Hannah smiled to herself as she watched Nina dance with her new husband. Radiant…that was the word those sappy books and movies always used to describe a bride on her wedding day, but watching Nina glide and spin and laugh, Hannah had to admit to herself it was fitting. Nina was radiant, and beautiful, in her simple but elegant white gown. And Dr. Brown – Hannah couldn’t bring herself to think of him as Andy, not just yet – Dr. Brown looked happier than Hannah had ever seen him in the three years she’d been in Everwood. He looked more than happy, he looked…content. Joyful. Serene. Hannah could remember when she first met Dr. Brown, he had a ready smile and a jovial voice, but his smile never seemed to completely reach his eyes, and it faded as soon as whomever he was smiling at turned away. In a way Dr. Brown had reminded Hannah of herself – trying just a little too hard, doing whatever was necessary to keep up a good front so whatever was under the surface didn’t have to be dealt with. But that had changed, for both of them. At least, it had for the most part.
Hannah heard a whisper of Amy’s playful laugh and turned her attention to where Amy and Ephram were dancing a short distance away from the newly married couple. Hannah wasn’t close enough to hear their conversation, but she could tell by Amy’s expression that Ephram had said something silly and flirtatious, maybe even a little inappropriate. It surprised Hannah how comfortable Ephram looked in a tuxedo. He was apparently one of those lucky people who is as much at ease fully dressed up as he is in jeans and a t-shirt. And Amy looked effortlessly beautiful, of course. The deep wine red of her gown stood out amongst the blacks and navy blues and forest greens the other guests were wearing, it even stood out against the bright pinks and sunny yellows of some of the younger girls. But then, Amy always stood out in a crowd, the same way a single rose stands out against a backdrop of carnations and daisies. Hannah noticed that Amy had kicked off her heels, they were lying in a heap underneath one of the folding chairs set up near the groom’s table, where Edna was stationed. Hannah watched as Edna set out a few more slices of chocolate cake and then announced to the empty air that if anybody wanted any more than that, they could damn well cut it themselves, she was going home.
Edna started off to do just that, but was intercepted by Brenda Baxworth’s artificially polite voice reminding her that there were still more photos to be taken, that she needed to stay at the groom’s table until she had been released. “Stuff it, Toots” Edna barked in her gravelly voice and kept on walking. Brenda blinked in shock a couple of times then plastered a fake smile on her face and went off in search of the next photo op victim. Hannah giggled to herself but stayed well hidden. She didn’t have any real part in the wedding, she had only been in charge of keeping the guest book, but Brenda had appointed herself Best Friend of the Bride as soon as she found out there was a wedding to be planned and was determined to treat it like the affair of the year, including documenting every step of the entire event in photograph. Hannah had already been on the smiling end of the camera four times, each time seated at the guest table as though she were still waiting for hordes of guests to arrive to sign the book. She knew her hair had wilted considerably since this morning and her makeup was not exactly fresh, and she had no intention of being cornered by Brenda and her cameraman again.
Hannah spotted David’s eyes scanning the crowd as he distractedly danced with one of Delia’s friends. Hannah could only assume he was looking for her. She rolled her eyes and ducked farther behind the neatly trimmed hedges lining the grassy reception area. Hannah had already danced with Sam’s cousin twice, and would have been stuck with a third dance if Delia’s obnoxious little friend with the long blonde curls – Hannah never could remember her name – hadn’t bounced up to claim a dance with the “hot new guy”. Hannah had been more than happy to let her have him. She had murmured something about needing some more punch and slipped off before David had a chance to say he would walk with her to the table. Hannah supposed it was nice of Nina to invite Carl’s nephew, and she knew Nina well enough to know she was hoping that David and Hannah might hit it off, but even after several months Hannah just wasn’t interested in dating anyone that wasn’t -
No. Hannah Katherine Rogers, you will not go there, she warned herself sternly in her mind. She could not, however, keep her eyes from scanning the crowd of dancers for Bright. She spotted him almost immediately, head bent low as he teased Delia about something while they danced a little too fast for the song playing. Hannah grinned briefly and then blushed slightly as she glanced down and brushed an imaginary crumb off the front of her sage green dress, as if someone might see her there behind the row of hedges watching her former boyfriend. Delia, at thirteen, was becoming quite the pretty young lady, but in Bright’s eyes she was still Ephram’s kid sister, and always would be. Bright knew Delia had a crush on him, and had since she first met him five years ago, but he never treated her like she was just some annoying little kid he couldn’t get rid of. That’s one of the things Hannah loved about Bright. Had loved, she corrected herself mentally. Had loved, past tense.
The song came to an end and Hannah watched a nervous-looking young teen approach Delia, who had stepped over to the refreshment table for some punch. Hannah was too far away to hear what the boy said, but she could tell by the way Delia’s eyes widened and she suddenly clutched at her glass of punch with nervous hands that he must have asked her to dance. Hannah tried to think of who the boy was, and finally remembered him signing in earlier with his father. They had flown in from New York for the wedding, the father had informed Hannah. Hadn’t seen Andy since they worked at the hospital together. He had elbowed his son good-naturedly and said that Terry here used to call Delia his girlfriend when they played T-ball together. Terry had rolled his eyes and muttered “Terrence, Dad. My name is Terrence.” Hannah had nodded politely and they had moved on to find a seat in one of the rows of white folding chairs set out in the neatly trimmed grass.
Hannah took a deep breath and closed her eyes to steady herself as she noticed her mother stopping Amy and Ephram for a moment, presumably to ask them if they had seen Hannah. Hannah knew she couldn’t avoid her mother forever, couldn’t avoid talking about – or thinking about - the letter she’d received from her brother two weeks earlier, but she just didn’t have the emotional strength right now to handle it. It had been easy enough to focus all her energy and thoughts on helping Nina with the last-minute wedding plans, but now that the day was winding down to a close Hannah knew she was going to have to deal with her brother’s news. But not yet. Not just yet. Hannah waited until her mother began walking toward the restrooms, away from Hannah’s hiding spot in the hedges, and then she started walking in the opposite direction. She didn’t know where she was going, she just knew she had to get away for a bit.
Bright noticed Hannah walking away and danced close enough to Amy to ask her where Hannah was going. “I don’t know, Bright. Hannah doesn’t check in with me before every move she makes. I’m her best friend, not her parole officer. Maybe she and David took a walk together. They seemed to be hitting it off earlier, maybe they wanted some time alone to get to know each other better.”
“David? Who’s David? Is it that floppy-haired ‘Christian Bale in Little Women’ looking freak who kept cornering her earlier?” Bright’s eyes narrowed as he looked around for the guy in question. Ephram barked out a short laugh. “Dude, I can’t believe you just admitted to having watched Little Women.”
“Shut up, man. It was on cable late one night and the title was misleading. Besides, I didn’t watch all of it. Just up to the part where Beth died. And they weren’t ‘hitting it off’, he’s not her type. She danced with him twice before she went and hid behind the bushes so he couldn’t ask her again. Anyway, Hannah didn’t go anywhere with that jerk, she walked off alone. What?” That last part was spoken to Amy, who was staring at Bright incredulously.
“First of all, the fact that you’ve been watching Hannah so closely all day is disturbing and a little bit creepy. Secondly, you no longer have the right to say who is and is not her type. You are not her boyfriend anymore, Bright. You haven’t been her boyfriend in over a year! Maybe if you had treated her the way she deserved to be treated when you were together, you wouldn’t have to depend on me to tell you her every move. Which I’m not going to do, because her life is none of your business. God, I’m so sick of always having this conversation with you. What does it matter to you anyway?” Amy and Bright stood facing each other, ignoring the cheerful music playing in the background, anger flashing in both of their eyes.
Bright opened his mouth to answer back with an angry retort, but Brittney, who had given up on David earlier and claimed the current dance with Bright, loudly and rudely cleared her throat to bring his attention back to her. She smiled brightly and far too flirtatiously for her age when Bright glanced her way, but he just grimaced and muttered that he didn’t feel like dancing anymore and walked off in the direction he’d seen Hannah go a few moments before.
Hannah found herself walking toward the house she lived in for two years with Nina and Sam (and, for a while, Jake). It felt weird knowing that Nina didn’t live there anymore. Even though Hannah had been away from her family while living in Everwood, she had felt more at home in Nina’s house than in her family’s home back in Minnesota. Hannah enjoyed being in college, and she and Amy had grown close enough again that sharing an apartment was fun, but not having a place to come back to in Everwood left Hannah feeling a little displaced. Especially times like now, when she needed somewhere to be alone with her thoughts for a while.
The sound of car doors slamming caught Hannah’s attention and she noticed a family of four pulling out of what used to be Nina’s driveway. She slowed her steps a bit and watched the car disappear from sight, then with a glance around, she climbed the familiar steps and sat down on the porch, leaning against the railing. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to remember how she had leaned past this very spot to try to kiss Bright after their first date, how he had later pulled her back out onto that porch and given her a much-needed speech about futures and dreams and being alive. Bright’s unconditional support had given her the push she needed to go ahead with the test for Huntington’s disease, and her negative results had in turn given her brother the push he needed to have his testing done.
“Hannah –“ she recited in her mind, the brief note forming itself in her brother’s voice. “Guess you were the lucky one this time. Hey, we knew going in the odds were 50/50 though, right? Don’t feel bad, I’m glad it’s me and not you. I mean that. Spend some time with Mom while she’s down for Nina’s wedding. She’s taking it worse than I am. Love you sis.”
He had written the note on the blank side of a greeting card – one of those generic Happy Holidays cards that carefully avoid the word Christmas or Hanukah or anything else that someone might find a way to be offended by. A snowman…it had a snowman on the front, with a puppy pulling at the red scarf wrapped around the snowman’s neck. Hannah had laughed when she had opened the card. Only Brian would send her a card in June with a snowman on it. She was no longer laughing when she had put the card back in the envelope and hastily shoved it under her mattress, like a twelve year old hiding her diary where she was sure her mom would never think to look for it. She hadn’t told Amy about the card, she needed some time to process the news before she had to deal with her best friend trying to plan a Celebration of Life! party for a guy she had never met who wasn’t even dead yet. Amy always meant well, and she loved her dearly, but Hannah preferred to keep her methods of denial more private. Besides, Hannah hated parties.
I’m glad it’s me and not you. I mean that. Glad it’s me and not you. Me and not you. Not you. Not you. A single tear rolled down Hannah’s cheek. Hannah knew it wouldn’t be long before she couldn’t stop the tears if she tried.
“Hey, uh, you do know trespassing is against the law, right?” Hannah’s eyes snapped open at the sound of Bright’s voice. He settled down on the step below her, close enough that she could smell his cologne when he moved but not so close that he was touching her leg. “If Bill drives by on patrol you might get, like, arrested or something.” Bright casually leaned back on his elbows, his forearm brushing Hannah’s calf as he did so. He had taken off his suit jacket and tie and the first three buttons on his white shirt were undone. He stared straight ahead, giving Hannah the chance to silently wipe her face and pretend he hadn’t seen her crying.
“Yeah, well,
you’re trespassing too. At least I used to live here.” Hannah was glad that her
voice, at least, didn’t shake.
“Good point. So, you just get tired of the party scene back there? I think that Gay-vid dude is wondering where you got off to. Who is that guy, anyway?” Bright didn’t care if he sounded jealous, but Hannah didn’t seem to notice the hard edge to his voice.
“His name is David, Bright. He’s Nina’s nephew – well, technically Carl’s nephew, but since Nina and Carl were already dating when David was born, she’s always been his Aunt Nina and she wanted to be nice and invite him to the wedding. She wasn’t sure if he would come, but he did. He seems like an okay guy. He was a boy scout, ever since he was a little kid. He graduated last year and has been working as a stock boy at a local grocery store, and is trying to decide now if he wants to pursue his education at a traditional college, or join the National Guard.” Hannah realized she was rambling and snapped her mouth closed.
“Carl’s nephew, huh? I probably had it right the first time. But enough about him, I wasn’t looking for the guy’s resume. You okay?” Bright finally turned and looked Hannah full in the face, his eyes gentle but concerned. She smiled softly and turned away with a small sigh. “Yeah. Well, not really, but I will be. I just have…some things going on right now, and it’s been so crazy these past few weeks finishing up the semester and helping Nina with the wedding that I haven’t had time to deal with them.”
Bright nodded silently. Neither of them spoke for a moment, just sat in a comfortable silence together. Then Bright reached out and lightly fingered the hem of her dress. “You look pretty today. Well, you always look pretty, but you look…special today.”
Hannah blushed and murmured her thanks. Bright had moved his arm close enough to her that it was pressed against her leg, but he didn’t seem to notice so Hannah didn’t shift away. She cleared her throat and asked, “So how has school being going for you this year?” She hoped her voice didn’t sound as forced to Bright as it did to herself.
“Been going pretty good. I think I’ve finally decided on a major…again. After reading a bunch of stories online, I figured out being an EMT wasn’t really something I wanted to do after all, but I still wanted to figure out a way to help people. Not to be all full of myself or anything, but I seem to be good at taking care of people, helping them out. Like, emotionally and stuff. And I’ve always been good around kids, probably because I act like one most of the time. That’s what Ephram says anyway. So I’m thinking maybe of going into child psychic-try.”
Hannah’s brow furrowed. “Psychiatry?” she asked after a moment.
“Yeah…that. I’ll learn how to pronounce it before I go into practice. If I stick with it, anyway. I know I flake out a lot. Dad about blows a gasket every time I call home and he asks me if I have a solid life plan yet. He’s known what he wanted to do with his life ever since he was a kid and he hates that I still can’t figure it out.” Bright’s expression darkened slightly. Hannah laid her hand on his arm before he could let his thoughts wander too far down that path. “Bright, I think that’s great! You’re right, you have an incredible gift for helping people emotionally, helping them realize what’s important in life. You helped me out so much with everything I had going on when I moved here. And I’ve seen you with Delia and Sam and other kids their age enough to know that you are able to relate to them easily. I think this will be a good thing for you, I really do.”
“You really think so? God, I’m so glad to hear that from you. I wanted to call you up when I was thinking through it and get your opinion, because I knew if I was just being stupid you would tell me, but if I wasn’t you would tell me that too, but then I remembered that I couldn’t call you.”
“Bright, you could have called me! I know I’ve been really busy with school this year and we never got the chance to talk much, but we’re still friends. You could have called me.” Hannah didn’t mention that she always made sure to be busy when she knew Amy and Ephram were going to be heading to the movies with Bright, or meeting up with him at the local hangout. Theoretically, she and Bright were still friends. In practice, the thought of seeing him regularly – probably with a string of pretty girls on his arm – was too hard to deal with, so she had always found some sort of excuse not to be there when Bright was around.
“Yeah, well…I’m glad I’m getting to talk to you now. I’ve…I’ve missed you, Hannah. These past few months have been so messed up. Ephram’s been up my ass all the time about getting back out there. I think he just gets tired of having to entertain me all the time. He’s never said I’m cramping his style when I hang out with him and Amy, but I know it’s got to bug him. ‘Three’s a crowd’ and all that.”
Hannah blinked her eyes a few times as she processed what Bright had just said. “You…you haven’t been seeing anyone? At all?” Bright didn’t answer, just shook his head slightly and stared ahead. “Bright, were you…were you waiting…for me? To get back together with me?” The last sentence came out in a rush, and Hannah held her breath, waiting for his answer.
“Noo, no.” Bright shook his head emphatically. “At least, not after the first few weeks. At first I was hoping we could, you know, we could work things out and all, but then the longer I had time to think about it the more I knew that it wasn’t going to happen. I tried to get back into the zone, you know, even asked some girls out, but I always cancelled on them. You know girls get really mad when you do that? Anyway, after a while I stopped trying to force it. I realized that I didn’t mind not dating. That sounds kind of jacked up, especially for me, but it’s true. After having known what a real relationship could be like, I just wasn’t interested in going out with a different girl every night. What about you? Have you been going out any? I’ve asked Amy but she just says to buzz off because it’s none of my business, and she’s right I guess, but I just…I just want to know.” Bright looked at her hopefully, almost nervously. Hannah hated to hurt his feelings, but since he was asking, she had to be honest.
“I’ve gone out, yes. A few times. Usually not more than once or twice with the same guy.” Hannah spoke as gently as she could. Bright looked away and cleared his throat. He didn’t speak for a moment, and when he did his voice was flat. Withdrawn. “Yeah, I guess I figured you would. Everybody knew we weren’t right for each other anyway, right? They were just all sitting back and waiting for me to screw things up, which I did. Figures that’d be the one thing I didn’t disappoint everyone with. Well, I’m glad one of us was able to get over it.”
“Bright, don’t.” Hannah closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I didn’t want to get over it, I didn’t want to get over you, but I had to. It hurt too much otherwise.” She sighed, suddenly feeling very weary. “You know what? I can’t…I can’t do this right now.” She started to stand up, but Bright grabbed her wrist and tugged her back down.
“Don’t go. I’m sorry. I didn’t come out here to get you upset. It’s just…it’s been so long since I’ve seen you, and I’ve missed you – I don’t mean just as a girlfriend, I’ve missed your jokes, I’ve missed you calling me on my shit when I’m being stupid - and I can’t get Amy to tell me jack crap about what you’re up to or even if you’re good or if you’re not, and…God! I’ve had all this pressure and these decisions to make and these things going on in my life, and I’ve wanted to get your input but I can’t because we’re not in a relationship anymore, and it’s not even always the big things but just stupid everyday stuff that I would think ‘Man I can’t wait to tell Hannah about that’ and then I’d remember that I can’t because we’re not in a relationship anymore, and then I come up here and I have to watch you dance with some asshat who can’t keep his eyes off you and I just want to punch him but I can’t because we’re not in a relationship anymore, and you know what? Hannah, I love you. I love you, and I am tired of not being with you. I love you, and I want to marry you. Yes, I said it. Hannah Rogers, I love you and I want to marry you.” At some point in his breathless speech, Bright had gotten up and now he stood at the bottom of the steps, chewing on his lower lip and studying Hannah’s stunned expression.
Hannah sat in a daze, not even able to bring her eyes up to meet his. Then, softly – so softly that Bright would have been sure it was his imagination if it weren’t for the smile that was playing across her lips – she whispered, “Okay.”
“Okay. What does that mean, okay? Is that like a, ‘Okay, it’s time to get you to a hospital’ okay? Or is it like a, ‘Okay, I’ll just be going now, loser’ okay?” Bright shuffled his feet nervously. He was suddenly finding it hard to breathe.
Hannah slowly stood up and with trembling hands smoothed the front of her dress. She then took a deep breath, met his gaze and with a shaking voice said “Okay, Brighton, I…I will marry you.”
Bright stood dumbstruck for just a moment, then practically leapt back up the stairs and grabbed Hannah in a bear hug that lifted her off her feet. She felt her back hit the post behind her in the same instant that Bright’s lips met hers in a fiercely wild kiss. She found her head spinning with the same heart-pounding excitement as the first time Bright had kissed her for real, and oh, how she had missed that feeling. She wanted that feeling to last forever.
The honk of a car’s horn startled them both and they jumped apart, suddenly embarrassed to be seen making out on a stranger’s front porch.
“Wow, well, I, uh, I guess we should be, uh, we should be getting back? To the, uh, the thing?” Her words tumbled over each other in a breathless rush. Hannah had no idea if what she had said made any sense, but Bright seemed to understand, and after brushing his lips across the inside of her wrist he gave her a dazzling smile and said, “Ready when you are.”
“Good point. So, you just get tired of the party scene back there? I think that Gay-vid dude is wondering where you got off to. Who is that guy, anyway?” Bright didn’t care if he sounded jealous, but Hannah didn’t seem to notice the hard edge to his voice.
“His name is David, Bright. He’s Nina’s nephew – well, technically Carl’s nephew, but since Nina and Carl were already dating when David was born, she’s always been his Aunt Nina and she wanted to be nice and invite him to the wedding. She wasn’t sure if he would come, but he did. He seems like an okay guy. He was a boy scout, ever since he was a little kid. He graduated last year and has been working as a stock boy at a local grocery store, and is trying to decide now if he wants to pursue his education at a traditional college, or join the National Guard.” Hannah realized she was rambling and snapped her mouth closed.
“Carl’s nephew, huh? I probably had it right the first time. But enough about him, I wasn’t looking for the guy’s resume. You okay?” Bright finally turned and looked Hannah full in the face, his eyes gentle but concerned. She smiled softly and turned away with a small sigh. “Yeah. Well, not really, but I will be. I just have…some things going on right now, and it’s been so crazy these past few weeks finishing up the semester and helping Nina with the wedding that I haven’t had time to deal with them.”
Bright nodded silently. Neither of them spoke for a moment, just sat in a comfortable silence together. Then Bright reached out and lightly fingered the hem of her dress. “You look pretty today. Well, you always look pretty, but you look…special today.”
Hannah blushed and murmured her thanks. Bright had moved his arm close enough to her that it was pressed against her leg, but he didn’t seem to notice so Hannah didn’t shift away. She cleared her throat and asked, “So how has school being going for you this year?” She hoped her voice didn’t sound as forced to Bright as it did to herself.
“Been going pretty good. I think I’ve finally decided on a major…again. After reading a bunch of stories online, I figured out being an EMT wasn’t really something I wanted to do after all, but I still wanted to figure out a way to help people. Not to be all full of myself or anything, but I seem to be good at taking care of people, helping them out. Like, emotionally and stuff. And I’ve always been good around kids, probably because I act like one most of the time. That’s what Ephram says anyway. So I’m thinking maybe of going into child psychic-try.”
Hannah’s brow furrowed. “Psychiatry?” she asked after a moment.
“Yeah…that. I’ll learn how to pronounce it before I go into practice. If I stick with it, anyway. I know I flake out a lot. Dad about blows a gasket every time I call home and he asks me if I have a solid life plan yet. He’s known what he wanted to do with his life ever since he was a kid and he hates that I still can’t figure it out.” Bright’s expression darkened slightly. Hannah laid her hand on his arm before he could let his thoughts wander too far down that path. “Bright, I think that’s great! You’re right, you have an incredible gift for helping people emotionally, helping them realize what’s important in life. You helped me out so much with everything I had going on when I moved here. And I’ve seen you with Delia and Sam and other kids their age enough to know that you are able to relate to them easily. I think this will be a good thing for you, I really do.”
“You really think so? God, I’m so glad to hear that from you. I wanted to call you up when I was thinking through it and get your opinion, because I knew if I was just being stupid you would tell me, but if I wasn’t you would tell me that too, but then I remembered that I couldn’t call you.”
“Bright, you could have called me! I know I’ve been really busy with school this year and we never got the chance to talk much, but we’re still friends. You could have called me.” Hannah didn’t mention that she always made sure to be busy when she knew Amy and Ephram were going to be heading to the movies with Bright, or meeting up with him at the local hangout. Theoretically, she and Bright were still friends. In practice, the thought of seeing him regularly – probably with a string of pretty girls on his arm – was too hard to deal with, so she had always found some sort of excuse not to be there when Bright was around.
“Yeah, well…I’m glad I’m getting to talk to you now. I’ve…I’ve missed you, Hannah. These past few months have been so messed up. Ephram’s been up my ass all the time about getting back out there. I think he just gets tired of having to entertain me all the time. He’s never said I’m cramping his style when I hang out with him and Amy, but I know it’s got to bug him. ‘Three’s a crowd’ and all that.”
Hannah blinked her eyes a few times as she processed what Bright had just said. “You…you haven’t been seeing anyone? At all?” Bright didn’t answer, just shook his head slightly and stared ahead. “Bright, were you…were you waiting…for me? To get back together with me?” The last sentence came out in a rush, and Hannah held her breath, waiting for his answer.
“Noo, no.” Bright shook his head emphatically. “At least, not after the first few weeks. At first I was hoping we could, you know, we could work things out and all, but then the longer I had time to think about it the more I knew that it wasn’t going to happen. I tried to get back into the zone, you know, even asked some girls out, but I always cancelled on them. You know girls get really mad when you do that? Anyway, after a while I stopped trying to force it. I realized that I didn’t mind not dating. That sounds kind of jacked up, especially for me, but it’s true. After having known what a real relationship could be like, I just wasn’t interested in going out with a different girl every night. What about you? Have you been going out any? I’ve asked Amy but she just says to buzz off because it’s none of my business, and she’s right I guess, but I just…I just want to know.” Bright looked at her hopefully, almost nervously. Hannah hated to hurt his feelings, but since he was asking, she had to be honest.
“I’ve gone out, yes. A few times. Usually not more than once or twice with the same guy.” Hannah spoke as gently as she could. Bright looked away and cleared his throat. He didn’t speak for a moment, and when he did his voice was flat. Withdrawn. “Yeah, I guess I figured you would. Everybody knew we weren’t right for each other anyway, right? They were just all sitting back and waiting for me to screw things up, which I did. Figures that’d be the one thing I didn’t disappoint everyone with. Well, I’m glad one of us was able to get over it.”
“Bright, don’t.” Hannah closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I didn’t want to get over it, I didn’t want to get over you, but I had to. It hurt too much otherwise.” She sighed, suddenly feeling very weary. “You know what? I can’t…I can’t do this right now.” She started to stand up, but Bright grabbed her wrist and tugged her back down.
“Don’t go. I’m sorry. I didn’t come out here to get you upset. It’s just…it’s been so long since I’ve seen you, and I’ve missed you – I don’t mean just as a girlfriend, I’ve missed your jokes, I’ve missed you calling me on my shit when I’m being stupid - and I can’t get Amy to tell me jack crap about what you’re up to or even if you’re good or if you’re not, and…God! I’ve had all this pressure and these decisions to make and these things going on in my life, and I’ve wanted to get your input but I can’t because we’re not in a relationship anymore, and it’s not even always the big things but just stupid everyday stuff that I would think ‘Man I can’t wait to tell Hannah about that’ and then I’d remember that I can’t because we’re not in a relationship anymore, and then I come up here and I have to watch you dance with some asshat who can’t keep his eyes off you and I just want to punch him but I can’t because we’re not in a relationship anymore, and you know what? Hannah, I love you. I love you, and I am tired of not being with you. I love you, and I want to marry you. Yes, I said it. Hannah Rogers, I love you and I want to marry you.” At some point in his breathless speech, Bright had gotten up and now he stood at the bottom of the steps, chewing on his lower lip and studying Hannah’s stunned expression.
Hannah sat in a daze, not even able to bring her eyes up to meet his. Then, softly – so softly that Bright would have been sure it was his imagination if it weren’t for the smile that was playing across her lips – she whispered, “Okay.”
“Okay. What does that mean, okay? Is that like a, ‘Okay, it’s time to get you to a hospital’ okay? Or is it like a, ‘Okay, I’ll just be going now, loser’ okay?” Bright shuffled his feet nervously. He was suddenly finding it hard to breathe.
Hannah slowly stood up and with trembling hands smoothed the front of her dress. She then took a deep breath, met his gaze and with a shaking voice said “Okay, Brighton, I…I will marry you.”
Bright stood dumbstruck for just a moment, then practically leapt back up the stairs and grabbed Hannah in a bear hug that lifted her off her feet. She felt her back hit the post behind her in the same instant that Bright’s lips met hers in a fiercely wild kiss. She found her head spinning with the same heart-pounding excitement as the first time Bright had kissed her for real, and oh, how she had missed that feeling. She wanted that feeling to last forever.
The honk of a car’s horn startled them both and they jumped apart, suddenly embarrassed to be seen making out on a stranger’s front porch.
“Wow, well, I, uh, I guess we should be, uh, we should be getting back? To the, uh, the thing?” Her words tumbled over each other in a breathless rush. Hannah had no idea if what she had said made any sense, but Bright seemed to understand, and after brushing his lips across the inside of her wrist he gave her a dazzling smile and said, “Ready when you are.”
They walked back toward the reception area slowly, savoring the heady rush of
being with the one you love, of knowing they love you back. There was still
music playing, but it was no longer live music and very few people were left
milling around, talking and laughing, winding down the happy day. There was no
sign in the sparse crowd of the newlyweds, Nina and Dr. Brown had apparently
made their departure already. As they reached the hedge row Hannah had hidden
behind an hour earlier and a lifetime ago, Bright suddenly grabbed her by the
waist and pulled her, flushed and giggling, away from any prying eyes and kissed
her again. His lips were more gentle this time, but the passion simmering behind
the tenderness made Hannah’s heart clench in her chest.
“Okay,” Hannah said breathlessly as they pulled apart. “I am going to the bathroom now, and you are going to wait out here for me. Bright…Bright!” she said warningly as he tried to pull her toward him again. “I really have to go.” Bright pouted cutely but after a quick, chaste kiss allowed her to lead him by the hand to the row of chairs which were still set up in the grass. “Sit. Stay.” Hannah smiled as she felt his eyes on her back as she walked toward the restrooms.
“Hey, where are you going?” Ephram protested as Amy abruptly moved her head from his shoulder and jumped out of her chair. “Hannah’s back!” she called over her shoulder, “And so is Bright.” She offered no further explanation as she walked quickly toward the restrooms. Ephram rolled his eyes and slumped back in his seat to wait.
Hannah heard the door swing open and Amy’s voice called out “Hannah? Hannah, I know you’re in here. Hannah!”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “Just a minute!” she yelled from her stall.
Amy was standing with her arms crossed and her foot tapping impatiently when Hannah came out and headed over to the sinks. “Well?!?” She demanded.
“’Well?’ what?” Hannah responded innocently.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Hannah. I know you have some big news to share, so spill it!” Hannah’s eyes widened in panic as she hastily washed her hands, lowering her head slightly so Amy couldn’t see her expression in the mirror. Had Amy already spoken to Bright? Surely she hadn’t had time to corner him already. “Big news?” she repeated hesitantly.
“Yes, ‘big news’. You got back with my brother, right? I saw you together before you came in here. Are you back together now?” Hannah breathed a small sigh of relief. “Oh, that.” She smiled into the mirror. “Yes, we are back together.”
But Amy hadn’t missed the changes in Hannah’s face. “What do you mean, ‘Oh, that.’ What could be bigger than you getting back together with my brother after a year and a half of pining?”
“Amy! I haven’t been pining!” Hannah protested, whirling around to face her friend.
“Yes, you have, and don’t change the subject. Just what happened with you two earlier?” Amy’s gaze was confused, but excited.
Hannah tried to keep her expression cool, but her hands were shaking and she couldn’t keep the trembling smile from her face. Finally she blurted out, “He asked me to marry him!”
Amy’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Hannah…Hannah! Oh my God! Hannah!” Amy squealed and hugged her friend tightly.
“I know!” Hannah squealed back.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe this! Oh my God!” Suddenly Amy pulled back and with wide eyes asked, “Did you say yes? You said yes, right? Tell me you said yes!”
“Yes! I said yes!”
“Oh my God!” Amy pulled her back into another hug. After several moments of hugging and squealing and laughing and crying together, they finally exited the restroom. Ephram was waiting outside, leaning against the wall.
“Uh, if you’re finished doing whatever it is you girls do when you go to the bathroom together, we should probably be heading out now, Amy. I promised Delia I’d drive her over to Brittney’s before we went to your folks’ house for dinner, and she’s been waiting in the car for ten minutes. Plus I’d kinda like to stop by Dad’s house and change out of this monkey suit, too.” Ephram smiled at Hannah. “You look pretty today, I didn’t really get the chance to tell you that earlier.”
“Back off, big guy. She’s spoken for.” Amy shared a secret grin with Hannah before hooking her arm through Ephram’s and leading him away. “Spoken for?” Hannah heard Ephram say as they walked off. “Did that David guy ask her out after all?”
Bright stood up as Hannah approached the row of chairs where she had left him sitting. “Hi,” she smiled shyly. “Um, I kind of told your sister. About us. I hope that’s okay, she cornered me in the bathroom and could tell something was up. She’s perceptive like that. It’s annoying,” she finished with a nervous laugh.
“Ah, that’s okay. I’m good with telling people, if you are. Hell, you can hire one of those guys that flies around with a plane and writes messages in the sky if you want.” Bright’s eyes shone with emotion as he looked at her.
Hannah giggled. “I don’t think we need to go that far, but I’m glad you’re okay with telling people. I don’t think I could keep something like this secret if I wanted to. Which I don’t,” she hastily added.
“Good,” Bright said. “Good,” Hannah repeated. They smiled at each other for a moment.
“Bright!” They both jumped slightly at Harold’s voice. He and Rose approached, Rose holding Bright’s jacket and tie. “Would you like me to take these to the house, dear?” Rose asked. “You can change your clothes when you come over for dinner and I can have your suit cleaned and pressed for you before you leave tomorrow.”
“Uh, sure. Thanks.” Bright glanced briefly at Hannah, an unspoken question in his eyes. She nodded slightly and ducked her head to hide the blush that she could feel creeping into her cheeks. He cleared his throat. “Uh, Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet – “
Harold interrupted him. “Meet? Heavens, son, we’ve met Hannah. She has practically been a part of our family for the past three years. As I recall, she and Amy have been in Amy’s old room giggling and staying up half the night for the past four nights, just like old times.” Harold smiled fondly at Hannah, she smiled back. He and Hannah had always had a special connection.
“Well, yeah, I know you’ve met her, but she wasn’t your future daughter-in-law before. Or, I guess she was, we just didn’t know it because I hadn’t asked her to marry me yet. But since we were eventually going to get married, even though we didn’t know it, she was always your future daughter-in-law. Whoa, that’s pretty intense. I wonder – “
Hannah was looking at Bright with a puzzled expression on her face, her smile changing to one of bemused confusion. Harold’s mouth had snapped shut and his arms were crossed over his chest. Rose spoke up before Harold had a chance to begin the tirade she could tell was on the tip of his tongue, “Why, that’s wonderful. You two make a lovely couple, you always did. Welcome to our family, Hannah.” Rose pulled Hannah into a warm hug. “Thank you, Mrs. Abbott,” Hannah smiled tearily.
“So, you’re getting married,” Harold began, his voice laced with iciness. “This is rather…sudden, isn’t it? I wasn’t aware you two were even dating again, much less had been dating long enough to make such an important decision about your future. You, Brighton, still have at least two years of college left - probably more, given the way you carelessly disregard your studies. Do you really think you will have the fortitude to finish your degree, once you have taken on the responsibilities of a married man? And just where do you plan to live? A run-down, two bedroom apartment with leaky plumbing is no place to try to start a family, Bright.”
He would have said more but Rose laid her hand on his arm, wordlessly warning him into silence. Her voice was pleasant, but firm. “Now, Harold, they’ve got plenty of time to figure things out. Give them some time to just be happy before you start with the lectures. Congratulations, son.” Rose gave Bright a hug and whispered in his ear, “Give me some time to work on your dad before you come to the house this evening. He’ll come around.” Bright tightened his arms around her slightly to let her know he understood.
“Well, we should be going,” Rose said cheerily. “The babysitter starts charging extra after 4 pm. She says it cuts into the time she needs to get ready for her evening date. We’ll see you two later this evening. I’m making pot roast, it’ll take at least a couple of hours, so there’s no hurry.” Bright knowingly caught his mother’s eye and she smiled.
“Well, okay,” Bright said as his parents walked toward their car. “We’ve got some time to kill. Mom’s got to get Dad’s blood pressure under control before we go over there. We could go hang out somewhere for a while, or do you want to go visit with your mom, give her the news in person? Isn’t she going to be leaving tomorrow?” At his words, Hannah’s face paled. “My mom! Oh, no. I forgot all about my mom!”
“What?” Bright asked, worriedly. “Is your mom not going to be cool with the idea of you getting married? Or is it me that’s the problem? Do we need to wait…?”
“No, no, nothing like that. My mom’s already met you, remember? After…after my dad passed away and she came to Everwood to get me to move back to Minnesota with her. She knows how important you were to me, how much you helped me. No, she’ll be happy for us. It’s just…” Hannah closed her eyes and sighed. “Bright, before we talk to my mom, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Okay,” Hannah said breathlessly as they pulled apart. “I am going to the bathroom now, and you are going to wait out here for me. Bright…Bright!” she said warningly as he tried to pull her toward him again. “I really have to go.” Bright pouted cutely but after a quick, chaste kiss allowed her to lead him by the hand to the row of chairs which were still set up in the grass. “Sit. Stay.” Hannah smiled as she felt his eyes on her back as she walked toward the restrooms.
“Hey, where are you going?” Ephram protested as Amy abruptly moved her head from his shoulder and jumped out of her chair. “Hannah’s back!” she called over her shoulder, “And so is Bright.” She offered no further explanation as she walked quickly toward the restrooms. Ephram rolled his eyes and slumped back in his seat to wait.
Hannah heard the door swing open and Amy’s voice called out “Hannah? Hannah, I know you’re in here. Hannah!”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “Just a minute!” she yelled from her stall.
Amy was standing with her arms crossed and her foot tapping impatiently when Hannah came out and headed over to the sinks. “Well?!?” She demanded.
“’Well?’ what?” Hannah responded innocently.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Hannah. I know you have some big news to share, so spill it!” Hannah’s eyes widened in panic as she hastily washed her hands, lowering her head slightly so Amy couldn’t see her expression in the mirror. Had Amy already spoken to Bright? Surely she hadn’t had time to corner him already. “Big news?” she repeated hesitantly.
“Yes, ‘big news’. You got back with my brother, right? I saw you together before you came in here. Are you back together now?” Hannah breathed a small sigh of relief. “Oh, that.” She smiled into the mirror. “Yes, we are back together.”
But Amy hadn’t missed the changes in Hannah’s face. “What do you mean, ‘Oh, that.’ What could be bigger than you getting back together with my brother after a year and a half of pining?”
“Amy! I haven’t been pining!” Hannah protested, whirling around to face her friend.
“Yes, you have, and don’t change the subject. Just what happened with you two earlier?” Amy’s gaze was confused, but excited.
Hannah tried to keep her expression cool, but her hands were shaking and she couldn’t keep the trembling smile from her face. Finally she blurted out, “He asked me to marry him!”
Amy’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Hannah…Hannah! Oh my God! Hannah!” Amy squealed and hugged her friend tightly.
“I know!” Hannah squealed back.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe this! Oh my God!” Suddenly Amy pulled back and with wide eyes asked, “Did you say yes? You said yes, right? Tell me you said yes!”
“Yes! I said yes!”
“Oh my God!” Amy pulled her back into another hug. After several moments of hugging and squealing and laughing and crying together, they finally exited the restroom. Ephram was waiting outside, leaning against the wall.
“Uh, if you’re finished doing whatever it is you girls do when you go to the bathroom together, we should probably be heading out now, Amy. I promised Delia I’d drive her over to Brittney’s before we went to your folks’ house for dinner, and she’s been waiting in the car for ten minutes. Plus I’d kinda like to stop by Dad’s house and change out of this monkey suit, too.” Ephram smiled at Hannah. “You look pretty today, I didn’t really get the chance to tell you that earlier.”
“Back off, big guy. She’s spoken for.” Amy shared a secret grin with Hannah before hooking her arm through Ephram’s and leading him away. “Spoken for?” Hannah heard Ephram say as they walked off. “Did that David guy ask her out after all?”
Bright stood up as Hannah approached the row of chairs where she had left him sitting. “Hi,” she smiled shyly. “Um, I kind of told your sister. About us. I hope that’s okay, she cornered me in the bathroom and could tell something was up. She’s perceptive like that. It’s annoying,” she finished with a nervous laugh.
“Ah, that’s okay. I’m good with telling people, if you are. Hell, you can hire one of those guys that flies around with a plane and writes messages in the sky if you want.” Bright’s eyes shone with emotion as he looked at her.
Hannah giggled. “I don’t think we need to go that far, but I’m glad you’re okay with telling people. I don’t think I could keep something like this secret if I wanted to. Which I don’t,” she hastily added.
“Good,” Bright said. “Good,” Hannah repeated. They smiled at each other for a moment.
“Bright!” They both jumped slightly at Harold’s voice. He and Rose approached, Rose holding Bright’s jacket and tie. “Would you like me to take these to the house, dear?” Rose asked. “You can change your clothes when you come over for dinner and I can have your suit cleaned and pressed for you before you leave tomorrow.”
“Uh, sure. Thanks.” Bright glanced briefly at Hannah, an unspoken question in his eyes. She nodded slightly and ducked her head to hide the blush that she could feel creeping into her cheeks. He cleared his throat. “Uh, Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet – “
Harold interrupted him. “Meet? Heavens, son, we’ve met Hannah. She has practically been a part of our family for the past three years. As I recall, she and Amy have been in Amy’s old room giggling and staying up half the night for the past four nights, just like old times.” Harold smiled fondly at Hannah, she smiled back. He and Hannah had always had a special connection.
“Well, yeah, I know you’ve met her, but she wasn’t your future daughter-in-law before. Or, I guess she was, we just didn’t know it because I hadn’t asked her to marry me yet. But since we were eventually going to get married, even though we didn’t know it, she was always your future daughter-in-law. Whoa, that’s pretty intense. I wonder – “
Hannah was looking at Bright with a puzzled expression on her face, her smile changing to one of bemused confusion. Harold’s mouth had snapped shut and his arms were crossed over his chest. Rose spoke up before Harold had a chance to begin the tirade she could tell was on the tip of his tongue, “Why, that’s wonderful. You two make a lovely couple, you always did. Welcome to our family, Hannah.” Rose pulled Hannah into a warm hug. “Thank you, Mrs. Abbott,” Hannah smiled tearily.
“So, you’re getting married,” Harold began, his voice laced with iciness. “This is rather…sudden, isn’t it? I wasn’t aware you two were even dating again, much less had been dating long enough to make such an important decision about your future. You, Brighton, still have at least two years of college left - probably more, given the way you carelessly disregard your studies. Do you really think you will have the fortitude to finish your degree, once you have taken on the responsibilities of a married man? And just where do you plan to live? A run-down, two bedroom apartment with leaky plumbing is no place to try to start a family, Bright.”
He would have said more but Rose laid her hand on his arm, wordlessly warning him into silence. Her voice was pleasant, but firm. “Now, Harold, they’ve got plenty of time to figure things out. Give them some time to just be happy before you start with the lectures. Congratulations, son.” Rose gave Bright a hug and whispered in his ear, “Give me some time to work on your dad before you come to the house this evening. He’ll come around.” Bright tightened his arms around her slightly to let her know he understood.
“Well, we should be going,” Rose said cheerily. “The babysitter starts charging extra after 4 pm. She says it cuts into the time she needs to get ready for her evening date. We’ll see you two later this evening. I’m making pot roast, it’ll take at least a couple of hours, so there’s no hurry.” Bright knowingly caught his mother’s eye and she smiled.
“Well, okay,” Bright said as his parents walked toward their car. “We’ve got some time to kill. Mom’s got to get Dad’s blood pressure under control before we go over there. We could go hang out somewhere for a while, or do you want to go visit with your mom, give her the news in person? Isn’t she going to be leaving tomorrow?” At his words, Hannah’s face paled. “My mom! Oh, no. I forgot all about my mom!”
“What?” Bright asked, worriedly. “Is your mom not going to be cool with the idea of you getting married? Or is it me that’s the problem? Do we need to wait…?”
“No, no, nothing like that. My mom’s already met you, remember? After…after my dad passed away and she came to Everwood to get me to move back to Minnesota with her. She knows how important you were to me, how much you helped me. No, she’ll be happy for us. It’s just…” Hannah closed her eyes and sighed. “Bright, before we talk to my mom, there’s something I need to tell you.”
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Amy and Rose stood in the kitchen peeling vegetables. “So…Bright and Hannah, huh? Isn’t that something? My best friend is going to be my sister-in-law! I just can’t believe it,” Amy gushed excitedly as she rinsed off her potato and put it in the pan. Rose smiled at her indulgently but said nothing. “I wonder when the wedding will be. Oh! They could plan a December wedding! A December wedding would give them enough time to get used to being married before classes start back up, and I look great in cranberry red. It would be perfect!” From the dining room, Harold’s newspaper ruffled warningly. “It will be nice to not have to watch her make excuses to be away any time she thinks Bright might be around. I think that nonsense about having a study tree was my favorite. She used to have to carry four blankets out there to keep from freezing. It will be strange not having her as my roommate anymore. I wonder where they will live? Ephram will be losing a roommate too. I wonder if he and I should move in together?”
Rose looked sharply at her daughter as they both heard Harold’s chair scoot angrily away from the table. “There will be plenty of time later to discuss plans, later, when everyone is ready, dear,” she said warningly.
A gurgling squeal from the entryway caught their attention. “Uh, sorry to interrupt, but I think Lily needs to be changed and I haven’t changed a diaper in…well, I’ve never changed a diaper.” Ephram awkwardly held Lily in his arms as she wiggled and tried to get down. “Mumm-mumm! Mumm-mumm!” Lily stretched her arms out imploringly toward Rose.
“You’ve never changed a diaper?” Amy laughed. “Not even when Delia was a baby?”
“No! No. Mom tried to get me to help once, but, uh, I was only seven and the thought of a naked baby butt completely freaked me out. Still kinda does.”
“Well, I think it’s high time you learned, then. Follow me,” Amy said as she dried off her hands.
“Meme! Meme!” Lily squealed happily as Amy lifted her out of Ephram’s arms, waiting as he unlatched the baby gate. “Yes, Meme’s got you, sweet girl. Have you had fun playing with Ephram?” Amy kissed her sister’s hair as Lily snuggled into her neck.
“So, uh, you need any help with those vegetables, Mrs. Abbott?” Ephram walked in the direction of the sink. “Come on, Ephram!” Amy called out from the next room. “You’re not getting off that easily.” Ephram winced and turned around. “Coming!” he called back.
Rose laughed to herself as she slid the roast into the oven and set the timer. She wiped her hands and looked contentedly around the room before she went to search for Harold. Her children were all happy, and it was time to make her husband realize that was a good thing.
Amy and Rose stood in the kitchen peeling vegetables. “So…Bright and Hannah, huh? Isn’t that something? My best friend is going to be my sister-in-law! I just can’t believe it,” Amy gushed excitedly as she rinsed off her potato and put it in the pan. Rose smiled at her indulgently but said nothing. “I wonder when the wedding will be. Oh! They could plan a December wedding! A December wedding would give them enough time to get used to being married before classes start back up, and I look great in cranberry red. It would be perfect!” From the dining room, Harold’s newspaper ruffled warningly. “It will be nice to not have to watch her make excuses to be away any time she thinks Bright might be around. I think that nonsense about having a study tree was my favorite. She used to have to carry four blankets out there to keep from freezing. It will be strange not having her as my roommate anymore. I wonder where they will live? Ephram will be losing a roommate too. I wonder if he and I should move in together?”
Rose looked sharply at her daughter as they both heard Harold’s chair scoot angrily away from the table. “There will be plenty of time later to discuss plans, later, when everyone is ready, dear,” she said warningly.
A gurgling squeal from the entryway caught their attention. “Uh, sorry to interrupt, but I think Lily needs to be changed and I haven’t changed a diaper in…well, I’ve never changed a diaper.” Ephram awkwardly held Lily in his arms as she wiggled and tried to get down. “Mumm-mumm! Mumm-mumm!” Lily stretched her arms out imploringly toward Rose.
“You’ve never changed a diaper?” Amy laughed. “Not even when Delia was a baby?”
“No! No. Mom tried to get me to help once, but, uh, I was only seven and the thought of a naked baby butt completely freaked me out. Still kinda does.”
“Well, I think it’s high time you learned, then. Follow me,” Amy said as she dried off her hands.
“Meme! Meme!” Lily squealed happily as Amy lifted her out of Ephram’s arms, waiting as he unlatched the baby gate. “Yes, Meme’s got you, sweet girl. Have you had fun playing with Ephram?” Amy kissed her sister’s hair as Lily snuggled into her neck.
“So, uh, you need any help with those vegetables, Mrs. Abbott?” Ephram walked in the direction of the sink. “Come on, Ephram!” Amy called out from the next room. “You’re not getting off that easily.” Ephram winced and turned around. “Coming!” he called back.
Rose laughed to herself as she slid the roast into the oven and set the timer. She wiped her hands and looked contentedly around the room before she went to search for Harold. Her children were all happy, and it was time to make her husband realize that was a good thing.
