“She’s fine. Don’t worry about her.” Hannah lifted her head and wrapped her own arm around Caroline’s waist. Those arms protected Caroline no matter the situation. “I think she’s a little bit overwhelmed with this evening.”
“I’m sorry.”
Hannah smiled as she turned her head, those blue eyes holding so much love for Caroline. “Don’t ever apologise for taking us out for dinner, babe. Edie wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”
“I’m just trying to get this right. I’ve never been in a relationship with someone like you or someone who has a child.”
“Someone like me?”
Caroline squeezed Hannah’s hip. “Someone I love so much that I don’t want to lose. Someone who not only takes care of me but allows me to take care of them in return. Just…you. I never thought I’d fall in love with anyone again, but certainly not you.”
“You’re a part of this family now, Caz.”
“I-I know.”
Hannah leaned in to kiss Caroline, but Edie suddenly turned around, stopping dead in front of them. “I have to tell you something. I…did something.”
Caroline and Hannah froze, the fear in Edie’s eyes clear as day.
“What did you do, Edie?” Hannah slid her arm from around Caroline’s waist and took a step closer to her daughter. “Whatever it is, it’s okay. We can figure it out together.”
“W-when I asked you that night if Caz could come over for dinner…”
Hannah frowned as she eyed Caroline, then she turned her attention back to Edie. “You mean months ago when we had the Indian banquet together?”
Edie lowered her eyes. “Y-yeah.”
“What about it?”
Caroline had to smile at the reminder of that night. It was basically the night when everything got very serious. They were already dating, but having dinner with Hannah and Edie had only shown Caroline what she could have if she got out of her own head for long enough.
“I saw your phone that night. The message from Caz. I didn’t go snooping. I was in the kitchen when it came through, and I saw it on the screen.”
“O…kay.”
Caroline was just as confused as Hannah sounded.
“Caz said she missed you. And I knew you liked her because since you met, you were always way happier. So, I asked you if she could come for dinner.”
“You…tried to set us up together?” Hannah grinned as she switched between Edie and Caz. But Caz could only raise her eyebrows with surprise. “Is that why you did it, love?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.” Edie scratched at her forearm. “It’s just that I really love Caz and she said she missed you. I didn’t want her to miss you because you were stuck at home with me. I wanted you to be together. All of us to be together.”
“Oh, Edie.” Hannah pulled her daughter into a hug. Caroline watched their interaction, a tear slipping down her face. “We were already together then. But we’d only just met, and we didn’t want to tell you until we knew for sure.”
Caroline sniffled, turning her back on Hannah and Edie. God, she needed to get it together. She was standing in the middle of the city, crying.
“Babe?” Hannah suddenly placed a hand on Caroline’s shoulder, startling her. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Of course.” Caroline wiped her cheeks, exhaling a deep breath as she turned around. “I just wasn’t expecting any of that.”
With tears in her own eyes, Hannah sniffled. “I know. I didn’t either.”
“Caz, I’m really sorry,” Edie said as she clasped her hands in front of her.
“Come here.” Caroline embraced Edie, closing her eyes as she allowed the love she felt to overtake her. Edie had brought them together; Caroline couldn’t help but adore that. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” She kissed the top of Edie’s head, smiling back at Hannah. “You gave us the kick up the backside that we needed.”
“You’re not angry?”