Page 68 of Chocolate Cherry Cabin

Maybe he’d move away. Forever. An idea that hurt her heart.

Everything hurt.

Calvin, his mother and the boys had taken three different flights coming home from Paris, and Hannah had a strong feeling the kids would be exhausted, jet-lagged and basically as unhappy as a poked bear by the time they landed.

But once everyone was settled at home she could pretend that everything in her life was as it should be. They’d be back on schedule. Nobody was going anywhere. They would do their own thing tomorrow, then enjoy Christmas Day together. There would be no Louis pushing her, telling her to be someone else so he could love her.

She was back to being Hannah Murphy, no longer Kendrick, and ensconced in the quiet life she loved.

A life that now somehow felt as though something important was missing from it.

She scoffed at herself. All that was missing was the constant conflict that pushy Louis Bellmore brought to her world. And she did not miss that.

She’d pegged him early on as unable to go the distance, and yet she’d allowed her hopes to climb. But at least she hadn’t dragged the boys into it. In the coming days they were going to be confused enough with everyone asking about her and school, as well as possibly moving overseas. The poor kids wouldn’t know if their parents were coming or going, after she’d worked so hard all year to make sure they both felt stable.

And then in walks Louis for a few days, and everything becomes a mess.

Life was easier without him.

The opaque glass security doors opened and a large cluster of big men in nice suits exited, chatting, sports bags slung over their shoulders.

Hockey players. Hannah’s heart skipped a beat. She recognized these guys. Louis’s team was arriving home from their last away game before Christmas. She scanned their faces, suddenly wide-awake.

What was she doing? She was not looking for Louis. She was here for her sons, her ex, for Maureen. Family.Thiswas her life. Not anything to do with that man.

She forced herself to read the signs near the baggage carousel. But after a few seconds she found herself scanning the crowd of hockey players again, just as her family finally came through the doors.

Calvin and Thomas looked grim and fed up with each other. Calvin had him by the hand, with Thomas trying to go limp on him, buckling his knees every time Calvin tried to make him stand. Wade looked like a zombie, but was at least still on his feet.

“Let’s go,” Calvin said to Thomas. “There’s Mom!” He looked relieved, practically dragged their son across the floor and into her open arms. Thomas wound himself around her as Maureen, ignoring the whole scene, moved to the conveyor belt, where suitcases were starting to appear.

Thomas whined, “I’m tired.”

“I know, sweetie.” She kissed his cheek. “I missed you.” She hugged him tightly, then pulled Wade to her side for an embrace. “How was the trip?” she asked her ex.

“Long. We’re jet-lagged.” Calvin pushed a hand through his hair. He stepped back, no doubt done with parenting exhausted boys.

Hannah whispered in Thomas’s ear, “It’s almost Christmas!”

He didn’t respond. She wasn’t sure if he was asleep or just ignoring her. Although his weight hadn’t suddenly amplified, which meant he was likely still conscious. She did some quick mental math. Paris was seven hours ahead, meaning they were about ready for breakfast.

“Are you hungry?”

Thomas shook his head.

“How about you, Wade?”

“I’d like some ice cream.”

“Not sure that’s going to happen,” Hannah said. She tried to set Thomas down, but he refused to unhook his legs from around her. “Thomas, you’re going to have to walk. You ate so much ice cream while you were away that I can barely lift you.”

Maureen had found her suitcase and was already trucking ahead, toward the exit. With Thomas still in her arms, Hannah walked beside Calvin, who’d plucked up the rest of the bags.

“Things went okay?” She tipped her head toward his mom. Maureen and Calvin didn’t always get along well, and right now the woman’s mood suggested that she’d had it out with her son. Over what, Hannah didn’t know, but the thought of gossip perked her up.

Calvin’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t offer anything other than “Things went fine.”

He was still such a poor liar. He’d obviously done or said something his mother disagreed with. The good news for him was that she always forgave him almost immediately and would soon return to doting on him.

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