Like in this moment, she understands why everything in the world – wars and songs and all of the literature – comes back to this. It makes her think that for once, she understands what she’s been chasing for all of these years. She’s wanted love and she’s thought she understood what it meant.

It’s not until this moment where Hannah looks at her like she’s wearing a cape – where she trusts that Caroline is going to be here during this moment, trusts that she can show her these weak moments – that she’s ever felt it.

She didn’t mean to fall in love with Hannah at all. But here she is, curled up with a family that isn’t quite hers, and she’s never wanted anything more.

So. Fucked.

viii

viii

Hannah and Michael’s divorce settlement is finally agreed upon and signed on the anniversary of D Day – it feels fitting.

Michael will keep all of his family’s money – including that non-protected account in Singapore – as well as the two million dollar home in Brookline they’d lived in. She’d dropped the request for alimony per Hannah’s adamant demand that she would never live off of Michael’s money again and would never give him something to hold over her.

Hannah does agree to accept child support for Abbie with a sigh, acknowledging that she can put away most of that for a future education and other things Abbie might need. Caroline follows Hannah’s wishes and pushes for the child support when Michael finally caves and gives up on his vengeful custody proclamation.

Which is a relief to Caroline, because god it’s already hard enough for the lawyer in her to walk away from this knowing that she could have won so much more for her client. Especially knowing that the client is Hannah, who should have everything.

But in the moment where Hannah turns to her right after they leave the meeting, with a smile bright enough the world could revolve around it, her eyes twinkling up at her as if she’s done something magical, she feels more satisfied after a settlement than she’s ever been in her life.

“Primary custody,” she says the words with such astonishment, tasting them on her lips, as she holds Caroline’s gaze.

She expects a hug and is ready for it when Hannah lifts her arms.

But she instead finds her cheeks cupped as Hannah draws her face up to her own, tugging her to her tiptoes, and the utter surprise moving through her takes her easily with the motion. Hannah’s lips are so, so soft. It’s all she can think as she finds her cheeks, her chin, her nose, her forehead – everywhere. Everywhere, except for her lips – sprinkled with exuberant kisses.