Unexpected Joy

Hannah spent her Sunday scrubbing her apartment from corner to corner, but not before she treated herself to breakfast at a cozy café a few blocks away.

This was a ritual they’d kept since moving in a decade ago. She always managed to save enough from her paychecks to ensure her boys got something, even if she only had a cup of coffee.

Her boys were her world, and they always came first, even if their father didn’t see it that way.

She was engrossed in a book when her phone buzzed. Without checking the caller ID, she picked up.

“Hello?”

“Apologies, beautiful. It’s been a hell of a morning.”

Hannah felt a flutter in her stomach. “Hello, Jackson.”

“Has your day been good?”

“It’s been alright. I cleaned the apartment and now I’m reading a book. What made your day so bad?”

“Work. I’ll fill you in later. But I was wondering if you’re still up for tonight?” he asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

“Are you sure you want to go out with me? I mean, I’m nothing special…”

“Hannah, I don’t think you realize how special you truly are! I’d love nothing more than to take you out tonight and have you all to myself—no work, no boy bands, no friends, nothing.”

“That does sound nice…”

“Give me your address, and I’ll find a place nearby for us to go to, okay?” Jack suggested.

She gave him her address, and he responded, “Alright, I’ll find a nice place and pick you up around six-thirty.”

“That sounds perfect. I’ll see you then.”

“And Hannah? Wear your hair down. I’ve been picturing you with your hair down since Friday night,” Jack added.

“Okay… Bye.”

She heard the call end and sat holding her phone for a few minutes, mulling over the conversation and what the evening might bring. She texted Julie and Monica, sharing the plan he’d proposed.

Feeling they weren’t helping her nerves, she got up to shower when her phone rang again.

Relieved to see it was Max, she answered, “Hi, sweetie! How’s the tour?”

“Hi, Mom. It’s amazing! The facilities are top-notch! We got to work out with the team yesterday and toured the campus today with the AD. We get to sit in on classes tomorrow.

“We’re having dinner with their coach and the AD. Hopefully, I’ll get a good offer,” Max shared, his excitement palpable.

“I’m so thrilled for you! So, you think this might be the school?”

“I think so. If the offer is good, I want to take it. I like it much better than Arizona or Arkansas,” Max added thoughtfully.

“Okay, Max. We’ll talk when you get home. I love you, sweetie.”

“Love you too, Mom! See you tomorrow night! And before you say it, I’ll do my homework on the plane. I promise!”

She laughed as she ended the call with him and decided she better get in the shower while she still had time and not rush. She was going to wear her hair down and it needed time to dry.

She turned on the radio and took a long, hot shower to unwind before the night ahead.

***

Jack handed the driver the address and they headed to Hannah’s place. He thought about the beautiful woman who was waiting for him and how eager he was to see her.

This was a bit unusual for him; he’d dated and messed around quite a bit, but no one ever seemed to linger in his mind.

Not like the redhead waiting for him. There was something about her that he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

It was more than her looks; it was the quiet grace with which she carried herself.

He liked how she blushed at his compliments and smiles, how her face lit up when she talked about her boys, and how she looked when she laughed.

And for some reason, when his brother warned him about messing around with Hannah, he was irked by the insinuation.

“Sir, we’re here. Would you like me to wait?” the driver asked.

“Yes, please. I’ll only be a minute. Our next stop is on the paper I gave you,” Jack said as he stepped out of the car.

He surveyed the neighborhood and felt a pang of disappointment. It wasn’t the best area; the apartment building was clean, but old. The surrounding buildings were in a similar state.

The cars in the parking lot were old, except for one, and he wondered about her story. He climbed the stairs to the third floor, deciding he would find out tonight.

He knocked on her door and waited. After a moment, the door unlocked and swung open. He was captivated by her appearance.

She wore a black tank dress and her dark red hair fell in soft, large curls just past her shoulders. When she smiled at him, his heart rate quickened.

“Hi, Jackson… Would you like to come in for a minute?” Hannah invited, opening the door wider.

“Hello, Hannah. And please, call me Jack,” he said, stepping inside.

He heard the door close behind him as he looked around. As he’d expected, the rooms were immaculate. They were tastefully decorated and had a homely touch, which he appreciated.

But like the exterior of the building, the interior was dated. It wasn’t as rundown as he’d expected, and he suspected that was due to her efforts.

He turned to look at her again. “You look beautiful, Hannah.”

She blushed again. “Thank you… I just need to grab my sweater and then we can go.”

He smiled and nodded, watching her walk down the hallway into a room. He looked at the pictures on the walls and smiled. Her boys were handsome young men.

He could see traces of her in their faces even though they had dark hair, not red. They each had her eyes though, bright blue that sparkled when they smiled.

She returned with a bright floral sweater draped over her arm and her purse in her other hand. “I’m ready if you are.”

Jack took Hannah’s hand, guiding her out of her apartment. He waited patiently as she locked the door, then led her down the steps to the car that was waiting for them.

As they settled into the car and began their journey, Jack found himself completely captivated by her scent. He was glad he wasn’t the one driving.

He reached for her hand again, tracing his fingers over hers. Her skin was so smooth. He decided to strike up a conversation.

“So, your oldest is Adam, right? And he’s in the Navy?”

“Yes, he’s twenty and stationed in Hawaii. Tough gig, huh?”

Jack laughed. “Yeah, sounds like a real hardship! What’s his job there?”

“He’s an aircraft mechanic. He loves it. He emails me every few days, filling me in on what he’s been up to.

“He and a few friends have taken up scuba diving. He’s sent me some incredible underwater photos,” Hannah shared, her voice filled with pride.

“That’s awesome. I love scuba diving. Have you ever tried it?”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t like being that far from the surface. I prefer snorkeling. I like knowing I can get air whenever I need it.

“Max is really keen to learn, though. I promised him he could try it next time we visit Adam.”

“When will that be?”

“I’m not sure. We were planning to go for Thanksgiving, but Adam’s going to be away on a training mission, so we had to cancel.

“I’m hoping we can go next summer, but we’ll have to see. With Max graduating and money being tight…”

Jack was about to ask her more about that when the car came to a stop. The driver opened the door and Jack stepped out, offering his hand to Hannah.

She looked around, taking a sharp breath. The restaurant Jack had chosen was one of the most exclusive in the suburbs. It was notoriously difficult to get a reservation, not to mention expensive.

Jack noticed her expression and asked, “Have you been here before? One of my colleagues recommended it.”

“No, I’ve never been. How did you manage to get a reservation? They’re usually booked up for weeks!”

He winked at her. “I have my ways.” He led her to the main entrance and held the door open for her. Once they were seated and a bottle of wine had been ordered, Hannah finally took the time to look around.

The restaurant was just as stunning as the photos she’d seen online. The décor was rich and luxurious, and she couldn’t help but marvel at her surroundings.

Once she’d taken it all in, she turned her attention to the man sitting across from her in the curved booth.