Page 71 of The Perfect Secret

“I know you don’t want to talk to me, but I’d like to talk to you.” She heard him swallow. “I wondered if maybe we could meet somewhere?”

She expelled a deep breath. Everyone told her to talk to him. Well, everyone but Dan, but he didn’t count anymore. Her eyes filled with tears, but she didn’t know if it was from thoughts of Dan or from the sound of Jeff’s voice. Either way, she couldn’t let them fall. She counted to ten before she spoke. “Whenever is good for you.”

“That’d be great. Wow, thanks. Does tonight work? Or tomorrow? We could meet at that diner in the city on Third.”

“Tonight is fine. Seven?”

“Seven is great. I’ll see you then. And Hannah? Thanks.”

She clicked off her phone, not trusting herself to speak. It was a start.

That night, Jeff waved from a table near the door as soon as Hannah walked into the red and gold diner at seven on the dot.

She must have swallowed a trampoline, because her stomach was doing flip-flops. She pressed her hand against her belly in an effort to calm it as she walked over to him.

He rose and waited to sit until she sat. This was new.

Hannah stared into his clear, focused, and maybe a little nervous, blue eyes. His clothes were clean and neat. He no longer looked skinny as a rooster, like when he was using. His cheeks were filled out; his neck had lost its stringiness. When he folded his arms on the table, Hannah resisted the urge to push up his sleeve to look for track marks. Instead, she noticed how clean his hands and nails were, how healthy his skin looked.

She let out a breath. “Hi,” she said.

“Hi.” His voice was deep and smooth. “I’m glad you came.”

She bit her lip.

“Should we order first?” When she picked up her menu, he added, “My treat.”

Her eyes widened.

“I have a job and you’re my little sister. My treat.”

Something in the way he looked at her reminded her of Dan, when he desperately tried to hold onto his dignity as he knee flared up. “Thank you.”

The air between them crackled and they studied the menu in silence. After the waitress took their orders and they were alone once again, Hannah sat back.

“I wanted to apologize,” he said. “I’ve done so many bad things and hurt you. It’s gone on for years. I know needing to make amends isn’t enough for you. I know a simple ‘I’m sorry’ won’t cut it, but I hope this can be the start to my fixing things with you.”

Her stomach rolled. “I’d like to say okay, but I’m scared, Jeff.”

He reached across the table and took her hand. It was warm, rough from work, but it reminded her of when they were kids and he’d boost her into their tree house or give her a hand climbing the jungle gym when she needed one.

“Me too.”

She squeezed his hand. He smiled. “I heard you met Mike.”

“Yeah, he’s, um…interesting.”

The laugh that burst from Jeff caused the patrons nearby to stare. Jeff waved and shook his head. “Yeah, it’s one way to describe him. He said the same thing about you.”

“I guess he could have said worse.”

“Actually, he said I was pretty lucky to have a sister like you. He’s right.”

She didn’t know what to say. She started to look away, but a tug on her arm returned her focus to Jeff.

“I want you to know I set up a repayment plan with Grandma. It will take a few months, but I should have all the money I took repaid. It’s what we talked about those times I visited.”

Her pulse rushed in her ears. “Mike said he’s your sponsor.”