All Consuming
Page 27
All she’d wanted to do was drive over to the fire station, fling herself into his arms and pour her heart out to him, but she couldn’t do that. She had to wait and hope that when she went over to his house this morning that he’d be there, that he’d open the door to her. That he’d open his heart to her and listen to what she had to say.
She’d rearranged her appointments so she didn’t have to be at work. She dropped Oliver off at school and asked her mom to pick him up today. She needed the entire day, even though she might end up having the door slammed in her face. If that happened, she’d just come home and . . . and . . .
Cry, she supposed. But she’d have no one to blame but herself if that happened.
She pulled into the driveway and her breathing quickened. Kal’s truck was parked there. The garage door was open.
Okay, Step One taken care of. He was home.
No other cars were there, so she wasn’t sure if Jackson and Becks were home, but she’d deal with that if and when he let her in.
Now all she had to do was actually get out of the car and make her way to the door.
But for some reason her body was frozen and she couldn’t seem to make it move.
Grow some courage, Hannah. You got yourself into this mess. Now get yourself out of it.
Nodding to herself, she turned off the ignition, grabbed her keys and got out of the car, forcing herself to walk each step to the door.
When she got there, she sucked in a breath and rang the bell. The sound of the doorbell rang so loud it almost made her turn around and run to the car. But she straightened her spine and threw her shoulders back.
Whatever happened, she’d face it.
The door opened and there was Kal, looking freshly showered and damp and gorgeous in long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
“Hannah. What are you doing here?”
“I . . . I saw you on TV. That rescue. It was . . . wow, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. You want to come in?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
She stepped inside and he closed the door.
“I was making breakfast,” he said as he led her through the living room and into the kitchen. A Christmas tree stood by the windows in the living room, and adorable holiday decorations and stockings adorned the mantel. She could see Becks’s touch all over. If she hadn’t felt so miserable she would have smiled about that.
“You hungry?” he asked.
Her stomach gnawed at her, but it was nerves, not hunger. “A little.”
“You can eat with me, then.”
He was mixing together eggs and as he laid bacon into another pan, she asked, “Can I help?”
“No, I’ve got this. So what brings you by?”
She could tell he was tense. So was she.
“I wanted to talk to you. I’ve been wanting to talk to you. About that day that we . . . that I said some things to you and then I walked away from you.”
He gave her a quick look before turning the bacon. “Okay.”
If she wanted this to work out, she was going to have to tell him the truth, to pour her heart out. “I was scared, Kal. And upset.”
“Upset with me?”
“No. I was upset that Landon hadn’t called like he’d promised. And scared about letting you fully in, into thinking about having a future with you when I’d messed up so badly the first time. And I know you’re nothing like Landon, but I had all these plans for my future, about how I was going to save money, and buy my own house, and Oliver and I were going to be independent and do everything on our own, you know?”
He put bacon and eggs on a plate, then went to the fridge and grabbed a container that had some melon in it. Then he poured juice into two glasses. “Let’s go sit at the table.”
They took their plates and glasses to the table.
He ate, and she pushed her fork around the plate and managed to eat a couple of bites of fruit and a forkful of eggs.
“So I came into your life and fucked it all up,” he finally said. “Is that what you’re saying?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s coming out all wrong. I was just scared when you took me to the house. Because the house was perfect. You were perfect, and everything was coming together so well. But it wasn’t my dream, you know?”
He laid his fork down. “I know. And I’m sorry about that. I pushed you too hard, too fast, and that was my fault. You weren’t ready for everything that I wanted. And that’s on me. I’m sorry.”
He was apologizing? Why was he saying sorry? This wasn’t going like she had thought. “Wait. You have nothing to be sorry about, Kal. I’m the one who screwed up. I’m the one who pushed you away. It wasn’t what I wanted.”
“It wasn’t?”
“No. I’m crazy in love with you. After you left, I was devastated. And angry. With myself, for letting you go. My plans are stupid.”
His lips curved. “Being an independent woman is not stupid, Hannah. I admire you for everything you’ve done to carve out the life you have for you and for Oliver. I didn’t mean to get in the way of that, but I can’t help that I fell in love with you. That I love Oliver as if he’s my own.”
Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst. “I love you, Kal. I’ve loved you since I was fourteen years old. I don’t know that I ever stopped loving you. Only now it’s a different kind of love. It’s deeper. The forever kind. I don’t want to lose you.”
He pushed his chair back and stood, then pulled her out of the chair and kissed her, the kind of kiss that a woman could feel all the way to her soul. When he drew back, he smoothed her hair away from her face. “I love you, Hannah. And whatever plans you want to make for our future, in whatever timetable you want to make them, I’m on board for it.”
For the first time in . . . forever, she felt a sense of peace. That this felt right, that she was home in the arms of the man she knew she could spend the rest of her life with.
“How about we make those plans together?” she asked.
He smiled down at her, and she lost herself in that look of warmth and love in his eyes.
“I like that idea a lot.”
She laid her head on his chest and knew that right here was all she would ever need.
EPILOGUE
TWO YEARS LATER
KAL SNUCK INTO THE KITCHEN TO GRAB A BEER, THEN turned to watch the melee that was his living room.
This place was a madhouse.
Then again, that’s how the Donovans rolled. Especially these days when they all got together as a family. It was general mayhem and he loved it.
Kal was glad that he and Hannah had talked it out and agreed on a bigger house. Not only did they want to have more kids soon, but they knew they were going to need a lot of space whenever the whole family came over. So the oversize family room had been the best choice. Not that they hadn’t argued about houses for at least three months before they’d decided on this one. And, okay, this one had been Hannah’s favorite. Oliver loved the pool out back, plus there was plenty of yard space for a dog, which they’d gotten almost immediately. Lucy, their golden retriever, was out back running amok with Jackson and Becks’s dog, Edgar, the two of them having the best time. And now that the entire Donovan clan had expanded as much as it had, Kal knew this house had been the best option. He had a feeling there’d be more family gatherings at all their houses over the warmer months.
Plus, Kal really liked having a pool.
It was their turn to host Christmas Eve this year, and as Kal looked around, he realized how much had changed in a couple short years.
Jackson and Becks had added to their family by fostering three kids, all siblings. Jose, Grace and Mirai were now a part of the Donovans. Wild hellions all of them, too, and the whole family adored them. The older two were fourteen and Mirai was eleven, and they kept Jackson and Becks on their toes, but God, it was great to see those kids thriving with foster parents who loved them. He couldn’t imagine Jackson and Becks ever giving those kid
s up. Official adoption plans were already in the works.
Dad was currently carrying eight-month-old James in his arms, showing him all the lights on the tree. James was the spitting image of Rafe, except he had Carmen’s eyes. Carmen’s grandfather, Jimmy, was here tonight as well, along with his wife, Felicia. Jimmy was doing better than ever these days, which made Kal really happy.
Even Hannah’s mom had found love again with Nate Anderson, a local painter, her brunch date who’d turned out to become the second love of her life. They’d gotten married six months ago in a simple garden ceremony. Kal hadn’t seen Paige this happy since before Hannah’s dad had died. Both he and Hannah were so thrilled for her.
And his parents had become the happiest, most doting grandparents to all the kids, including Oliver. After Kal and Hannah had gotten married last year, and Landon had finally agreed the best thing for Oliver would be for him to legally give up his parental rights, Kal had petitioned to adopt Oliver. It had taken long conversations with Oliver about the whys and hows of it, but he loved that boy, and Oliver loved him, too. Kal wanted to make sure that it was what Oliver wanted as well. But now Oliver was going to be a Donovan forever. His son. Just the thought of it made him smile. It probably always would.
“What are you doing?” Hannah came over and put her arms around him.
“Just admiring the view.” He looked out over the family, watching as they all enjoyed one another, the food and drinks, the kids.
“I know. It’s like a miracle, isn’t it?”
He put his arm around her. “Sure is. Did I mention to you how lucky I am?”
She tilted her head back and smiled. “Every day. But I’m the lucky one.”
He turned to look at her. “Yeah? How do you figure that?”
“Because I went to our ten-year high school reunion, and managed to snag the hottest, kindest, smartest guy there. Who ended up loving me, marrying me and becoming the father of my children.”
He pulled her close and hugged her. “Aww, babe. Thank you.”
Then he drew back. “Wait. You said children.”
She smiled wide. “Yes. Children. Plural.”
He looked down at her belly, then back up at her. “We’re pregnant?”
“Well, I don’t know if you are, but I definitely am.”
He’d already been filled with so much joy he could hardly contain himself. But this? This was . . . damn. Almost more than he could take. He picked her up in his arms and twirled her around the kitchen.
She laughed. “Put me down.”
He did, then he kissed her.
“We have to keep it a secret for now,” she said. “Just between us.”
He nodded. “Okay. But can I tell you that I love you?”
“Every day. Every hour, if you’d like.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ll do that.”
He was going to be a father—again. Oliver was going to be an amazing big brother. He was growing up so fast. Becoming smarter, kinder, and utterly amazing every day.
Kal couldn’t wait to see the new life he and Hannah had created.
He sighed and smiled and put his arm around his wife as they reentered the family fray.
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