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Mom loves it, of course, doting on Hannah, despite her begging to be left to fend for herself. I think my mother is just enjoying having her company, more than anything, but we’ll get to that later.
“Oh, and Mila,” Mom sighs, producing a box of cookies. “Mason let it slip the other night that you love orange-flavored cookies, so she took the liberty of making these herself. She’s a great baker.”
Hannah actually looks like she might cry.
“And this is from Bob and me.” Mom hands her a small box, popping the lid off so Hannah doesn’t have to struggle with one hand.
And then, Hannah really does cry.
“Thank you,” she breathes. “You really shouldn’t have.”
“Well, I know how hard it can be to lose family, even if that family’s not worth losing in the first place, so . . . I just wanted you to know you’re one of us.”
Hannah holds up the little gold locket to show me. It almost completely matches the ones my mother and father had made for my sisters when they were kids.
When I eye Mom, she holds up her hands in defense.
“There’s not a tracker in it,” Mom says, eyeing me, “but don’t think I didn’t think about it.”
“It’s perfect,” Hannah smiles and Mom gives her a soft pat on the leg.
God, this is turning into a Hallmark movie.
Honestly, though, she fucking deserves it. We all deserve it. A little peace and quiet after that hell has died down. Melissa Gaines is dead. Governor Gaines is in prison, about to be brought to trial. Marcus fucking Parker is dead. The cartel’s gone. Even that rat, Ian.
Life crumbled around us, but now we’re standing on top of the rubble. Finally fucking free.
“Now. Let me brush your hair.”
“Mom. Can it wait a bit? Hannah’s tired.”
“I’m fine,” Hannah says, completely missing the message.
“She’s fine,” Mom mimics.
“Mom,” I bite, tension radiating through me.
“Fine,” she sighs, leaning down to place a kiss on Hannah’s cheek.
Fuck, that’s something I never thought I’d see.
“I’ll come get you in a bit and you can go back to spoiling her.”
“Hey!” Hannah chastises from the bed. “I amnotspoiled.”
I cock a brow as Mom tidies up the remnants of the steak dinner she brought for us.
“Only a little,” Hannah admits and if I wasn’t so tense, I would laugh.
“I’m going to go visit Bob. He should be here by now,” Mom smiles, stopping to pat me on the chest. She must feel something there because she pauses, her eyes going wide and her lips parting ever so slightly while I convey to her with my stare to keep the hell quiet.
She clears her throat, righting herself.
“I’ll see you at dinner.”
“Bye, Monica,” Hannah calls as I shut the door behind her.
Fucking finally.
