Page 94 of Living for Truth
“Talmage, Hannah’s cousin. Nice to meet you!” Talmage shakes his hand with more enthusiasm than I was expecting. It’s not like Talmage and I were super close growing up.
He’s two years older than me and always found sports more interesting than sitting around and chatting, which is what Emma, Elli, and I tended to do at family gatherings. We preferred to lock ourselves away in a basement bedroom rather than interact with everyone else.
“Are you just visiting Utah? I heard you were out in California,” I ask quietly as the prelude music starts.
“I was, I was helping with the summer fires, but I’m back for good. I work for the Springville Fire Department now.”
“That’s cool. I’m guessing from your earlier statement, there’s no rumored fiancée either?”
Talmage shakes his head.
I don’t get to ask any further questions because the meeting gets started, but color me curious about Talmage’s life.
I watch Aly and Morgan for their reactions to certain things during the meeting, and when the sacrament is passed to our row, Talmage looks at me, I shake my head, and he declines it as well.
Interesting.
I wonder what that’s about. Talmage has always been one of the golden boys of the family. I thought for surehe’d be married with a gaggle of kids by now, but I guess you never really know.
It’s none of my business, so there’s no way in hell I’d ever ask him. If he’s no longer in the church, good for him. I hope he knows he’s not the only one, though.
By the time the closing prayer giver says “amen,” I’m ready to get out of here. These benches are uncomfortable as hell. Aly looks bored out of her mind, and Morgan looks like he’s about to fall asleep. Even Talmage is scrolling through Instagram when I glance over at him.
Talmage gives me a quick “see you later” as he rushes out the door, and my little family follows quickly after. I don’t want to go to the luncheon, but while we were sitting there, I had time to think. Seeing Jake look less like a little boy and more like a man made me realize he’s grown up now. For some reason I feel the need to tell him about the twins. It would be unfair to tell him after he left he’s going to be an uncle and miss the first two years of his nieces’ lives.
We drive the short distance to my mom’s house, park down the street, and sit in the car for a minute while we wait for more people to get here. I don’t want to go in there and be yelled at as people are arriving. My mom won’t say anything with a crowd present.
Once I feel like there are enough people, we pile out of the car, and I brace myself for the inevitable chaos about to ensue.
Chapter 44
Morgan
Hannah’s nervous, which means she’s stressed, which isn’t good for her or the babies, and I’m in overprotective dad mode.
Aly is hungry and a little cranky, so I’m hoping we can get in, get out, and go get some food for my girls.
Aly clings to Hannah’s arm as we walk into her parents’ house. It’s filled to the brim with people I don’t recognize. I catch the eyes of the cousin who sat with us—Talmage—and he gives me an acknowledging head nod while he intently listens to the older gentleman who’s gesturing wildly while he talks.
That grabs the older man’s attention, and he abandons Talmage to hobble over to us with a grin stretched across his weathered face.
“Hannah, it’s so good to see you.” He wraps his arms around her in a hug and squeezes her so hard I worry she can’t breathe.
“You too, Grandpa. This is my boyfriend, Morgan, and his daughter, Alyssa. Alyssa, Morgan, this is my Grandpa Monson.”
Grandpa Monson’s bushy eyebrows shoot to his non-existent hairline, and he appraises me quickly.
“Well.” He clears his throat. “Lovely to meet you, Morgan and Alyssa. I didn’t know Hannah was seeing anyone. Do I hear wedding bells on the horizon, then?”
Hannah’s hand finds mine, and I give her a reassuring squeeze.
“Grandpa,” Hannah groans. “We’re taking things slow.”
“Never too soon to think about eternity, Hannah. Wouldn't want you to be left out of the Celestial Kingdom because you’re waiting.” Grandpa Monson gives Hannah a reassuring pat on her hand.
It hits me then. He probably doesn’t know she left the church.
Before anyone can respond, Grandpa Monson says, “It was nice to meet your new family, my dear. I need to finish telling Talmage about a nice girl in our ward so he can get married!” Grandpa hobbles back over to Talmage and sits down, immediately placing his hand on Talmage’s shoulder, and Hannah’s own shoulders relax.
