“She’s out like a light. In her pj’s and snoring. I think my relatives wore her out. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of them all. The monitor is on and now we have the night to ourselves,” Noah told her, hanging up his suit jacket and quickly finding the pair of pajama bottoms that had appeared in the bathroom.
“You knew,” she said when he sat against the headboard, one leg bent beneath the other, the dim light on the nightstand casting shadows around the large room. “How?”
“Let’s start with my lost weekend…” Noah suggested, stopping when he saw the wince cross her features. “Where’s the stuff Frannie gave you?”
“In my bag…I was going to get it when you…diverted me…”
“I’ll be right back,” he promised, going quickly around the room and locating what she wanted, handing her the small purse a few seconds later. He waited while she dumped several capsules into her palm and drained half the water she’d brought to the bedroom. She set the small bag on the nightstand and pulled a pillow to her lap.
“Hannah…” He waited until she looked up. “Will it disturb the story if I hold you? I really need to…” he almost burst out laughing when she launched herself just like Lili did, her arms up and around his neck. “God, you scared the…” Noah buried his face in her neck, his arms holding her tightly.
It was five very quiet minutes before Noah slid her to the bed and turned to the side, holding her so he could watch her. She lay peacefully, her head on his arm, eyes closed for a few seconds. Hannah peered up at him finally, her palm leaving his bicep and touching his face.
“You don’t remember any of it? The weekend?”
“I remember the memorial,” he said solemnly. “I’ve been getting…flashbacks, if you will…just glimpses…almost like still clips of you or Lili in different places. Lunch…making snow balls…us, in bed…”
“Lili and I were making snow angels outside the inn when you came kind of weaving to the courtyard of the inn,” Hannah told him, ignoring his chuckle when she felt her cheeks tint a little red at his memories. “You talked to us. You knew me and spoke to me by name. You kept disappearing to…refresh…” she smiled at the closed eyes and low groan.
“It’s a wonder I have a decent reputation with you at all,” Noah said with a sigh. “I hoped when I talked to you I didn’t…”
“You apologized in advance, Noah,” she teased softly. “Asked me not to hold it against you if you make an ass out of yourself.”
“I…uhhh…” Noah sighed. “I knew this wasn’t going to be good…”
“We went for lunch…and you showed up at the table. You told me you knew me from the resort. I asked if you were okay…you told me about your friend…and we took you to your room. I left you there and went to get you some capsules that would help with stomach and headaches, because you weren’t eating. But when we got back, you were gone. We went back out to play. We were mostly settled in bed when you kind of banged around the hall…’cause I had your key card. That’s how…we had two queen beds. I got you settled in the other bed,” Hannah sighed. “I thought you were down for the night…”
“A nightmare,” he said quietly, his forehead falling against hers.
“Yes…umm…then…to be honest…well, you asked why I wasn’t married,” she shrugged. “I told you about my inheritance….and how it would definitely be easier if I was, because then they would give it to me. I…then you….you are such a good kisser,” she whispered, frowning at his laughter.
“I charmed you under the influence…” Noah moved his mouth next to her ear. “I love you, Hannah Madison…no matter how it happened…”
“Back to the story,” she said, wide eyes sparkling happily. “You were…well…we were…it was getting steamy…and then suddenly you said you had to go. And you did. Just up and out of the room.”
“I…” Noah laughed, his head shaking. “I obviously came back…”
“You did…about thirty minutes later. You stood in the middle of the hall calling for me because you evidently refreshed, grabbed a justice and two witnesses and couldn’t remember what room I was in,” Hannah traced one finger around his smile. “You’d filled out the paperwork and told me to sign on the line. That…that then you could take care of me and Lili…” she said tenderly.
“You almost didn’t…” he said thoughtfully, the hall and Hannah coming into his memory. “You were in your pajamas,” he said in amazement. “I…we got married…”
“In the hall at midnight…and yes, I was in my pajamas,” Hannah admitted with a sigh. “They all left, and you fell face down on the bed and started snoring. I went to the bathroom and came out and you were…thrashing…and mumbling…I talked to you, tried to wake you…”
“I remember,” Noah peered into her eyes, kissing the tint of pink touching her cheeks. “I remember that part now…I can see you…I’ve been having flashes in dreams…I promise I won’t have any more weekends like that, Hannah. So we were married and I got you pregnant on our wedding night…”
“It did take two, Noah…I don’t know what…it felt so good to be with you. You were so sweet and considerate…” Hannah sighed heavily. “Drunk or not, you definitely knew what you were doing…”
Noah pulled her down with him further onto the pillows. He stroked his hand over her head. “Are you okay, Hannah…And I know you’ll be physically fine. Frannie told me that…and I know that, professionally, but…”
“It was an accident, Noah…I’m sorry I fell…I’m not sure how I feel about another baby right now…I was so confused…I told Frannie I would make a decision by Monday. I…I like my career…the new classes…it’s so hard to be a good mom and all the other things in the circle…” Hannah laid her head on his chest. “Then you come bursting into my life…and I thought…you were conscientious enough to…to use condoms, so I thought for a short time that you didn’t want to be a father…but then it seemed so very important to you when Lili called you daddy…I was going to tell you tonight. I decided it had to be a joint decision, that I just wasn’t strong enough to make it on my own. I didn’t want to risk keeping secrets and have you…hurt or angry with me.”
Noah kissed her and held her for a long time before speaking.
“Neither one of us is ancient, Hannah,” Noah said thoughtfully. “How about we revisit things in a year or so…just you, me and Lili for a time…”
“I think I’d really like that, Noah…a lot,” she nodded and kissed him. “You’re a very easy man to love…”
“How did I get home?” He asked, just relieved she was in his arms.
“We fell asleep…pretty much like this…only minus clothing,” Hannah told him, staring at his chest. “Somehow, you got out of bed, dressed and went out, but at least you took the key card with you that time. I woke up a bit before dawn, showered and got dressed and then fell asleep next to Lili in the other bed. When I woke again, you were sitting on the other bed, dressed and holding a large orange juice. I gave you some herbs and you swallowed them without question. Then…you asked me if you’d hurt me…and if I’d give you a ride back to Tacoma. You fell asleep in the car while we had breakfast. Lili was singing Christmas songs all the way back and you slept. I had your address from the marriage forms and certificate they’d given me when I checked out, so we took you home.”
“That’s how Lili knew about the chickens,” he said, pieces finally falling together. Hannah frowned at him. “I was in the daycare….Wednesday after the weekend…talking to Eve about her infirmary for the sick kids and Lili wandered past me, doing that little flip wave she does with a ‘Hi, Noah’. And the instant she did…I saw the two of you playing in the snow…so I talked to her…and decided it was time I made a move to court her mama.”
“Then the weekend was over…and it was Monday and you didn’t…” Hannah shrugged. “I realized you didn’t remember. The last thing I wanted to do was…I didn’t want you to think…I didn’t want to be the girl you married while you were drunk kind of thing,” she finally blurted out, trying to look indignant at his laughter. “I figured once I had this inheritance thing straightened out…I’d get a quiet divorce…only by then…”
“You found out you were pregnant,” he said softly, sighing thickly. “I swear, Hannah…hell, I don’t even know how I can swear…I’ve never done anything like that before. I think I was angry at Hank…and at me for not seeing how depressed he was…thinking I could have helped…that I could have fixed things somehow…when I know it probably would have ended the same way.”
“We need to work on your control issues,” she whispered with a teasing smile, glad to see his eyes crinkling. “I hope your parents weren’t upset…I don’t think this was how they expected their holiday to go…and then to shock them by blurting out about being married…”
“They aren’t the least upset,” he reached behind him and turned the light out when she tried hiding a long yawn. The doctor in him had to keep in mind how much energy she was going to be short over the next few days.
“Noah…being told your son got married and…”
“And they not only have a beautiful daughter-in-law, but an adorable grand-daughter, made their holiday, believe me. We’re going to have to seriously work to keep them from bringing a pony over to the house for Lili,” Noah said with a chuckle. “Go to sleep…you need your rest, Hannah.”
“I am a little tired,” she admitted, snuggling down against him with another yawn. “Tomorrow…I’ll be fine…”