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What exactly did she see in Ted that he couldn’t?
“So, tell me about her?” she asked, putting the kettle on the stove. The burner clicked and flames rose up.
“That’s how I got in trouble the last time,” he growled, but he realized he didn’t really know much about Hannah Higgins.
“What about Allison?”
He sat down on a stool at the kitchen island. “What about her?”
“You certainly can’t be someone’s knight in shining armor when you are dating someone else.” She put a hand on her hip. “I didn’t raise you to be that kind of man.”
“You’re right. I should talk to Allison.”
His mother looked up, surprised by his answer. “You’re really that serious about this girl?”
He looked down at his hands, not really sure what he was doing, but said, “Yeah, I guess maybe I am.”
* * *
Hannah had finally made her decision. “Are you sure you don’t need me?”
“I can watch Mae until you return. Go see your father.”
Hannah shook her head. “Maybe this is a bad idea. I don’t know what to say.”
Maggie squeezed her hands. “I promise you will not regret taking this step, but you might regret it if you don’t.”
“I’m afraid.”
Maggie smiled. “Let’s go together.”
“No, Maggie, I couldn’t.”
Maggie let go of her hands, then walked over to the back door to pick up her purse. “You can drive, and I’ll stay in the car with Mae.”
“You’re not taking no for an answer, are you?”
Maggie shook her head.
Hannah blew out a long breath. “Okay.”
They packed the diaper bag full of snacks, toys, and wipes. On the drive, Hannah practiced what she was going to say. When she pulled up to the familiar house, her stomach twisted, knotting itself up.
“Look him in the eye,” Maggie said. “Don’t let him take your strength away.”
What strength?Hannah thought. She had never stood up for herself. Over and over again, she’d allowed men – her father, Troy, the Hooleys – to treat her badly. She never even saw it, except in hindsight.
“I don’t think I can do this,” she said, looking out at the unkempt yard. A pick-up truck sat in the driveway.
“You’re going to be okay.” Maggie assured her, but Hannah wasn’t so sure. Joel Destin had never laid a hand on her, but his volatile behavior always scared her. Maggie took her hand and said, “Dear Lord, lead Hannah through this moment of trouble, and allow her to find peace in whatever may happen.”
Hannah inhaled deeply before reaching for the door handle and getting out of the car. She walked up the familiar sidewalk, memories flooding into her with each step. She stepped up to the front door and rang the doorbell. She waited for a minute, listening. She heard nothing. She looked back at Maggie in the passenger’s seat.
Ring it again, she mouthed behind the window.
Hannah pressed the button, and this time she heard the footsteps, slow, loud, angry.
“Who is it?” a low voice called out as the front door swung open. His mouth dropped open as he saw her standing there.
