Chapter Seventeen

~Hannah~

“I’VE HARDLY SEEN YOU since you got home,” Grace says a week later. We’re packing up my house, or what’s left after all of my important personal things were already taken over to Brad’s just a few days ago.

“I know, it’s been a whirlwind.” I sit back on my heels and push my messy hair out of my face, then decide fuck it and tie it up on my head. “I went back to work, and we started moving my stuff all around the same time, so we’ve been busy and exhausted.”

“I can’t believe you took the plunge,” Drake says, who’s busy stacking boxes. “You’re sure it’s what you want?”

“Yes.” I stick my tongue out at him. “I’m happy and in love. Just be happy for me.”

“I’m happy for you. I just want to make sure you weren’t pressured into anything. It feels sudden.”

I shake my head and go back to stacking books in boxes. “It’s not sudden. We’ve been dating for a few months, and we know that we love each other, so why not live together? You know how crazy our hours are, and Brad’s can be just as hectic. We want to be able to spend as much of our downtime together as possible.”

“I think that makes sense,” Grace says with a shrug. “Although, I’m not a good judge of that sort of thing because I moved in with Jacob after knowing him for a week.”

“That’s fast,” I say and look at Drake as if to say, see? “And even though it was fast, it worked out wonderfully for you.”

“It did,” she says with a happy smile. “And I have no doubt that this is going to work out for you and Brad. I can see the way you smile when he walks into a room. It’s adorable.”

“Adorable,” Drake agrees, propping his hands on his hips.

“Yes, I can see that you’re happy for me,” I reply.

“I’m cautious,” he replies grimly. “Because I love you and I know you. I’m protective.”

“Like a pesky brother.”

“Exactly,” he says with a smile. “Someone needs to be. And I do want the best for you. I want you happy and in love and all that happy crap.”

“He’s so romantic,” Grace says.

“And I want you to be smart,” he continues without acknowledging Grace. “Because while falling in love is fun, it’s also sometimes blinding.”

“I’m not blind,” I reply, not angry with Drake in the least. “Honestly, I’m not. He’s a human being, and he’s not perfect. But he’s pretty wonderful anyway, and he loves me. I love him, too. That’s a good reason to want to live together.”

“Okay then,” Drake replies with a nod. “You know I support you. Always. But I’m also going to be the pesky brother who watches over you.”

“How sweet.” I pat his cheek, and then give it a little squeeze, making him cringe. “You’re the best brother a girl could have.”

He rolls his eyes and gets back to work packing boxes.

“Why do I have so much crap? I’ve only lived in this house for like four and a half years.”

“That’s what we do,” Grace says. “We gather things. And then they fill up our house and we wonder why we have so much of it.”

“I haven’t cracked these books open in years.”

“And yet,” Drake says, “you’re piling them in boxes and I’m hauling them around.”

“I mean, your muscles are impressive when you lift heavy things,” I say helpfully, but he just glowers at me. “Also, you love me.”

“That’s why,” he says, shaking his head.

“So, you and Brad had a romantic time at the beach?” Grace asks with a grin. “Tell us everything.”

“It was so beautiful, you guys. You both should go sometime. The resort is just stellar, with amazing food and views. I haven’t been that relaxed in… hell, I don’t remember the last time I was that relaxed.”

“That’s awesome.” Grace smiles as she rubs her little belly. “I told Jacob that I want to go sometime, and he said he’d make it happen. What a great place to spend some of this pregnancy, when I’m big and uncomfortable.”

“You should do that,” I reply with a nod. “You can lay by the pool with a book and just relax. It would be perfect. But I don’t want you to fly after you hit the eight-month mark.”

“Yes, Dr. Malone,” she says with a smile. “And speaking of me being pregnant, Jacob has also said that he’s going to wrap me from head to toe in bubble wrap so I’m sure not to hurt me or the baby.”

“You’ll be fine,” I reply and then cock my head to the side, thinking. “Actually, we should just put you in a bubble all the time.”

“Probably,” she says. “Drake, this box is full.”

“So, I’m basically just the slave around here today,” he grumbles.

“You’re the brawn of our operation,” I agree. “You like feeling needed and you know it.”

“Maybe.” He tapes Grace’s box shut and then carries it to the growing pile against the wall. “So what did you decide to do with all of this?”

“Well, not all of it will fit in Brad’s house. So, I took over what’s most important to me already. Clothes, toiletries, electronics. You know, all that stuff. Now we’re packing up the rest of my personal things to go to storage until I have time to sift through it all and decide what to do.”

“What about the furniture? It’s practically brand new,” Grace says.

“Well, I was talking to Jenna the other day, and she suggested rather than making this place a monthly rental, I make it a vacation rental. I hadn’t thought of it before, but I looked at comps in the area for what the income potential could be, and it just made sense. So I’m going to move out the personal stuff and spruce up what’s already here and rent it out to tourists.”

“Jenna’s smart,” Grace says. “That’s a great idea. And around here the earning potential has to be fantastic.”

“Yeah, and the potential for asshole tourists is fantastic too,” Drake says, scowling. “They’ll wreck the place.”

“Not all of them,” I say. “What the hell is wrong with you today? You’re so moody.”

“I’m always moody.”

“You’re particularly sunshiny today,” Grace says, batting her eyelashes innocently.

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” he says. “But if I’d known I was going to be moving all of these damn boxes, I wouldn’t have gone to the gym this morning.”

“You don’t have to be here,” I remind him. “I have a dolly that I can use to move stuff around.”

“I don’t want either of you moving this stuff,” he says and I just cock a brow, watching him.

“You get this way when you haven’t gotten laid in a while,” I say, tapping my lips with my finger. “Is that it?”

“To be fair, I get testy when I haven’t gotten laid in a while,” Grace adds, making me smile. I nod in agreement, and Drake rolls his eyes. He’s the king of the eye-roll today.

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong.”

“Bullshit,” I reply. “I’ve known you for a dozen years, and there’s something bugging you.”

“I lost a patient last night.” He leans against the wall and wipes the sweat from his brow. “It was a fluke, and it was during surgery. Routine gall bladder removal. It shouldn’t have happened.”

“I’m sorry.” I stand and walk to him, wrap my arms around his waist and hug him close. This is the hardest part about what we do because eventually we’re faced with the reality that we’re human, and we can’t save everyone. “I’m very sorry.”

“I’ll be okay,” he says and squeezes me tightly. “And I’m sorry I’m an asshole.”

“It’s okay.” I pull back with a smile. “You’re only an asshole part of the time.”

His lips twitch just as the doorbell rings. I open the door and freeze. There are two Montana Highway Patrol officers standing on my porch.

“Brad.” I reach blindly for Drake’s hand. If something’s happened to Brad, I don’t know what I’ll do. I can’t lose him. I just found him. “Please tell me it’s not Brad.”

“No, ma’am.”

I sigh in relief, adrenaline coursing through my body. “Thank God.”

“I’m patrolman Peterson, and this is my partner, patrolman James. Can we please come inside?”

“Sure.” I step back and allow them in. “I’m moving, so the place is a mess.”

“We won’t be long. You’ll want to sit down.”

My eyes fly to both Grace and Drake, who are both watching the officers with suspicion. Grace has her phone gripped in her hand.

“What’s this about?”

Both men, in their forties with grim faces, look at each other. Patrolman Peterson says, “Would you rather we talk in private?”

“No, I’d rather you tell me what’s going on.”

He nods and takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry to inform you that Randall Malone was killed yesterday morning in a motor vehicle accident just outside of Billings, Montana.”

“What?” Suddenly both Drake and Grace are flanking me, each holding one of my hands, and the blood is rushing in my ears. “That can’t be possible. He doesn’t live in Montana.”

“No, ma’am. But he was driving through Montana, for what purpose we can’t be sure.”

“But I live in Cunningham Falls,” I whisper and close my eyes. “That asshole was coming here.”

“He was in a multiple vehicle accident yesterday,” he repeats, “and he was the only fatality.”

“Well, at least there’s that.” Drake squeezes my hand and I just shake my head. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“That’s not all,” he continues. “It seems you’re the only surviving relative of your father’s, so we need to know where you want the body to be transported to.”

“Excuse me?” I scowl and pull my hands free so I can fist them. “I don’t want him.”

“Well, you can choose to not claim him,” the patrolman says. “But in that case—”

“Can she think about it?” Grace asks, interrupting him. “Is there a number she can call you at once she’s had the chance to think it all through and take it in. This is a lot of information.”

“Of course,” he replies and pulls out his business card, passing it to me. “You have a few days to decide what you’d like to do. You just give me a call if you need anything. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

With that, they both tip their hats to me and leave, and I just stand here, staring at nothing.

“Did that just happen?”

“I’m afraid so,” Drake says from beside me. “I’m sorry, Hannah Banana.”

“I’m not sorry.” I turn to face him, fierce anger burning through me. “It’s just a blessing that he didn’t kill anyone else this time. What the fuck was he doing in Montana anyway?”

“I don’t know,” Drake says. “Hannah—”

“No.” I shake my head and stomp away. “I’m so damn pissed. How dare he come to my home? My home. What did he think he would do when he got here? That we’d have a great reunion, and break out some pictures and reminisce about the good ol’ days? Because there weren’t any good ol’ days, Drake. None. And now they want me to claim his body?”

I laugh and pace around the living room.

“And do what with him? I don’t give a rat’s ass what happens to that body. And why shouldn’t I abandon him?” I continue, seeing red and feeling palpitations begin in my chest. “He abandoned me my whole life. And then he killed my mother.”

My breathing is harsh, and I can feel tears wetting my cheeks.

“Hannah, you need to sit down,” Grace says, but I shake my head. I’m too wound up.

“I don’t understand why he couldn’t just stay in Kansas, in his pathetic life. I am fine without him. I’m better than fine. I’m fucking fantastic.”

I stop to breathe, and realize that I’m having chest pains.

Fuck.

“I’ve worked myself up into a heart attack.”

“What?” Grace demands and rushes to my side. “What’s happening?”

“Chest pain. Short of breath.” I look to Drake, but he’s just watching me intently, not saying anything. “You’re never this stoic.”

“I’m letting you be angry.”

“I’m not angry, I’m fucking furious. I don’t need this.” I let my head fall back. “I can’t die. I just found the love of my life. This isn’t fair.”

“You’re not dying,” Drake says. “You’re having an anxiety attack.”

“Fuck that,” I retort and glare at him. “I’m having chest pain and shortness of breath. You went to med school.”

“I did, and I also know those are symptoms of an anxiety attack.”

“That’s not what this is,” I insist and sit on a chair, holding my chest.

“Maybe I should call 911,” Grace says, but I immediately shake my head.

“No, if you do that, they’ll tell Brad. I don’t want him to see me like this.”

“Hannah, he’s the love of your life as you just put it,” Grace says. “If I didn’t call Jacob at a time like this, he’d spank my ass red, and not in a fun way.”

“Kinky,” Drake murmurs, trying to make me laugh, but it’s not working. “Hannah, take a deep breath.”

“I can’t.” I push my head between my knees and bury my face in my hands, completely mortified. This is how I’m going out. Of a heart attack in my early thirties because my father decided to kill himself on a highway in Montana.

Someone presses a cold rag to the back of my neck, momentarily making me feel better, but then the pain shoots down my left arm and I’m officially freaked the fuck out.

“I have left arm pain.” I stare up at Drake, truly scared now. “Drake, this isn’t normal.”

He sighs and nods. “Okay. I still don’t think it’s a heart attack, but we should take you in to be checked out, just to be sure.”

I nod and stand, letting the business card I’ve been clutching in my hand fall to the floor. I don’t bother with my handbag or phone, or even my keys as I follow Drake out of my house to his car.

“I’m going to call Brad,” Grace says, but I turn on her and point my finger in her face.

“No.” I shake my head. “No, Grace. Do not do that.”