands and knees, feeling suddenly old, wiping off dirt and grass. “I should get going, if you’re all set.”
She wiped her eyes, putting on a smile.
“Hannah, don’t go. Stay for the day, hang out with us,” Olivia said, as she stood up with Mae on her hip. “This is all my fault.”
“This is not your fault.” She blew out a breath.
