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Maggie got out of her seat and hugged Hannah. “Remember, we always take care of one another.”
That’s when Hannah knew things would be okay. She had a family.
Chapter 11
The next few days were a blur for Hannah. Pastor Phil came each night for dinner, just in case she wanted to talk. But Hannah didn’t. She didn’t want to admit, even to herself, that when Troy had died, the first feeling she’d had was of relief. Then guilt for feeling relieved.
She got down on her hands and knees and began washing the floor of the old apartment. Country music played from the little clock radio on the counter, and she didn’t hear the footsteps until they were right outside the door. “Knock, knock.”
Hannah looked up, the wet rag in her hand. “Hi, Mrs. Curtis.”
She sat back on her heels, waiting for her the bad news. Would she be penalized for breaking her lease? Losing the deposit already hurt quite enough.
“Here, Hannah.” She passed over a white envelope.
“What’s this?” She stood up to take it.
“It’s your deposit.”
Hannah’s jaw dropped. She opened the envelope to see a check with the full amount of her first month’s rent scribbled in. She closed the envelope and handed it back to the woman. “I can’t take this.”
“It’s yours.” Mrs. Curtis stepped out of reach. “You deserve it, Hannah. You and Emma have been great tenants.”
Mrs. Curtis looked around the room, then nodded her head and left. Hannah would have hugged her if she’d thought the old lady would tolerate it. She pulled out the check to look at it again. She had money. Not a lot, but something to put by for a rainy day. Something to build on while staying on the farm, or maybe something to invest for her future. For the first time, she felt she might have a chance to get her feet under her.
She opened her wallet and tucked the envelope inside. She’d put it in the bank. Figure out a plan. Start a savings account, or maybe she’d be able to sign up for those online classes. It probably wasn’t enough for all the textbooks. But for the first time, Hannah had hope.
* * *
Jake knew he had to give Hannah her space. But it was harder than he had expected, especially when he had no word from her at all, even a brief text to say she was doing ok. Now that Troy was dead, things seemed even more complicated. He wasn’t sure why she was avoiding him. If it was because of the gossip around town, he didn’t want to add any fuel to the fire. Julia had been happy to share all the juicy details.
“Last night at Lumberjacks, people were talking about Hannah and you,” she’d said, as they stood outside the Gunderson’s new mega barn. It was the biggest job he’d ever managed, and he was proud.
“Again? What are they saying now?”
“That you two had an affair while she was married to Troy.” She looked away.
“An affair, now?” He couldn’t believe some people. “Everyone knows how Troy was. How can they talk about Hannah after all she has gone through?”
“Well, Allison’s still not super pleased with how things ended, but the conversation started because Joel Destin got kicked out for being too drunk,” Julia explained.
“He was at Lumberjacks?” He hadn’t met Hannah’s father before, but had heard enough about him to know what a deadbeat he was.
“He’s there all the time lately. I guess he’s dying. Cancer.”
“Do you think Hannah knows?”
“How would I know?” Julia made a face. “Anyways, she’s probably just staying far away from you until all of this blows over.”
“I’ll give ‘em something to talk about.”
“Okay, Bonnie Raitt.”
“I don’t care what people think. Quite frankly, this whole town owes her an apology for not standing up for her.”
“Jake, I love your passion, but she just lost her husband, and you’re already confessing your love? Plus, it sounds like she’s in some financial trouble, if she’s moving to the farm. Maybe she’s not calling because this is all just too much for her, right now.”
He hadn’t thought about that. He had always seen her as a warrior, pushing through all her adversaries.
