When Hannah did things like that, it softened Caroline. “Thank you. Come in.”
Hannah skulked around the door, smiling weakly. “Is the water hot enough?”
“It’s perfect. Thanks.”
Placing the towels down, Hannah got to her knees at the side of the bath and brushed stray hair from Caroline’s face. “Babe, what happened today? I heard Edie’s account, but you sent her back into school, didn’t you?”
“I did. I didn’t want her to hear or see anything, but clearly, that didn’t work.”
“She’s really upset about it all. Thinks she’s broken us up.”
Caroline lifted a hand from the water slowly, taking Hannah’s. “Everything is going to be fine.”
“Promise?”
“I don’t need to promise. You know I love you.” Caroline moaned lightly as the water soothed her, and then she sighed. “I tried to play stupid at first, so Kirsty didn’t make a run for it. She thought I was calling you about taking Edie, and then she realised I was on the phone to the police.”
Hannah’s eyes drifted to Caroline’s chest. She reached out, stroking her skin so carefully. “Is that when she punched you?”
“Yeah. Knocked me for six at first,” Caroline explained, looking down where the bruise had formed on her chest. “She’s got a good aim, I’ll give her that.”
“I’m so sorry she hurt you.”
“It’s not your fault. But I couldn’t let her take Edie. And Edie told me herself that she didn’t want to go with her. I’m glad the police arrived when they did. The mood she was in, I could have been in a far worse condition.”
“You protected my daughter today. I can never truly thank you for that. And it wasn’t on you to do so, but it just shows how much you care for Edie.”
“Except it is on me. When you can’t be there, and Dylan can’t be there, then itdoesfall to me. Teacher or not, it falls to me because she’s my responsibility too. Because she’s your daughter, and I love you both.”
Hannah chewed the corner of her lip, and then rested her forehead on her arm against the bath. Caroline heard Hannah sniffle, but all she could do was keep holding her hand. She was still stuck.
“Don’t cry.”
“You don’t realise how much you mean to me, Caz. You really don’t.”
“I do. Just do one thing for me?”
Hannah lifted her head. “Anything. You know I’d doanythingfor you.”
“Give me the benefit of the doubt next time. I can deal with most things but feeling like I’m being called a liar…I cannot. And it may not have been intended that way, but it was how I felt. After being with her for so long, always being told I was overreacting or that Iwasa liar, I don’t want to go through that same feeling with you, Hannah. I don’t ever want a relationship like that again.”
Hannah nodded. “I am sorry. I really am.”
“I know.” Caroline shifted, the ache in her back subsiding. “Oh, thank God. I can move a bit.”
“Where do you want to move to?” Hannah sat up on her knees, placing an arm around Caroline. “Did you want to sit up?”
“Yes. Please.”
She groaned through the lingering pain, but shewasmoving a little easier. Once Caroline was sitting up, she exhaled a breath and let the tension fall from her shoulders. “You really don’t have to get back home for Edie?”
“No. She’s with Mum.”
Caroline smiled. “Maybe you could go home and grab some things. Stay the night.”
“I don’t need to go home for anything. I have toiletries here, pjs, and a change of clothes.”
“You don’t have your work clothes, though. You’ll need them.”