Stone Cold (38 page)

Conall felt a chill
of excitement go down his spine as Sara explained her idea. He was on board from the start.

“It’s perfect. The hardest part is going to be waiting another two weeks.
Do you think you can keep it to yourself that long?” he teased.

“Ha ha. I kept the fact that I knew
she liked a boy named Conall a secret from her for years!”

“Good becaus
e I’m counting on you to pull this off.”

The clock on the
mantel began to chime and Sara jumped up.

“Oh my gosh
, look at the time! You’d better get going because we want to keep you a secret and my husband will be home soon and so will her sister Morgan. They can’t keep secrets like me.”

Cona
ll stood and Sara grabbed him for a bear hug and kiss on the cheek.

“I’m so glad you found her – no matter what the circumstances.”

He hugged her back and with the letter and pictures still in his hand, he thanked her and left feeling a whole lot better than when he’d arrived.

*****

For the next two weeks, he visited his parents to help him pass the time. Evelyn and Darin were more than happy to spend time with him – a rare event since he’d joined the army. Seeing them again was somehow very comforting.

Before he knew it, it was April 16 and he was waiting on a bench like
he had so many times before.

Chapter 32

Hannah
was on a plane on her way home, and this time it was for good. Her assignment had been extended for a second year and it had come to an end. She was looking forward to getting reacquainted with life in the states. She loved London but she missed the comforts of home where things were familiar from birth.

She’d only been home once, a year ago to celebrate her 24
th
birthday and to try and meet Conall again in April.

He wasn’t there. Surprise surprise. It was something she
’d needed to do though to lift her spirits after Josh’s death and it worked. It was something familiar to her and she was looking for anything to keep the thought of her and Conall alive.

Hannah was excited to see her family and her mom had made the arrangements once again for their trip to see Aunt Grace. She couldn’t wait and was thinking about asking Gina or Lana or both to go along if they could get away for the day from whatever they had planned.
This would be the tenth year since she’d met Conall and no matter what, she had to give it one last try.

She’d have to find another apartment since she
’d let hers go when she moved to London. Maybe one of her friends would want a roommate.

Her mom was waiting for her at t
he airport and after she finally made it through customs, they were reunited.

“Mom! I’m so happy to see you! I can’t wait to hear about everything that’s been going on since I’ve been gone. Oh I’m so glad to be home! What’s it like outside? I want sunshine and warm weather sooo bad!”

Sara was fighting hard to keep her own excitement at bay. She was determined not to spoil the upcoming event that would change Hannah’s life forever.

“I’m so glad to see you too. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad you had such a great opportunity but I hated
you being so far away for so long. And don’t worry, I plan on talking your ears off about everything we’ve been doing but we have plenty of time for that. The weather is gorgeous! It’s been in the 60’s and sunny everyday for a few weeks. No complaints here.”

As they mad
e their way to the car, Hannah reveled in the warmth of the sun on her face. Sara deliberately stopped at all of Hannah’s favorite places on the way home. From restaurants to clothing stores and everything in between, she was taking it all in. What she’d missed more than anything were the memories of things she’d experienced in each of these places.

“It’s so true that you never appreciate
what you have until it’s gone,” she noted.

“Are you referring to anythin
g specific by any chance?” Sara asked curiously.

“Absolutely. I never paid much attention to all of the things that comforted me when I was living here because they were always there. When I moved to
London I missed so many of those things and thought about them all the time.”

Sara
thought about Hannah’s answer for a minute and then added, “I think that applies to the people in our lives too. We take it for granted that the people we love will always be there and when they’re not for whatever reason, we realize how much they mean or meant to us and we miss them.”

“I couldn’t agree more. I missed everyone but I especially miss Josh. I had a lot of time to think about this and I know I took him for granted.
I never imagined that he wasn’t going to be there for as long as I wanted him to be.”

“It’s easy to see how you would think about him that way. I miss him too but his life is over, not yours
, and he would want you to keep living. Maybe your relationship with him was meant to teach you a lesson in life somehow – to do things differently in your next relationship.”

“
Ha, what relationship? There’s nothing going on in that department.”

“Maybe not but things can change at the drop of a hat.
Now that you’re back home I’m sure there are a few good men out there who’ll be knocking on your door in no time.”

“Well don’t hold your breath
because I’m not going to. My first priority is to find an apartment and give you and dad your space back.”

“We’re fine, there’s no rush. I like having you there - reminds me of old times.”

*****

Hannah caught up with everyone over the next week. She’d asked Lana and Gina to go to NYC but they both had other plans they couldn’t break
, so it was just Sara and her once again.

She thought her mother
seemed unusually chipper during the trip and when they’d arrived.

“When are you leaving to go shopping? You don’t want to leave too late or you might miss the best sales.”

“What’s gotten into you today? You’re always happy but today you’re even happier and you seem like you’re trying to get rid of me for some reason. What gives?”

Sara
was trying to make sure Hannah didn’t miss seeing Conall without giving away the fact that she knew he was going to be there.

“There’s nothing going on.
I just know how you always want to shop when you’re here, that’s all. I’m just happy that you’re home and were able to come with me today.”

Hannah wasn’t too sure about her mom’s response but she didn’t have time to think about it.
She’d planned on going to the ferry landing and it was time to pretend she was leaving to go shopping.

“Since
you mentioned it, I think I will go shopping now. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

Sara
had to turn away to hide the enormous smile she had on her face as Hannah walked out the door. For once she knew what was going to happen to her daughter before she did.

Hannah some
how felt that something was different this time as she walked to the ferry landing.

She was talking out loud to herself, completely unconcerned that total strangers were looking at her
funny.

“Here I am again. I can’t believe I keep doing this.
Okay Hannah, let the waiting begin.”

She went to the benches and stood in front of them looking out at the water.
Somewhere in the distance she heard a clock chime one time.

“Come on Conall.
Please be here this time. I’m twenty five years old now and I have to move on with my life. I’d sure like for you to be a part of it.”

No sooner had she said those words than did she feel
the hair stand up on the back of her neck. She could feel a presence that stopped her dead in her tracks.

“I’m here and I’d like nothing more than to be a part of your life from now on.”

Hannah whirled around at the sound of his voice. There, standing in front of her was the boy she’d met so many years ago only now he was a man.

She couldn’t believe it.
She was standing face to face with Conall. Their eyes met and they both smiled as they studied each other’s faces.

“Is it really you? I can’t believe it’s you,” she said
laughing as the tears welled up in her eyes.

“It’s me.”
He reached into his pocket for something and then held out his hand for her to see.

When she looked down, she had to blink several times to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. There in his hand
, was the ribbon from her hair that she thought she’d lost that day on the field trip.

“Oh my gosh, where did you get this? Where did you find it? I thought I’d lost this ribbon forever.”

Hannah had taken it from his hand and studied it closely. She ran her fingers over her name from one end to the other.

“It came out of your hair when I grabbed your ponytail to keep you from falling into the water.”

She was still looking at the ribbon as it brought back a flood of memories from her grandfather and her childhood.

Nodding, she said, “I remember now. So that’s how I lost it. I can’t believe you kept it all these years. This was a special gift to me from my grandfather. Thank you so much for bringing it back.”

Without thinking, Ha
nnah wrapped her arms around Conall and gave him a big hug followed by a kiss on his cheek. He’d put his arms around her too and when she tried to let go he held her even tighter.

“I brought it with me every year I came to meet you
.”

He could smell the sweet scent of her hair
as he held her close. It was intoxicating.

“Let me have the ribbon.”

Hannah handed it back to him without hesitation.

Conall stopped hugging
and moved around behind her.

“May I touch your hair?” he asked.

She answered curiously, “Yes of course.”

With surprising dexterity and skill, he used both hands to gather her hair into a ponytail.

“Hold your hand right here.”

He placed her right hand around the base of the hair and took the ribbon
and tied it around the ponytail. He even made a bow.

Hannah was impressed.

“
Thank you. That was so sweet. I get the feeling that you’ve done this before.”

Conall laughed.

“With two sisters I’ve done my share of helping them with anything you can think of. I’m great at holding purses or so I’m told.”

“Oh really?
Well why don’t I put you to the test today. If you’re free for the next few hours we can take a walk through the city, maybe get something to eat, and you can hold my purse the whole time if you like.”

Conall couldn’
t stop looking at Hannah and smiling. He held his hand out toward hers.

“I’d rather hold your hand if that’s okay with you.”

She was smiling right back at him. He was even more handsome than she’d remembered.

“I like your idea better
. I’d love that actually.”

Hannah rested her hand in his. His grip was warm and firm
just like his hug. It made her feel safe.

They started to walk toward the street when Conall
remembered what he had to give her.

“Before we go,
there’s something I have for you. Let’s sit for a minute.”

Cona
ll led her to a bench and as they sat down, he pulled the letter and pictures from his pocket.

“There’s something I have to tell you and I’m not sure how you’re going to take it but I have to honor someone’s wishes.
Just promise me you won’t say anything until I get it all out.”

She nodded in agreement.

He paused because of what he was about to say.

“I know this may come as a shock
, but when I was in the army, I met and trained Josh Moore and we became friends. I know he was your boyfriend.”

He couldn’t bring himself to say her fiancée even now.