“So do you. You’re beautiful, you’re young, and you will bounce back from this. You’ve already done the hard part. Do you think just anyone could walk away from someone who scares them and single-handedly raise a child, while working? Because I’ve met a lot of families and I can promise you that not just anyone can do what you’re doing.”

Hannah’s eyes search her own as she flips the hand under Caroline’s arm up and mirrors her grip. Her fingers wrap around Caroline and hold, before her eyes fall closed.

In a short moment, they fall away though, which is good. Because it’s feeling too personal, and Caroline clears her throat as she leans back.

iii

iii

When she stops by The Bean Dream on Valentine’s Day, she thinks about the irony of the statement she’s about to deliver.

It’s hard not to, especially when she sees all of the hearts hanging from the ceiling – all of the reds and pinks, pastels and metallics. The specials board is rewritten with some drink orders that she knows are new, especially because she’s worked her way through their usual specials in the last month and a half. Hannah’s writing, she notices, with the swoops and the little decorative drawings.

She kicks her boots off from the snow that covers the sidewalks before she enters slowly, noting all of the couples on the couches. It’s after six – later than she normally ever comes here – and the lights are slightly dimmer, with an acoustic version of some Ed Sheeran song.

Of course.

The counter is blessedly free, though, and she shakes the snowflakes out of her hair as she strides forward as soon as she glimpses Hannah.

She looks – well, Caroline isn’t quite sure she’s ever met someone that is more “her type” than Hannah Dalton, which has only become more and more apparent in the last few weeks. It always gives her the most pleasant buzz that zips through her and there is a slight chance that might also be a reason she looks forward to their meetings.

A little, innocent shot of serotonin never hurt anyone.

When she approaches the counter, Hannah looks at her in surprise. Before that surprise melts into a smile. “Caroline! I didn’t expect you today.”

Her eyes catch on some confetti glitter hearts that she must have brushed up against at some point on the jacket of her shoulder and she brushes them off with a grin. “Well, you know what they say. Where there’s cupid, there’s a woman who rarely gets past the third date.”

Hannah shakes her head in disapproval, but genuinely chuckles anyway.

“Should I ask if you’re the cupid?” She asks, gesturing to Hannah’s pink shirt and the assorted love-themed pins that adorn her apron.