Page 45 of Maybe in Another Life

“Yeah,” Carl says, nodding. “Very good.”

“But we wanted to put something in your head. Your medical bills are going to be significant,” Tina says. “I’m sure you’ve spoken to your parents about this, and we don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but we want you to know that we will help you, if you need help paying for them.”

“What?” I say.

“Only if you need it,” Carl says. “We just want you to know that we’re here, as a resource, if you need us.”

“And,” Tina says, “we will help you file a lawsuit against this woman if that’s what you decide to do.”

I’m overwhelmed by the generosity and thoughtfulness of the Hudsons. “Wow,” I say. “I’m... I don’t know what to say.”

Tina grabs my hand. “Don’t say anything. It was just important to us that you knew. We will always have your back.”

“As far as we’re concerned, you’re an honorary Hudson,” Carl says. “But you already know that, right?”

I look at him and nod, with full honesty.

Carl and Tina go to the door, and Gabby walks them out. When she gets back into the room, I’m staring at the ceiling, trying to process all of it. I hadn’t thought about medical bills. I hadn’t thought about the person who did this to me.

Someonedid thisto me.

Someone is to blame.

Someone made me lose the baby I didn’t know I had.

“You OK?” Gabby asks.

I look at her. I shake it off. “Yeah,” I say. “I am. Your parents are... I mean, they’re... they’re incredible.”

“They love you,” Gabby says, sitting down in the chair.

“Do you really think I should sue?”

Gabby nods. “Yeah,” she says. “No doubt about it.”

“I’m not the suing type,” I say, although what do I think that means, exactly?

“I saw it happen, Hannah. That lady hit you while you were in the crosswalk with a walk signal. There was no mistaking what happened. She knew she hit someone. And even then, she did not stop. She kept driving. So knowing that this woman drove away from the scene of a crime that could have been deadly, knowing that she made no attempt to help you or call an ambulance, I think she deserves not just to go to jail but also to make personal amends for what she has done.” Gabby’s angry. “If you ask me, she can go fuck herself.”

“Jesus, Gabby.”

She shrugs. “I don’t care how it sounds. I hate her.”

For a moment, I try to put myself in Gabby’s shoes. She watched me get hit by a car. She watched me fall to the ground. She watched me pass out. And she probably thought I might die right there in front of her. And suddenly, I hate that woman, too. For putting her through that. For putting me through this. For all of it.

“OK,” I say. “Will you look into it? Or, I mean, tell your mom that I said it was OK?”

“Sure,” she says.

“It’s a shameLaw & Orderdoesn’t cover civil suits. Then I’d probably be so well versed in it I could represent myself.”

Gabby laughs and then gets up as she sees my parents and Sarah come in. Sarah is dressed in black linen pants with a cotton T-shirt and a gauzy sweater. Even if she didn’t have a suitcase with her, you’d know she was headed to the airport.

“All right,” Gabby says, kissing me on the cheek. “You’re in good company. I’ll be back tomorrow.” She hugs my family and takes off.

My family didn’t tell me they were flying back to London today, so it’s a bit of a surprise. But if I’m being completely honest, it’s also an immense relief. I love my family. It’s just that having them around takes energy I simply don’t have right now. And the idea of spending tomorrow without having to entertain company, just Gabby and myself, feels as close to a good day as I’m going to get.

“You guys are off?” I ask. My tone is appropriately sorrowful. I make an effort not to allow my inflection to go up at the end of the question, weighing it down so the words stay even.

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