Page 100 of The Widower
They both laughed, and Hanna beamed, clearly thrilled she’d gotten her way.
The two of them were bursting with energy, talking non-stop from the moment we left the mansion until we reached the small field.
“I have to go now, Dad.”
“Good luck, son. Win the game for us. Hanna and I will be in the stands cheering for you.”
“Okay.”
Things were still a little awkward between us.We said goodbye without a hug or a kiss. I was still learning how to show affection without fearing it wouldn’t be returned.
“Do you think he’ll score two goals for me?”
“I hope so.”
“Hm. I don’t like soccer,” she blurted suddenly, catching me off guard.
“Really?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Why not?”
“People get hurt. I don’t like that.And I’m scared of blood.”She laughed.
Her smile was beautiful. Every day, she looked more and more like her mother. I could already tell she was going to be a chatterbox when she grew up—I’d bet on it.
“If you don’t like it, why’d you come with us?”
“Joshua’s nice. I like him. Sometimes I make him play with me when he’s in a bad mood, and he still plays anyway.”
I hadn’t expected to hear something like that from a five-year-old. I couldn’t help but laugh—this little girl was way too clever for her age.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Because someone’s a little too smart for just five years old. You surprise me all the time.”
“Am I nice, Uncle Colin?”
“More than nice.” I spread my hands apart, as if to show something big.
“What’s more than nice?”
“Super nice.”
We both laughed—and then I froze for a second.What was I doing?
How had all this happened in such a short time? Without even realizing it, she was breaking down all my walls, helping me reconnect with Joshua, teaching me patience with the people around me, letting Isabelle into my life...
It was all her fault.
“Her fault?!”
“What?”
I hadn’t noticed I’d said that last part out loud, and she must’ve heard me.
“I meant it’s all your fault, Hanna!” I said, pretending to be annoyed, narrowing my eyes at her.
