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“You need to call the police next time, Hannah,” Olivia said, as she watched him get into his car.
“He’s Emma’s dad, Olivia.” She could feel all the happiness, all the joy, drain out of the day. And in its place, the old feeling of being an outsider crept back inside her. She didn’t belong at the farm, because her life would always have a Troy, or a Joel.
She didn’t belong in the Boudreau’s circle. Or with a guy like Jake Malloy. They’d never understand where she came from, and they’d never understand the hard choices she had to make.
* * *
She walked away without saying another word, without even a glance over her shoulder. Jake really didn’t know what to make of it.
“Hannah, talk to me,” he pleaded.
“I should go home.”
“The last thing you should do is leave.” He placed his hand on hers. “Stay and have a good time.” Something about the way she looked at him told him everything. “This is not your fault.”
He saw the tears trying to break the surface, but she held them back, pulling her hand away from his. “Whether I like it or not, Troy’s a part of my life. No matter what. He’s Emma’s father.” She shook her head. “And technically my husband.”
“Please! I know this sounds crazy, but there’s something between us. I know you feel it, too.” He waited for a reaction, anything that would let him know how she felt, but she didn’t say anything. “Tell me I’m not crazy.”
She blew out a long breath, blinking the tears back, and gave him a lopsided smile. “Maybe we’re both crazy.”
He stepped closer, reaching for her hand again.
“I’m messy. I mean, really, really messy.” She looked at the ground.
“You haven’t really metmyfamily,” he joked, which made her smile a bit more. He took her hand. “I like your kind of messy.” And he started to lead her away from the noise and watching eyes.
“Where are we going?” she asked, and her smile was more relaxed, her tears gone.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Somewhere quiet.” She squeezed his hand.
“I know the prettiest spot ever.” She pulled him along, and he could feel his chest inflate like a balloon with relief and expectation.
* * *
“Isn’t it beautiful?” she asked, standing at the foot of the wooden dock that jutted out into the water.
“I didn’t even know this place existed.” He followed her to the edge of the water, twinkling in the afternoon sun.
She shaded her eyes against the light as she looked out at the rippling waves, trying to keep her cool. His words echoed in her head. He had fallen for a helpless, single-mom daughter of a wife-beating drunk?
She took a deep breath. “I can’t be more than friends until I settle everything with Troy.” She didn’t want him to have any ammunition if she had to go to court.
He looked at her and nodded. “I’ll be here when you’re ready.”
Chapter 9
Emma had fallen asleep in the passenger’s seat on the way home. Hannah was glad, because she wanted to live in her head, relive the moments with Jake at the farm.
But she was married… no. She was just kidding herself. The last day Troy had really been her husband was the day Rosie kicked him off the farm for throwing a picture frame at Hannah’s face while she was holding baby Emma. The tears had flowed that day, too. “Hannah, I’m so, so, so sorry.” The same way they did any time he lost control. First the tears and wheedling, and when that didn’t work, the insults hurled as he stormed away.
When she was about to pull onto her street, she saw Troy’s truck waiting in front of her apartment building. Her heart began to race. What should she do? Keep driving, or risk a scene in front of their daughter?
She opted to keep going. She looked over her shoulder, and saw his headlights flash and his truck pull into reverse.
She floored the gas when she hit Fourth Street and headed straight back to the farm. She kept her eyes on the road. She couldn’t tell if he was following her or not, and she didn’t care if the police pulled her over. In fact, she’d welcome it. Otherwise, she wasn’t slowing down until she was at the farm.
She made a fast turn into the driveway and pulled right up to the house. The lights were all on, and she could see Maggie craning her neck to see who the new arrival was. She tried to get herself together, keeping her eyes on the rearview mirror.
