Page 11 of We Can Forever

“You know everyone.” Hannah rests her clasped hands on the table.

“More like everyone knows me.” I hesitate. “I’m sorry. We can go somewhere more?—”

“No, it’s okay. Small town. I get it.” She fiddles with her fork. “So, you’re renovating the fire station?”

“Not the whole thing.” I fold my arms on the table, happy to at least have something to talk about. “Just the kitchen. I was a contractor before I moved back here and took over my dad’s job.”

“As fire chief. After he retired?”

“After he…died.”

Her lips part in surprise. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.” A lump forms in my throat, and I have to work to swallow it down. “The last project he had going before he passed was this. He wanted to revamp the whole kitchen, which is pretty old. I guess people have opinions about it.”

“When did he pass?”

“Last year. He, uh… We had a big fight the last time we saw each other. He disagreed with my parenting choices. Thought I should move back to Pine Island so Katie could be around family.”

I have no clue why I’m opening up like this. Maybe it’s because I know she’ll eventually hear this story from someone else, or maybe it’s because I feel at ease around her and I want to speak what’s constantly on my mind.

“We never got the chance to make up,” I add.

My last word hangs in the air. I wish there were more to add, but that’s it. That’s the end of the story.

Resolutions are for books and movies. When you get them in real life, it’s a bonus, not a guarantee.

I clear my throat, suddenly uncomfortable. This topic isn’t exactly first-date material, and I don’t want to bring down the mood.

“What brought you to Pine Island?” I ask. “Your shop?”

“Exactly.” Her whole demeanor changes. Her face becomes brighter, and she sits straighter. “I’m from Oregon. Portland. I was working from home, teaching online, and I saw the storefront when I was searching for some examples for a course, and… I can’t explain it. I just fell in love with what I saw. It was so right.”

“So you came and checked it out, and that was that?”

“Not exactly,” she laughs. “My aunt checked it out for me, and I bought it on the spot.”

I cock my head. “You were willing to take that chance without looking at the place yourself or visiting the island?”

“Um. Well…” She bites her bottom lip. “I wasn’t feeling well, and we knew the property would go fast.”

Emmy Jane arrives out of nowhere and places our drinks on the table. “Two waters. Now, what can I get you for dinner?”

We decide on a pizza to share, and as soon as Emmy Jane leaves, Hannah turns back to me. “Tell me about your daughter.”

I would like to hear more about her, actually, but the fact that she seems to genuinely want to know about Katie is wonderful. One of the reasons I’ve put off dating is that I worry what people will think of me having a kid, and that’s just the start of it. From what I’ve learned from other people, all sorts of complications come into place when you date with children involved.

“Katie is eleven.” Just speaking about her makes me feel lighter. “She’s smart, really…intuitive. She gets that from her aunt Jenny, I guess. She liked that I was going on a date tonight. Basically told me that it’s time to get back out there.”

Hannah laughs. “Wow. She’s not afraid to speak her mind.”

“Tell me about it,” I chuckle.

“How long has it been?”

I press my tongue against my front teeth, not sure I want to admit the truth. “Would you think less of me if I said years?”

“Nope.” She seems completely unfazed. “Not if you don’t think less of me if I say the same thing.”

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