Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 95311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95311 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
"Hannah," he breathed her name out, then pounced toward her, grabbing her in a bear hug and turning her around in a circle. When he planted her back on her feet, he ruffled her hair in a brotherly way. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Hannah looked down at her feet, feeling self-conscious.
"Han," Sam said, sounding serious, "what's wrong?"
Hannah shook her head, looking up and frowning at the severe look her presence had put on his face. "Can I crash for a couple days? Without you telling anyone?"
Sam's head tilted to the side, his eyes squinting in curiosity. But when he spoke, he said only, "Of course. However long you need. I have plenty of space."
He stepped back from the doorway, holding an arm out to invite her inward. Without any questions. She knew she could count on him.
Directly to their right inside the door was a spacious living room in a deep orange color with black furniture. To the left was a formal dining room painted green. She doubted he got much use out of it though, living alone. He lead her down a hallway with a few doors to the side into the back of the house. The kitchen. Which took up the entire length of the house. Sam always loved cooking. She had tried to talk him into going to culinary school, but he couldn't be swayed. The kitchen was painted white with white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. There was a set of French doors that led onto a back porch, and two sets of windows that let in an incredible amount of light.
Sam walked barefoot over to a cabinet, pulling out a mug, and turning away from her for a second. When he turned back, he handed her a steaming mug of coffee, that same lazy grin on his lips. Hannah took the mug between both hands, pulling it up to her nose, taking a deep breath and sighing.
"Some things never change," he said. "Make yourself comfortable. Roam around. I'm gonna go grab a shirt."
Hannah sipped her coffee, taking Sam at his word and peeking into the two closed doors she found in the hallway. One was a half bath with square, modern décor and blue walls. Behind the other door was a stairway down. She shrugged, walking into the living room and finding a staircase leading up. She started up the deep wood steps, looking toward the railing and almost running into the now fully clothed Sam.
He laughed, a deep amused sound she hadn't realized she missed. "Alright, well let's go pick you out a room." As they rounded the bend, he gestured toward the room at the end of the hall. From the open door she could make out an enormous bed with a blue and green flannel bedspread. Hannah smiled behind his back. "That's my room," he said, unnecessarily. "I think you'll like this one," he said, turning to a closed white door.
He pulled the door open and she grinned up at him. The walls were a pale, muted green.
Something she would call a light sage. The bedspread was a deeper sage with a pattern of pretty yellow flowers on the antique four poster bed. "Perfect," she said, stepping in and noticing the window with a view of the front of the property. There were two white dressers that matched the bed and an actual real-full sized antique vanity with three paneled, scallop topped mirrors and a small stool with a yellow cushion.
"I thought my sisters would like it and come see me more often," Sam said, leaning against the doorway.
"They're barely out of their teens," Hannah said, remembering their toothless little six-year old twin faces when she and Sam would be charged with babysitting them when they turned sixteen. "Boys are much more important."
"Bite your tongue," Sam grimaced, making Hannah smile. "Want me to go grab your stuff?" he asked, looking completely at ease while she felt anxiety creeping in again.
"No, thanks. I'll get it later. I didn't mean to take you away from your work and stuff."
"It's no problem, Hannah," he said, seriously. "But I'll let you settle in. I have some stuff I need to get done. I'll see you at dinner," he said, backing out of the room.
–
Hannah hauled her bags up the steps, took a long hot shower, and fell onto the bed, staring tiredly at the ceiling. Her night of not sleeping was finally setting in and her eyes felt heavy. That coupled with the comfort of finally feeling like she was settled someplace safe and she drifted off to sleep.
She woke up several hours later to the sound of pots and pans banging around in the kitchen below. A loud rumbling in her stomach had her throwing on a pair of leggings and an old, stretched-out gray sweatshirt that hung half way down her thighs.