Chapter Thirty-One
The launch party was almost over when Norman arrived. He came straight over to Hannah and waited until she’d served the people in line.
“Can I see you alone for a minute?” he asked.
Hannah took one look at his miserable expression, and her mind went on full alert. Something was horribly wrong. She’d known it for a while, but today it was clearly devastating. Norman was in some kind of terrible trouble.
“Let’s go back here,” Hannah said, signaling for Lisa to take over the serving table and drawing Marge’s library keys from her apron pocket. She led Norman to the little room that Marge used as an office, and unlocked the door.
There were two chairs against one wall. Hannah moved a stack of books from one chair and an untidy pile of papers from the other. “Sit down, Norman,” she invited, sitting down in one chair and gesturing toward the other.
“I…really don’t know how to tell you this, Hannah,” Norman began, but he had to stop and clear his throat.
“It can’t be that bad,” Hannah said, forcing a smile, although she knew full well it could be that bad. “Just tell me.”
“I have to find a new home for Cuddles.” Norman swallowed hard, and Hannah noticed that his voice was shaking. “She’s allergic.”
“Who’s allergic?” The question popped out of Hannah’s mouth. It served to make Norman look even more miserable, and she almost wished she hadn’t asked.
“Bev,” he answered.
The name hung between them like a pirate flag, all cross-bones and skulls, conjuring up dire warnings, mayhem, and death on the high seas. The silence seemed interminable, until Hannah finally broke it.
“Doctor Bev,” she said, giving a tight little nod.
“Yes.”
Hannah saw the telltale brightness in Norman’s eyes, and she knew that he was close to tears. He loved Cuddles as much as she loved Moishe. “Can’t you just bring Cuddles out to my place when she comes over?”
“No, that won’t work. Would you please keep her just until I can find someone else to…to love her and give her a good home?”
“You don’t have to look for anyone else,” Hannah said quickly, reaching out to take his hand. “Not when you have me. I’ll keep Cuddles. Moishe adores her, and so do I. They’ll be good company for each other while I’m at work.”
“Oh, Hannah! That would be so perfect! You have no idea what this means to me! You’re such a good person and I…I love you so much!”
You love me so much, but you’re giving up your adored pet for Doctor Bev? Hannah’s mind quickly got to the crux of the matter, but she didn’t want to say anything that inflammatory. Maybe there was a reasonable explanation, but she’d never know what it was unless she asked. “I don’t understand, Norman. Why do you have to give up Cuddles? Why don’t you just visit Bev at her place and let Cuddles stay at home with you?”
“Because …” Norman stopped again, and an expression of pain crossed his face. “Because Bev’s moving in with me.” He stopped again to take several rapid breaths. “I didn’t want to tell you, Hannah. I tried to think of some way out of it, but I…I have to marry Bev.”
Hannah stared at him uncomprehendingly while he gazed at her, utterly miserable. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours and then Hannah spoke again.
“You have to marry her?”
“Yes. Bev gave me an ultimatum. If I don’t marry her, she won’t let me be a part of Diana’s life.”
Hold it! What was going on here?! Hannah’s mind asked, and she couldn’t even begin to answer. She felt a bit like an actress who’d been thrust on stage in front of a packed house without ever having read the script. “Who’s Diana?” she finally asked.
Norman sighed heavily. “Bev was pregnant when she broke off our engagement, and she chose not to tell me. Diana is my daughter.”