Page 39 of Better Than Expected

Everything came to a halt as she realized that she’d designed this kitchen. Logically, she knew she had, of course.

But… she had designed it… for herself.

She’d jumped into designing this house for Caroline and it went so well, because she had the clearest vision.

But – but Caroline really didn’t care so much about the kitchen, did she?

No.

Hannah had designed it all, for herself. Because she was going to use it. Because she saw herself here. For a whole plethora of future moments yet to come.

The thought had her staring blankly across the kitchen, amused, baffled, nervous, and… she wasn’t quite certain how to put the feeling in words. The way her stomach clenched and her nerves jangled.

And she wondered just how much she’d subconsciously put of herself into other aspects in this house.

Into subtly planning a future here.

December 11 – This Year

Hannah was confused when she stepped into the house and didn’t immediately hear a movie or a tv show playing, or talking, or laughter, or even music.

Caroline’s car was in the driveway and the door had been unlocked, so…

“Hello?” She called out as she unwrapped the scarf from her neck and didn’t even need to look as she tossed it up over the hook of the coatrack.

“Hi,” Abbie’s voice drifted in from the den, sounding… off.

She walked down the hallway in confusion, peering into the den to see Abbie sitting alone, with her arms crossed and her backpack sitting at her feet.

A very, very weird sight to behold, indeed.

On an average day, Hannah’s arrival often could be construed as through she was interrupting something. She didn’t ever feel like that, because there were fewer things that gave her as much pleasant warmth – as much sheer happiness – as Caroline and Abbie’s relationship. Even if Caroline was working and Abbie was reading or playing a video game or watching tv, they felt connected.

Hannah’s deliberately light concerned smile of greeting at her daughter dipped completely as she walked closer. Her eyes flicked over Abbie, taking her in to note that there was nothing physically wrong… before her alarm really started to sound. “Honey, what’s going on?”

Abbie let out a sigh and splayed her fingers over the couch cushion as she shrugged. “Nothing. I just finished my homework before you came in. I’m ready to go.”

Now there was definite alarm and confusion – Abbie had never once been ready to go from Caroline’s. “Huh?” She must have been mistaken. “You’re ready to… go? Did you have dinner?”

She couldn’t imagine that was the case, it wasn’t even six yet. Normally they all had dinner together once Hannah got home.

“No. And we didn’t put up the decorations. Or open my cookie advent calendar, either,” Abbie relayed in her whiny voice, with a pout. A deep, deep pout, with the lines on her forehead that she got when Hannah could tell she was feeling particularly petulant.

She was blessed to have a daughter that she proudly considered top-of-the-line. A daughter who was sweet and kind and resilient and funny and intelligent. But, Hannah was all-too-aware that Abbie was also still very much a child.

A child who had stayed up particularly late over the past weekend at two-night sleepover, as well. And an Abbie who get very little sleep? Was a grumpy Abbie.

“What happened?”

“I didn’t do anything!” Abbie was quick to insist.

Hannah only hummed and stroked a quick hand through her daughter’s hair. “Well, you can stop looking like you’re ready to run out the door, because I’m going to talk to Caroline before we do anything else.”

She found Caroline in her office, with the door almost nearly closed. Not quite, just a few inches open, but even that was odd for Caroline, unless she was on a call.

So, so incredibly odd, she thought again with a frown, as she opened the door to peek in.

Only to find that Caroline wasn’t on a call. She wasn’t even sitting at her desk.

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