Page 33 of Better Than Expected

Not even the mention of waffles had Abbie up? That was entirely new.

Hannah flicked on the light, squinting for a moment as she adjusted and –

And then the bottom dropped right out from her world, as she saw the empty bed. “Abbie?” She asked again, panic making her voice raise.

It was foolish to search the bed – it was empty – but she did just that. And then look under. Then in the closet. The bathroom, living room, kitchen… all empty.

By the time she darted into her bedroom for her phone, she could barely unlock it with how hard her hands were shaking.

And then relief shot right through her body so strongly, she thought she could have melted right then and there.

3 missed calls – Caroline <3

Caroline <3 – 6:43AM

Hey, I don’t know if you’re still sleeping or if you

just don’t have your phone on you, but Abbie’s here.

She’s okay.

She barely remembered how she got to Caroline’s, hardly remembered the drive there at all. Did she shut the car off in the driveway?

Still in her pajamas, she swung the front door open and almost fell to her knees at the sight of Abbie sitting on the stairs in the front hall of the house, leaning into Caroline. Almost like she was burrowing into her side, as Caroline had a comforting arm around her shoulder and cradled a cup of coffee in the other hand.

Her daughter was also still in her pajamas, and Hannah raced forward, tracing her hands over Abbie’s hair, her face, and – and she looked like she was in one piece. “What…” She had to pause and take in a deep breath before she could manage, “What were you thinking? Leaving when I was asleep? Abigail Elizabeth Dalton, that is not okay.”

She still had her hands braced on Abbie’s shoulders as Abbie nodded, her bottom lip poking out in a pout. “Caroline told me that already. And she said I owe you a big apology, and I’m sorry I scared you.”

There was a lot under the tone, but it was sincere.

She shot Caroline a grateful look above Abbie’s head, really looking at her for the first time this morning and seeing how exhausted she looked, as well. “I woke up to a little person at the side of my bed who definitely did not fall asleep here so… that was new.” The corner of her mouth lifted in a tiny smile.

The smile, small as it was, almost made Hannah cry. After their conversation the previous night and this morning with Abbie, a smile from Caroline was like the best salve.

Clearing her throat, she turned back to Abbie, worry and concern and frustration and relief and everything rolling together inside of her. “How did you get here? What were you thinking?” She asked again, her voice shaking with it all.

“I took the T and then the train and then walked. It’s only a few blocks.” Abbie looked up at her with a defiance in her eleven-year-old eyes that Hannah was completely taken aback by as she spoke with ferocity, “You can’t break up with Caroline! You can’t push her away from us! You can’t!”

Hannah blinked, her hands feeling slack on her daughter’s shoulders. “What?”

Breaking up? Her heart just couldn’t handle that this morning, wrenching in her chest, as she jerked her head to look at Caroline, eyes wide. She didn’t miss something last night, right? She hadn’t.

Caroline didn’t look nearly as poleaxed as she felt, and Hannah got the feeling she’d already heard this before she’d arrived. “Methinks someone was eavesdropping from her bedroom last night.”

Hannah blew out a long-suffering sigh, even as the panic inside of her barely subsided. “Of course.” She aimed a look at Abbie, because, “How many times do we have to talk about this? Not everything is meant for you to hear. Especially conversations like last night.”

“But it matters to me, too! I had to come and see Caroline this morning to make sure everything was okay, because you wouldn’t. I know you wouldn’t!” Abbie tossed back at her.

And the reality of her daughter’s words felt like a slap in the face. Not just because Abbie saw and knew and understood so much of her and her relationship, but because her words weren’t born of a tantrum or having an attitude, and the utter anguish in them tore at Hannah’s insides. She felt the tears prick behind her eyes, and –

She’d tried so hard to do her best by Abbie, her entire life. She’d tried so hard to shield her from everything Michael did. She’d tried so hard to make up for all of Michael’s shortcomings. She’d been so hoping that her relationship with Michael and everything that entailed hadn’t touched Abbie. She’d worked so hard, and… and Abbie clearly saw and knew a lot more than Hannah ever hoped.

God. She swallowed thickly, her breathing rough.

Caroline closed her eyes tightly and tilted her head back as Hannah’s hands fell to her sides listlessly, unsure of what exactly to do in that moment.

“Abbacado, you shouldn’t say things like that to your mom. You only get one, and yours is pretty great, right?” Caroline said softly and broke the quiet that had fallen around them in the last minute. Caroline’s dark eyes were on Hannah’s face, measuring as she patted Abbie’s hip. “Why don’t you take a breather for a few in the den? With the door closed.”

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