Chapter Twenty-Two
Hannah
Eight months later
I clutch the letter in my hands as I pull into the garage; I’m so excited that I’m shaking. It’s taken two months to get to this point and I can’t believe we’re finally here. I unlock the front door and walk inside.
“Declan?” I call out. Silence greets me. I’m disappointed because I really want to share the news. I walk through to the kitchen and put the letter on the counter.
The last thing I feel like doing is cooking dinner, but I’m trying this new thing out. It’s called being part of a family. It still feels weird to call this place home, but I’m slowly getting used to it.
I’ve been living with Declan and Anna for nearly six months now and things are going great. Anna and I are getting along amazingly. She’s doing really well. She’s back at school; she’s got new friends, and her nightmares are few and far between. She’s a normal seven-year-old girl, going on thirteen. I love watching her and Declan together because he’s such an amazing father, and I can tell she really loves him.
“Hey.” Declan grins. I turn around as he walks in with Anna, who is busy trying to unwrap a candy bar. She smiles at me and then races off to play with her dolls. I sidle over to Declan, unable to wipe the smile off my face. He chuckles and wraps his arms around me, leaning down to kiss me.
“You’re awfully cheerful today,” he observes. “Want to share?”
“It might have something to do with this,” I tease. I reach over and snatch the letter from the counter, placing it in front of me. I wait as he reads it, watching his eyes scan each line and getting wider by the second.
“Holy shit, so it’s official?”
“It’s official,” I agree. “The judge completed the ruling today. Anna is part of the family.” He sweeps me into his arms and kisses me passionately. I laugh and throw back my head, not expecting his reaction. Anna glances over and rolls her eyes, like she always does whenever we act like lovesick teenagers.
“You two are so embarrassing,” she grumbles. Declan laughs at her reaction.
I had the idea after he proposed to me, nearly three months ago to the day. Why couldn’t I adopt Anna, and then we would really all be a family? I’d been nervous suggesting it to Declan, because that would mean on paper I would be her guardian, but he loved the idea.
“It means the world to me that you’d even want to do that,” he murmured. His fingers snaked around the back of my neck as he tilted my face toward his. His lips pressed against mine, and I smiled.
“How could I not want this?” I whispered. “Anna is yours, and I want all of you.”
We had started the paperwork the very next day and had been anxiously waiting for it to become official. It feels as incredible as I thought it would, like our little family is finally complete.
“This is fantastic,” he breathes, shaking his head. “You’ve made my day. He leans down to kiss me again. “Actually, you’ve made my whole life. I can’t get over how lucky I am. Not only to have Anna, but also get to wake up next to you every morning.”
“Aww, stop it,” I grin, but deep down I love hearing that, because the feeling is mutual. I was so worried about him adjusting to not being as involved in the church, but things were working out well. He’s taken on a role helping disadvantaged kids through the parish—something Father Brennan helped organise for him, and I think it’s really helping. I can’t remember ever being this happy. The only thing missing is my family.
“I might go over and see Mum if it’s okay?” I ask. My mood instantly changes, and his expression shifts from happiness to concern.
Declan nods. “Of course it is. You sure you’re okay to see her? Want me to come? I can ask Lily to watch Anna.”
I shake my head. “Thanks, but I’m okay.”
I pull into the parking lot of the nursing home and get out, frowning at the sign that hangs over the entry. I feel bad every time I walk into this place, but I know she needs more care than I can give her on my own, and relying on Tully isn’t an option.
Things with Tully are strained to say the least. We can’t be in the same room together without erupting into a fight. I hate that we can’t get past our issues, because I want nothing more than to be part of her life and have her be a part of mine. All I can do is hope that eventually we get through this.
“Oh,” I frown as I walk into Mum’s room. I hold the flowers I’ve brought for her awkwardly in my hands. Tully sits next to Mum over by the window. She gives me a tiny smile, but won’t meet my eyes. “I didn’t know you’d be here,” I say, embarrassed. This is the first time I’ve seen my sister here in weeks. I think part of why she stays away is because she doesn’t want to risk seeing me.
I walk over and give Mum a kiss on the cheek. She looks up and smiles, but her expression is vacant. She has no idea who I am, but she’s been that way since the stroke six weeks ago.
After two weeks in hospital, she was transferred here, where she will probably be for the rest of her life. The doctors say the stroke caused significant ‘irreversible’ damage. She can’t eat, walk, or talk without assistance. Communicating with her at all feels nearly impossible, and exactly how long she has left, they can’t tell me. But despite all that, I come here nearly every day just to sit with her so she doesn’t feel alone.
I’ve been off work since it happened so I could be there for her. I didn’t even get a chance to tell her about Declan. Maybe that’s a good thing; who knows?
“I’ll go and come back,” I offer. Tully reaches out and grabs my arm.
“Please don’t,” she says. Her face flushes. “I’m not very good at this, Hanny, but I miss you.”
“I miss you, too,” I mumble. “I’m sorry about everything. I wish things could be better between us. I don’t like it when you’re angry at me.”
“I’m not angry at you, Hannah. I’m angry at myself. If I’d just told you, or Mum and Dad, then everything might have gone differently.”
“You were just a kid, Tull,” I say gently. “This was never on you.”
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t eight forever. I could’ve told you anytime.” She glances at Mum. “I let her down so much, Hanny. I wish I’d made more of an effort when she was … before …” She swallows, her voice trailing off.
“Tull, it’s not too late. Just you being here is all she wants. It might not feel like it, but she knows you’re here. We’re what’s keeping her going.”
I swallow past the lump in my throat as my eyes fill with tears. Her timing is perfect, because next week I start back at work. Maybe she can sit with Mum for just a few days a week. The thought of going back to work and worrying about Mum was making me feel like I was heading backward instead of forward.
“Why don’t you come over tonight? Max is coming for dinner. I know Anna would love to see you,” I say. I’m expecting her to refuse, but I at least want her to know that she’s welcome.
“I don’t know …” Tully hesitates. “Facing Declan after what I did? He must hate me.”
“Tull, if you want things to change, you need to change them. Give him a chance. Give me a chance. Think about it, okay?” I urge her. She nods.
I give Mum another kiss and squeeze her hand. “I’m going to leave you to spend some time with her, okay? Think about what I said and maybe I’ll see you later.”
“Okay,” she whispers.
I arrive back home just as Max and Marcus pull up. I grin and throw my arms around my two favourite boys, leading them inside. Max fills me in on all the gossip at work, and I have to admit, I’m looking forward to getting back there next week.
“Uncle Max,” Anna yells, running over and jumping into his arms. Max laughs, spinning her around in circles.
“Well if it isn’t my little princess,” he says, kissing her on the cheek. She giggles and pushes him away, then hugs Marcus in the same, enthusiastic manner.
I grin, wrapping my arms around Declan.
“So, you’re cooking, right?” Max asks Declan. “Because if it’s Hanny cooking, then we should probably have a backup ready.”
“Hey,” I growl, swatting him on the arm. “You’ve never complained about my cooking before.”
“Not to your face,” Marcus pipes up. I laugh and glance past Marcus as someone else walks into the house. Tully stands there awkwardly, her eyes full of doubt. She smiles hesitantly, like she’s one second away from turning and running out of the house.
“Sorry, the door was open …”
I walk over to her and wrap her in a hug, kissing her on the cheek. Finally, I feel like we are getting somewhere. This is a huge step for her, and I’m determined to make sure this is the beginning of us getting our relationship back on track.
“I’m so glad you came,” I whisper.
“I wasn’t going to, but you were right,” she mumbles. “I won’t know unless I try.”
I smile, tears in my eyes. “That’s all I ask.”
THE END
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