Page 62 of Always Right

Derek

Dinner dragged on.

Everyone talked, laughed and had a good time but every now and then, I’d catch a glimpse of Hannah on the other side of the room, a glass of wine in her hand and constantly checking her phone.

I did the same.

Only ten minutes until midnight.

A new year...more of the same.

Kind of.

Life had changed drastically in just a few months.

I scratched the back of my head, sighing as she stood up and slipped on her coat. She was leaving. She said something to Deborah, probably using the excuse that she was going to check on our daughters to leave, and then walked to Evie and gave her a long hug. She was fucking stunning.

She had done so little--minimal makeup, a short dress and boots that covered her long legs, and she still managed to take my goddamn breath away. Hell...it wasn’t worth breathing if I didn’t have her. She glanced once in my direction, forcing a smile before leaving Evie’s cabin and walking to ours next door.

I need a fucking drink.

I stood up, heading to the kitchen and avoiding all conversation. I didn’t need comfort or to fake happiness, not when I was dreading what awaited ahead. The uncertainty was troubling. I poured myself a glass of juice because that was all I could drink and stood in the kitchen, waiting for the minutes to pass me by, hoping I could avoid the commotion of the new year.

It seemed eternal, the minutes, the seconds...the countdown, but finally, I heard cheers from everyone, their kisses and I love yous, their grateful laughs for a new beginning. My gaze lingered on the door, hoping she’d come back and smile, but she didn’t. Instead, Evie appeared with a smile of her own and her arms extended.

“Happy new year, Derek,” she said with excitement. “I wish you the best year, full of happiness. Full of everything you’ve ever dreamed of.”

I hugged her back, holding her for a while, hoping her peace would fill up the emptiness in my chest.

“Have you seen Hannah?” she asked, pulling away.

I shook my head. “I think she went to bed early. I’m going too, I think.”

Evie pouted but the joy lingered in her eyes. “Okay. I know...it must be exhausting having two babies at the same time.”

That’s exactly what it is.

I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, mustering a smile for her sake. “Enjoy the night, okay? Don’t stay up too late.”

She laughed. “I am most definitely staying up all night.”

The brisk cold air hit me like a hurricane and I winced, the bitter cold numbing my ears almost immediately.My phone buzzed with an incoming message, a short Happy New Year's from Lisa. Things between us were tense because even though she'd explained she was trying to find who stole from the gallery, I didn't want her to do it behind my back. I replied with a thumb up emoji and shoved my phone back into my pocket as I rushed to the cabin, watching the air fog up with every breath I took and paused at the door, hoping Hannah was in bed already so I didn't have to see her...talk to her. With every pained look in her eyes it became harder and harder to keep up with the facade but as I entered the cabin, the soft sound of piano keys drowned out the creaking of the door. I stilled, the sound stopping me in my tracks as it filled the room with sorrow and heartbreak.

Her eyes were closed, and she was so lost in the music she didn’t hear me, but I saw her—saw the Hannah she was when no one was watching...saw the vulnerable woman she was terrified to be.

And it was beautiful.

Hannah—my Hannah—was completely broken and shattered, yet she was perfect.

Each key gave her soul its voice back, and as a tear rolled down her cheek, a small smile formed on her lips, like it was all she needed.

As if she was finally finding herself in the song she had refused to let her heart sing.

Minutes passed, minutes in which it was only her in her world of music, and all I could do was watch her, engrave the sight into my head—my heart—until she played the last key, and a heart wrenching sob tore from her throat as she stopped. She buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking as she cried.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to walk the other way instead of taking her in my arms like I wanted to but she heard me, wiping away her tears quickly and meeting my gaze.

She couldn’t hide the longing in her eyes...but she wouldn’t act on it. Not yet. Her war was obvious, and I couldn’t fight it for her as much as I wanted to.

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