Chapter 2
Part 2: Ethan nodded enthusiastically.
"He said Whitmore men don't build weak bridges."
The irony nearly made Hannah laugh.
Instead, an old instinct rose inside her.
She wanted to invent an excuse.
Grant had mixed up the dates.
An emergency meeting had happened.
He would make it up to Ethan.
That was what Hannah always did.
She caught herself.
"You should remind him tonight."
Ethan smiled. "I will."
Grant arrived twenty minutes late in a charcoal suit, looking every inch like the man magazines occasionally called an entrepreneur while people who actually knew New York called him something else.
He kissed his mother.
Shook his father's hand.
Ruffled Ethan's hair.
Then looked at Hannah as if the conversation in their kitchen had been placed temporarily on a shelf.
During dinner, Margaret asked Walter about his medication.
Walter insisted he had taken it.
Hannah quietly checked the pharmacy app.
"No, you didn't. Your refill is still waiting."
Rebecca laughed. "Dad, you can't beat a nurse."
Grant smiled.
The expression hurt Hannah more than she expected.
Her care had become invisible to him because it had always been there.
Then Grant lifted his wine.
"I'll be in Italy next week."
Margaret looked up.
"For what?"
"Hospitality meetings."
"How long?"
"About a week."
Margaret frowned. "Grant, Thursday is Hannah's specialist appointment."
Grant looked toward his wife.
Hannah saw the instant he remembered.
"I know. I'll adjust the flight."
"No need," Hannah said.
The table became quiet.
Grant's jaw tightened.
"Hannah."
"You already made your plans."
Margaret looked between them.
May you like
Ethan interrupted innocently.
"You'll still be back Sunday, right?"
