Never Let Me Go (Welcome To Redemption) (10 page)

Chase and his shiftless little brother hadn’t seen eye-to-eye on much of anything since the day he started his two-year prison sentence nearly five years ago. After his release, Craig decided not to return to Redemption, and the family hadn’t seen him but once a year since—Christmas. Though he claimed to be a graphic artist, Chase could only imagine what the guy actually did to earn money these days. “I’ll be good, don’t worry.”

With another roll of her eyes, Carrie gave Hannah’s shoulder a squeeze before heading off in the direction of the kitchen.

“You want to talk about it?” Hannah asked.

Chase stared at her, tempted to open up about his feelings of anger and betrayal. But he wasn’t one to…share. Never had been. Which, according to his sisters, was his biggest fault.

“Nothing to talk about. We’re just very different people and don’t always understand each other’s choices.”

Hannah eyed him for a moment. “I think you two are probably more alike than you think.”

“Thanks a lot,” he said, somewhat hurt. To be compared to that wishy-washy brother of his was a tad insulting.

“I meant your good qualities,” she amended. “You’re both kind, compassionate, bright…obstinate.” She grinned.

“And you would know, wouldn’t you?” he teased. Before she could reply, he added, “I need to stop at my place to grab my laptop. You about ready to go?”

“I’ll meet you at my house.”

“I’d prefer you follow me to my place.”

“I’m not five years old, Sheriff.” She pulled her keys from her purse, met his gaze briefly in challenge, then turned and strode out the door.

Chase pulled his wallet out and slapped some money on the table. “Life would be a whole lot easier if you were, lady.”

Chapter Eight

Hannah woke the next morning to the storm of the century and a foul mood to match. She gulped down a cup of coffee on the ride to the diner, marveling along the way at just how hard the rain was coming down. Normally, she loved a good thunderstorm, but for some reason, the gloomy weather was a bit depressing.

Business was sparse at best, so when the few people who’d braved the weather to come in for lunch were gone, Hannah gave Miles and Kelly a quick call to tell them not to come in, then closed the diner and headed home.

She put a mug of water in the microwave for tea before running upstairs to the bathroom.
 
The phone rang as she was washing her hands, and she made it back down just as the answering machine picked up.

“Hannah, it’s Drew. Just calling to make sure—”

“Drew, I’m here. What’s up?”

“Hey, Sis, just wanted to check in, make sure you’re all right. Dad’s in a bit of a mood today, though who could blame him.”

“You lost me. What’s the matter with Dad?”

Drew paused. “It must have slipped your mind. Not surprising with what happened the other night. Today is Mom and dad’s wedding anniversary.”

Hannah’s heart clenched…she’d completely forgotten. “Shit, no wonder.”

“What?”

“I’ve been in a funk all day and couldn’t figure out why. Now…” Hannah took a deep breath as tears flooded her eyes and her throat grew dry. “Is Dad there? Can I talk to him?”

“Sorry, he’s at a seminar. Should be over in a couple hours, though, if you want to give him a call.”

Hannah glanced at the clock. “I will, thanks. How is Lindy feeling?”

“Physically, she says she’s never felt better. But her emotions are all over the place. Dad says that’s pretty normal, so I’m trying not to worry too much.” He chuckled. “She gave me a kiss earlier today, said I was the best thing that ever happened to her. Twenty minutes later, she accused me of being the most clueless man on the face of the earth. Hell, I still don’t even know what I said or did.”

Hannah tried to smile, but her heart just wasn’t in it. “I doubt she does either. Just stay supportive and try not to say anything stupid.”

He laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m finding Hot Stuff’s little mood swings a surprising turn on.”

“Men.” Hannah shook her head. “Well, at least that’s a positive thing.”

“I thought so.”

“Drew?”

“Yeah?”

“Keep an eye on Dad, will you? He took her death so hard. Today must be torture for him.”

“I will, don’t worry. Besides, I think he might have turned a corner. One of Lindy’s mom’s friends stopped by yesterday, and when she smiled and said hello to him, his face grew red as an apple.” Drew let out a quiet chuckle. “It was good to see him not pining, even if just for a minute.”

Hannah wasn’t sure how she felt about the fact her father felt an attraction to another woman. She loved him so much and wanted nothing but happiness for him, but it just seemed…too soon. Then again, her mother had been hospitalized for years before her shocking death a few months back. Maybe it wasn’t too soon for her father, but really for Hannah herself. Truth was, it had been an eternity since her father had been with a woman. Though he never spoke about it, Hannah knew he’d remained faithful to her mother ‘til the very end. Which was sad and sweet and incredibly romantic. But also very lonely. He’d been a shell of himself for years, and though the effects of her mother’s death had been crushing, in an odd way, it had also helped him to do something he’d never been able to do—let go.

So, if some random woman made him blush and feel alive again for the first time in who knew how long, who was Hannah to begrudge him?

“Wish I could have seen it. I’ll give him a call in a couple hours…hope he remembered to charge his cell.”

“Lindy reminded him to plug it in last night. She and dad…they have a special little bond. It’s nice to see.”

Hannah could hear the smile in his voice. Lindy made Drew happier than she’d ever seen him. The only thing that could make them complete was if they’d get around to setting a wedding date. “Lindy’s an amazing woman. I’m just glad you finally pulled your head out of your ass long enough to see it.”

“Good one. Okay, I’ll call again in a couple days. Take care of yourself. And listen, Chase is doing me a great favor by personally seeing to your safety. Please don’t give him a hard time if he gets a little overprotective. He cares about you. Make sure he knows how much you appreciate what he’s doing, okay?”

I tried, but then you called and ruined the mood.
“Don’t worry, I will. I’ve already made him my pork chops and mushroom risotto, and tonight I’m making spaghetti.”

“I’m sure he’ll love that. Poor guy eats more frozen pizza than anyone I know. Okay, I’ll talk to you soon.”

With a weary sigh, Hannah hung up the phone. Deciding she needed something a little stronger than tea, she poured the nuked water down the drain, pulled a wine glass from the cabinet, and poured herself a healthy dose of merlot.

It had been years since she’d looked through her parents’ wedding album, and the thought of looking at pictures of those happiest of moments seemed appropriate. So she dug it out of the hall closet and laid it out on the kitchen table.
Andrew Porter & Elizabeth Geirut: Together Forever
had been written with a black Sharpie in her mother’s sprawling handwriting on the front cover. A silent sigh escaped Hannah on a shaky breath. After a hasty gulp of wine, she flipped open to the first page.

And was completely unprepared for the overwhelming surge of emotion that stole her breath. Tears sprang to her eyes and she quickly swiped them away.

She remembered how much her parents loved telling the story of how they’d met and fallen in love when they were in the fourth grade. Her paternal grandparents were both born and raised Redemptionites, with roots going back to the founding town members. But her mother’s parents moved down from Iron Mountain, Michigan when her grandpa transferred for a job.

Ten years later, they were married down by beautiful Milner’s pond.

Hutch’s brother, Wally, had taken the pictures since they couldn’t afford a professional photographer. But Wally’s keen eye proved to be perfect for taking the kind of random shots every bride dreams of putting in her wedding album, her mother no exception.

Hannah took another sip as she stared down at the beautiful picture he’d taken of her parents just after the ‘I dos’. Her mother’s face radiant with joy, her father laughing as he lifted his new bride in his arms. Another picture showed them gazing into each other’s eyes as friends and family looked on, and yet another proved that Andrew Porter and Elizabeth Geirut had been madly in the love the day they became man and wife.

Smiling through the tears, Hannah flipped page after page, thinking about her parents and all the wonderful moments they’d shared—with each other, and with their children.
 
Before her mother—

“Hey, are you okay?”

Hannah looked up in surprise. Chase stood just inside the kitchen, his brow furrowed in concern. Incredible—she hadn’t even heard the front door open.

She swiped at her eyes and closed the album. “I’m fine. Just…feeling a little sorry for myself.”

He took the few steps that separated them, then stood gazing down at her as if unsure whether to sit or not. “I don’t want to intrude, but…damn, Dimples, I hate to see you cry.”

“Sit with me.”

Chase nodded and sat down on the chair to her left. He eyed the wedding album. “What’s going on?”

She looked up into those comforting hazel depths, suddenly very grateful for his company. “Today is my parents’ wedding anniversary.”

“Ah, honey, I’m so sorry. I figured something was wrong when I drove past the diner and saw the ‘Closed’ sign in the window. How come you didn’t say anything this morning?”

Hannah warmed over the endearment. She was pretty sure Chase had never called her ‘honey’ before. “I completely forgot. Drew called after I got home and reminded me. I
was
in a crappy mood this morning, but I just figured it was the weather.”

 
“You love storms,” he reminded her, as if she’d forgotten that, too.

The man knew her so well—better than most anyone.

A small smile tugged at her mouth. “I know. That’s why it didn’t make sense. And since the diner was empty, I figured I might as well close shop and sulk at home.”

He reached under the table and squeezed her knee. “Wish you’d have called me. I know you don’t like being treated like a little kid, but nothing is more important to me than your safety.”

“I know, and I appreciate it; I truly do.” She wanted to say more, to broach the subject of what had happened the other night, clear the air and have an honest, open talk about how they felt about each other.

Instead, she set her glass down and flipped the book back open to search for the shot of her parents feeding each other a spoonful of ice cream. “Every year for their anniversary, my parents would share a hot fudge sundae at Dairy Queen, then drive down to Milner’s pond where they got married, and dance under the stars.”

He propped his elbow on the table and inclined his head to get a better look, his shoulder practically touching hers. “That’s pretty amazing.”

Hannah breathed a silent sigh of relief as she leaned into him savoring his warmth and strength. “Yeah. They were ridiculously romantic. For a while anyway.”

Chase gave her knee another comforting squeeze. “They shared more in their short time together than most people do in a lifetime.”

She turned to meet his gaze. “I want what they had. I mean…someday.”

“Me, too.”

Hannah’s senses tingled as Chase stared into her eyes. She was almost sure he meant to kiss her, and couldn’t think of anything she wanted more at that moment.

He focused on her lips, then back up to look into her eyes, as if seeking approval. Like the clueless man even had to ask. Every ounce of anger she’d felt the other night dissipated the moment he leaned in, cupped her cheek in a gentle caress, and kissed her.

Tears sprang to her eyes as her chest swelled with emotion, stealing her breath in the most wonderful way. She’d wanted this man for so long; had yearned for his romantic attention, ached for his touch. Yet, once she’d finally found the courage to throw caution to the wind and make a move, she’d had her heart flung back at her in rejection.

Still, this time Chase had made the first move, and she didn’t feel even a moment’s hesitation as he slanted his mouth across hers to deepen the kiss.

A hard knock at the front door was quickly followed by a loud, “Hey, anybody home?”

They quickly broke apart, Chase with a muttered curse, and Hannah with a grumble of frustration.

“I’ll get it,” Chase said as he pushed to his feet.

She picked up her glass and took a sip of her wine, desperate to get her heart rate back under control. What that man could do with a single kiss should be a crime.

The door opened and closed before Officer Donovan appeared from around the corner, a sulking Chase right behind him.

“What can we help you with?” Chase asked, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

Hannah couldn’t have been happier with his displeasure. “Hi Mike,” she cooed. “Can I get you a glass of wine?” She pretended not to notice the sidelong glance Chase cast her. Something told her he wasn’t thrilled with her hospitable offering.