Part 23 (1/2)

”And look awful. I remember when Colton asked me to hem a pair of his scrub pants. He thanked me for doing it, but he found a seamstress to do the others.”

Hannah folded up the material and put it back in the bag. ”Where did you meet Colton?”

”At a friend's wedding. I was the maid of honor, and he was the best man.”

”Was it love at first sight?”

Laurel chuckled. ”No, but I knew within a few weeks that he was the one I wanted to marry.”

”My experience is so different. I wasn't in love with Jackson when we got married, and I've done nothing but hurt him ever since.”

”Do you love him now?”

Hannah smiled wistfully. ”I can't help but love him.”

”As long as two people love each other, there's hope. Things happen in every marriage. You have to pick up the pieces and start over. Colton and I went through a rough time a few years after we got married. I didn't want to work things out, but G.o.d showed me that everyone deserves a second chance.” She reached over and touched Hannah's arm. ”You and Jackson are getting your second chance. Don't waste it.”

”I don't intend to. The hard part will be convincing Jackson. I've already burned him once.”

”If you love him, you'll find a way to make him believe you.”

”I hope so.”

Laurel glanced at her phone. ”It's time to pick up Amanda and Sophia. Would you like to come along? I can show you where the school is. We can also get some ice cream on the way home.”

”I'd love to come.”

Hannah watched Jackson disappear into Sophia's room. He'd be in there at least an hour reading to their insatiable daughter. After finis.h.i.+ng in the kitchen, she decided to take a shower and wash her hair while she waited for him.

She was sitting on the bed towel-drying her hair when he came into the room. He dropped down behind her and took the towel out of her hand.

”May I?” he asked softly.

At her nod, he took her hair gently in his hands and began to dry it the same way she'd seen him do it for Sophia. It was surprisingly soothing. Hannah could feel the stress over what had happened with Mitch.e.l.l earlier in the day slowly slip away.

”Feel better now?”

She turned to face him. ”Much better. Thank you for sending Laurel over.”

He pulled her back against him and ran his fingers lightly up and down her arms. ”How do you know I called her?”

”I just know. You're going to put me to sleep doing that, Jackson.”

”Is that a bad thing?”

She chuckled sleepily. ”No, but it could be habit-forming.”

”That's okay with me. Close your eyes and go to sleep.”

It wasn't long before he felt her relax against him and heard the deep even breathing. He glanced down and smiled. Her eyes were closed, her long, dark lashes fanned out against her skin. Mission accomplished. If only sleep would come so easily for him.

Jackson decided to surprise Hannah by coming home again for lunch. Part of his reason was his anxiety about Mitch.e.l.l; the other was that he just needed to see her. There wasn't a sound when he came through the door. No television or music playing. A sudden fear gripped him. Please G.o.d, don't let her be gone! I couldn't live through this again.

On feet that felt as if they were moving in slow motion, he went down the hall to her room. Hannah was sitting on the floor staring at her phone. When she looked up at him, he could tell something had happened.

He went down on his knees beside her. ”Why are you on the floor?”

”I remember, Jackson. I remember everything.”

Trying to remain calm, he said, ”Tell me about it.”

”I was going through my clothes, and I found this.” She pointed to a blue dress spread out on the carpet next to her. ”Do you recognize it?”

He nodded. ”You wore it on our wedding day.”

”That's right. When I saw it, something snapped in my head. It was like a switch turned on or something. I know that sounds weird, but it's the only way I can describe it. Suddenly, I remembered all those stories you told me about in your letters. I even remembered one you didn't tell me the time you changed the tire on my car. If you only knew what a relief it is to finally know how everything fits together.”

”How does it fit together, Hannah?”

She reached for his hand. ”Do you remember when I came to see Sophia? You asked me if I was happy, and I told you I was. But when I got back to New York, I couldn't get that afternoon out of my mind. I kept seeing you and Sophia. That made me start questioning everything. I didn't want to think I'd made a mistake that I'd done all those terrible things for nothing. I'd loved Mitch.e.l.l for years. How could I suddenly not love him? And how could I have been so wrong about what love is? It took a long time for me to realize that my feelings for Mitch.e.l.l were more like a sickness. The only time I ever came close to being free of it was when I was with you.”

”Are you sure you're free of it now?”

She looked directly into his eyes. ”Yes, I am.”

A strange smile touched his lips. ”I'm curious to hear how one falls out of love.”

”I'm not sure what I felt for Mitch.e.l.l was ever love at least not the type of love G.o.d intended between a man and a woman. I found myself comparing Mitch.e.l.l to you. It wasn't fair to him, of course. He's nothing like you. He doesn't have your immense capacity for love, integrity, and commitment. It wasn't his fault that he couldn't measure up. When I started pulling away from him, he did what most men do when that happens. He found consolation elsewhere.”

”I'm sorry things didn't work out.”

Her laugh was incredulous. ”I leave you for another man and you're sorry. You're truly unique, Jackson. Why didn't you ask me for an annulment? You had every right to do so.”

He twisted the ring on his finger. ”I married you for better or worse.”

”Did you wonder why I didn't ask you for one?”

”I supposed it was because Mitch.e.l.l never asked you to marry him.”

”It's true that Mitch.e.l.l never asked me to marry him. It's also true that I wouldn't have married him. You were willing to marry me and be a father to Sophia. I owed you the courtesy of letting you decide when or if our marriage should end.”

”I appreciate that.”

”When I left New York, I had no expectations. I had ruined any chance of a relations.h.i.+p with you. All I wanted was an opportunity to be part of Sophia's life. The day after I arrived, I drove by the house and saw you and Sophia together. You looked so happy together, so complete. I realized that I needed you more than you needed me. I hadn't been a good wife or mother. It wasn't difficult to convince myself that you'd both be better off without me and that the best thing I could do was leave you in peace.”

”I hate that you had to go through all this, but I'm glad you didn't leave again. And you're wrong about us being complete. Sophia and I need you, Hannah.”