“What a brilliant idea. As team leader, I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.” She gave Hannah an adamant look, making it clear the matter wasn’t up for discussion.
“Great,” Gabe said. He rose to his feet ready to leave. “See you both at mine then. Around seven o’clock?”
“Seven’s fine,” Dorothy said. “Isn’t it, Hannah?”
With no choice but to agree, Hannah willed Gabe to leave so she could ask her aunt what she was playing at.
It seemed Hannah wasn’t the only one waiting to speak. As soon as the front door opened then closed, Dorothy jumped in before Hannah got the chance. “I know what you’re thinking. That I shouldn’t have bulldozed you into going for a drink just then.”
“No, Aunt Dorothy, you shouldn’t.”
“Would it help if I told you I did it for both our sakes?”
Hannah didn’t follow.
Dorothy sighed and patted the chair next to her, encouraging Hannah to sit down.
Rolling her eyes, Hannah did as requested.
“When it comes to these social-type situations, we’re both the same, you and me.”
Hannah didn’t see how.
“We’re afraid,” Dorothy said. “I’m scared that having dinner with another man means I’m being disloyal to Denis. Of course my head knows it’s only a plate of risotto. And that Roger is just being kind. I mean, as a widow, he understands how hard it is being the one left behind. Then there’s my heart.” Dorothy looked over at Denis’s urn. “Which thinks I’m betraying the only man I’ve ever loved.”
Hannah reached out to her aunt with a comforting hand.
“And now we come to you.”
Throwing herself back in her seat, Hannah sighed. “I thought we might.”
“You’re scared because of what Carl did. And while your head insists that not all men are the same, your heart is telling you it doesn’t want to get broken again.”
Hannah opened her mouth to respond but quickly realised her aunt hadn’t finished.
“There’s no point denying it. I saw your reaction to Mel’s pain the other night. It obviously opened old wounds for you. But you can’t let past experiences, or what Mel’s going through, prevent you from getting what you deserve.”
“And what’s that?”
“Real happiness.”
Hannah wanted nothing more. She just wasn’t sure a relationship would provide it.
“Now we both know I’d be beyond delighted if you and Gabe got to know each other better.”
Hannah let out a laugh. “You don’t say.”
“But whether it’s with him, or someone you haven’t yet met, you shouldn’t deny yourself the opportunity of finding someone who loves you more than he loves himself.”
“Is that what you had with Denis.”
A sadness seemed to wash over Dorothy. “I certainly did.”
Just the thought of getting that deep into a relationship filled Hannah with dread.
“Which brings me full circle. We both have to force ourselves into the situations we fear most.”
“What’s your biggest fear?” Hannah asked.
