Page 37 of The Widower
“Please don’t do this to Mommy…” I muttered, looking up, already preparing the excuse I’d have to give Colin if he found her there.
I hesitated—should I go into the forbidden area to look for her or not? I stood there debating for a few minutes before finally deciding to go, but by then it was too late. Just as I turned toward those halls, I saw Hanna walking toward me, holding hands with Colin.
I was screwed.
As soon as they let go, Hanna ran back to me, and I couldn’t help but take a closer look at Colin. He looked... different somehow. Not that it was any of my business, but I had to ask.
“Are you okay?”
“Why are you asking?” His voice was as deep and gruff as ever.
“Your face, it looks…” I stopped myself—no point in making this worse. “Never mind. Forget I said anything.”
“Good. It better be nothing.”
I noticed he was still holding that same photo in his hand.
“I’m sorry you found Hanna where she wasn’t supposed to be. Really, I am. It won’t happen again.”
Colin didn’t say a word. He just turned and walked back down those hallways, leaving me hanging—like always.
“What did I tell you about going to that part of the house?!” I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended, angry that my daughter had disobeyed me.
The lecture came fast. Hanna needed to understand that she had to behave in someone else’s home—especially a stranger’s.
“I’m sorry, Mommy. I got lost and really had to pee.”
“Next time, ask someone for help.Don’t just wander around, got it?”
“Okay.”
I took Hanna somewhere I could keep an eye on her and made a mental note not to let her out of my sight again. She’d caused enough trouble for one day.
“I met Mr. Colin’s daughter,” she said suddenly.
My stomach dropped.
“W-what did you just say?”
“He was holding her picture when he came out of a room.”
My brain started connecting dots fast. Colin… the photo… coming out of that room, his awkward expression, his slightly swollen face—
Oh my God.
He’d been crying in his late daughter’s room.
“Wonderful, Hanna,” I muttered, sarcasm slipping out before I could stop it.
“Huh?”
“Nothing… it’s nothing.”
Honestly, I was amazed I still had a job after everything that had happened.
I did my best to keep an eye on my little troublemaker for the rest of the afternoon. I still couldn’t believe she’d caught Colin off guard—and I didn’t like that one bit.
“Hanna!” I called, and she came running toward me.
