“I don’t think so?” He couldn’t say it with any authority. Now that she’d asked, he questioned it, too. “It would be a strange topic for her to involve herself in. I guess he could have called, given her vague complaints, and convinced her to come have a word. He won’t even see her when he visits, though. He ‘doesn’t want to poke that bear’, as he says. Why would he call her?”
Hanna spread her hands. “Maybe he didn’t, and it was just a strange day all around. That’s probably going to ramp up until the party is over.”
“Probably. Whatever it was, I guess she doesn’t quite approve of us as a couple, but has accepted it.” A tightness in his chest unwound as they left the topic. He didn’t understand why, but didn’t want to question it, either.
She picked up her fork again. “That would be nice. I’m kind of over the fragile, chilly detente business. We aren’t even together.”
This time, he nudged her foot. “You know, we feel kind of together.”
Her blush was beautiful. “We do. But employer, employee, awkward situation, and so on.”
“An email hit my inbox today. I wanted to wait until lunch to tell you about it.” A sip of his drink washed the last of the bad taste out of his mouth. He opted to tackle the rest of his sandwich. “It was from my grandmother’s attorney, who also handles her business affairs.”
Her brow furrowed. “I hope it’s not something bad.”
“No. No, the opposite, in fact.” He offered her a smile. “It was a proposal for her to assume your employment contract. You’d work for her very low-profile company, and she would be the one paying you. Through her attorney, naturally, so there’d be no accusations of exploiting an older woman. Thanks, Mom, for reminding us to close that particular legal loophole.”
Hanna blinked at him from the other side of the table. “I didn’t know she had a business.”
“She likes her independence and wanted her own money when she married my grandfather. It’s actually a nonprofit with a goal of helping young women pursue education.”
“Is me working for her– I mean, it’s obviously possible, since her attorney sent the letter. Is that wise?”
“There were reasons we didn’t hire you that way to start with. Her dementia symptoms were presenting very strongly, and we didn’t want there to be a question of the legality of hiring our governess. It was easier to go through me. Especially since the employment was intended to last until after Gran’s death. But her health has been strong, and her dementia symptoms have been gone since you arrived. Not a single mention of her child.”
She glanced away for a moment. “She’s looked good.”
Gregory looked where she’d glanced off to, but only saw pigeons and small, brown sparrows.Maybe she likes birds. With her name, she ought to.“She has. So, we put your employment in my name for expediency’s sake, and so she wouldn’t have to arrange things like regular payments and a guarantee of pay in the event of her death. I had standard contracts ready. She had to go to the trouble of contacting her attorney to draw one up specifically for the occasion.”
“That was really sweet of her. When we finished looking at dresses yesterday, she shooed me out because she ‘had business calls to attend to’. I suppose I know what those were, now.”
“Once Gran gets an idea in her head, she’s unstoppable.” He paused, then asked, “So? What do you think?”
“I think… I think the idea’s a good one. I really like what it could mean.”
“But?”
She reached across the table to put her hand on his. “No ‘but’. I just want to talk to Vivian about it before I say ‘yes’. Make sure this is a decision she made from a rational place, with reasonable expectations. For everyone’s safety. I wouldn’t be able to respect myself if I didn’t check in. Provided it’s all right… Then I’d love to take her up on it.”
The grin spread across his face before he could stop it, reflecting the joy that welled up and overflowed within him. While an immediateyeswould have pleased him beyond measure, he found this answer pleased him more.She wants to ensure this isn’t taking advantage of Gran. This is why I’m head over heels for Hanna. She’s thoughtful, doesn’t grab at happiness without ensuring that others won’t be hurt by it…
There it was. The thought he’d refused to look at until now, the one he’d kept hidden in the shadows of his heart so it wouldn’t wither in the cruel light.
I am head over heels for her. I’m falling hard for her, and I don’t want to stop myself. No. I’m not falling. I’m flying, lifted up by a sparrow’s wings.
* * *
Her heart hadn’t stopped singingsince they’d held hands at the cafe table. She worried she’d turned into a grinning idiot, because she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. The only comfort was that Gregory wore a similar expression and walked with a lightness of step Hanna hadn’t believed she would ever see on him.
Every heartbeat said,There’s a chance. There’s a chance. There’s a chance. There’s a chance for us now, and we both want it.She had to talk to Vivian, but Hanna wanted to believe the arrangement would check out.
She had already weathered a false accusation that killed her professional reputation. She didn’t want another, but more, she didn’t want to bring Gregory or his grandmother down with one. Best to double-check on the matter for everyone’s peace of mind. But if it worked out, if the legalities were solid and Vivian’s reasoning sound…
There’s a chance. There’s a chance. There’s a chance that circumstances will change, and we can be more than friends.
After the high note lunch ended on, it was hard to remember she’d come to Norwich for a reason other than walking about hand-in-hand with Gregory to see the gorgeous old architecture and historical landmarks. Impressive stonework spires stretched from the cathedral to the sky, while the Octagon Chapel displayed its impressive geometry in a less flashy way. She could have spent days here simply exploring, and she intended to later.It’s hard to believe this place suffered so much destruction during World War II. It’s incredible. I want to see it all.
For now, she had to content herself with a small building in a quiet part of town. Gregory pulled the car into the parking space in front of the clinic that bore Doctor Turner’s name.History of a quieter sort, here. I hope.