“That’s good.”
Posy leaned back on the bed, wondering what illness or accident she was supposed to have suffered. Should she try to sound croaky? Weak? “You seem to know more about me than I do about you.” Evidently Hannah’s pregnancy hadn’t been the result of a one-night stand, as she’d assumed. She eyed the bathroom door, trying to hear if the shower was still running. “You’ve been seeing each other for a while?”
“Six months. I’m Adam.”
Adam, who her sister had been dating for six months. Adam, who loved her sister.
She’d assumed Hannah’s relationships were all casual. She’d had no idea her sister was so deeply involved with a man.
Dancing pizza girl?
Posy wanted to meet that version of her sister. And she wanted to meet the man who brought out a side to Hannah that the rest of them didn’t see.
“Good to meet you, Adam.”
“How is she doing? She was pretty stressed before she left.”
Posy stared across the room to the closed bathroom door. Presumably he didn’t know Hannah was pregnant. “She’s still pretty stressed.”
“It’s frustrating not to be able to talk to her.”
“Yes, the phone signal at Glensay Lodge is more unpredictable than the weather, and that’s saying something. It would probably be easier to get on a flight and have the conversation in person. In fact, why don’t you do that? It’s a great big old family Christmas here, the more the merrier. But either way, you don’t need to worry about her. She seems okay, and she has Eric to keep her company—”
“Eric? Is he the outdoor type?”
Posy eyed the Christmas tree. “You could say that. He’s tall, reasonably broad and likes a drink.” She heard the bathroom door open. “She’s coming, so if you hold on, I’ll—Hello?” But the signal had gone.
Posy put the phone down and stood up as Hannah walked into the room.
With wet hair and no makeup, she looked younger than usual.
“Who were you talking to?”
“Your phone rang—I answered it.” How much should she say? She and her sister were getting along well for the first time in ages. Posy didn’t want to do anything to shatter their fragile truce.
Hannah was rubbing her hair with a towel. “My phone? But there’s no signal in this room.”
“Sometimes there is. Annoying, I know. The suspense kills.”
“Who was it?”
“It was Adam.” Posy noticed the change in her sister. There was a slight stiffening in her shoulders, and a blankness to her expression. It was as if she’d drawn the blinds, ensuring that no one could peep through the cracks and see her thoughts.
Hannah stopped drying her hair. “Did he leave a message?”
“No, but we were cut off before we finished talking.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
Because I was in shock. “You were in the shower. I was about to hand you the phone when the signal died. He sounded nice.” She tiptoed carefully. “I assume he’s the father.”
Hannah looked alarmed. “You didn’t tell him?”
“Of course not. I’m your sister. I am a barrier between you and the world.”
Hannah relaxed. “That’s good.”
“You’re feeling sick?”