by Sophie Mays
“Oh, that reminds me,” Rafferty said. He pulled out his phone. “I have to tell Rosalind about that Riff-raff nickname. She’ll love it.”
“Have you invited her to come visit yet?” AJ asked.
Rafferty paused and looked up with a surprised expression. “Invited her?”
Emma and Carson had mentioned it the night before, but he hadn’t thought they were serious.
“You keep talking about her,” Hannah said. “You miss her, don’t you? We really wouldn’t mind if she came, too, Rafe. Family should spend Christmas together.”
Rafferty looked as if he didn’t quite know how to react to their perspicacity.
“Do I need to steal your phone and do it myself, Riff-raff?” AJ asked. “Because I will, don’t doubt it.”
Hannah sent her a disapproving look which melted away the moment Rafferty laughed.
“Okay. I’ll tell her she’s welcome to drop in,” Rafferty said.
“She can stay here,” Hannah said, “No need to get a hotel or anything.”
“Thank you,” Rafferty said. His tone was strained with genuine emotion, which only made the sisters more sure they were doing the right thing.
Rafferty turned his attention to his phone, eagerly texting his sister.
Hannah says you can stay at the ranch for Christmas.
It was only a moment before he received a response.
Why is your American penpal inviting me for Christmas?
Oh my god, Rafferty, are you in America right now?
Whoops. He’d forgotten that he hadn’t actually told anyone in his family that he was jetting across the pond on a whim. No matter how nice Hannah had seemed, Rafferty hadn’t exactly been sure of his welcome. Not to mention how easy it was for a person to seem one way on the internet and end up being completely different in person. Some of his mistrust may have come from the fact that he himself hadn’t been completely honest, but it was also because he’d been burned before by people trying to ingratiate themselves with him for ulterior motives. Hannah had given the impression that she didn’t know that much about him besides what he told her and what she knew of his great-great-grandmother, but others had given an impression of cluelessness about his wealth and status before also.
Now that he’d met her, Rafferty knew Hannah was the last person who would care about his money or his title. She was the type of person to try and buy him sweaters so he would have something to wear besides suits. She was the type of person to buy him picture frames so he could put fond memories up on the walls. She was the type of person to pull him away from work and tell him to get some rest. Hannah was the type of friend and partner Rafferty had been looking for his whole life.
For just a moment, he second-guessed inviting Rosalind. She would only need to speak with Hannah for five minutes before she would be giving Rafferty significant glances and dropping not-so-subtle hints about marriage and children. Thinking about it, Rafferty knew his sister would get on with Hannah’s siblings like a house on fire. They would band together and gang up on him and Hannah with merciless teasing. The thought shouldn’t be making him smile, but it was. He knew his stay here just wouldn’t be the same without his sister.
I am in America. Hannah’s inviting you because apparently I can’t stop talking about you and the Wyatts believe family should be together during the holidays.
You can’t stop talking about me? You’re such a sap.
You really want me to drop everything and fly over just because you miss me?
Yes. And I want you to meet the Wyatts.
You mean you want me to meet Hannah. Can’t fool me, big brother.
If you need more convincing, Hannah has several siblings. Her older brother is fond of nicknames and has dubbed me Riff-raff.
I’m definitely coming. But only because it seems like Hannah’s big brother has some tips on how to tease you better.
They say you’re welcome to stay here at the ranch. You don’t need to book a hotel room.
Such hospitality. This girl must really like you.
The feeling is mutual.
Okay, now I’m honestly excited to meet her. I’ll let you know my flight details.
Rafferty turned his attention to Hannah and AJ, who had apparently decided to keep decorating while he was preoccupied.
“Rosalind says she’s happy to come,” he said, “She’ll let me know her flight details when she has them.”
“That’s great, Rafe. We can’t wait to meet her,” Hannah said. AJ agreed enthusiastically.
“I’ll go let Mama know,” AJ said. She looked at Rafferty speculatively. “Are you gonna feel left out if Rosalind gets a room inside the house?”
Rafferty laughed. “No, that’s perfectly fine. She would probably prefer the house, in any case.”
“Wonderful,” AJ said with a grin. She dashed inside without further comment.
Hannah shook her head at her whirlwind of a sister. “Daddy used to say she only had so much energy because she was a kid. Mama always laughed at him. It wasn’t until AJ was twenty and still a cyclone that we understood why.”
“Is Cyclone one of Carson’s nicknames for her?” Rafferty asked.
“No, and don’t go giving him ideas,” Hannah said laughingly. “He does call her Hurricane Anna-Jane, though.”
“I can’t wait to find out what he’ll call Rosalind,” Rafferty said, shaking his head. “She’s excited to hear more nicknames for me, not realizing I’ll be treated to the exact same for her.”
“Aren’t you going to warn her?” Hannah asked, amused.
“Wouldn’t that take some of the fun out of it?” Rafferty asked slyly.
Hannah laughed, and he soaked up the sound. It was strange to think of a laugh as honest, but that’s the description that struck Rafferty. Maybe because Hannah didn’t hold back when she thought something was truly funny. She didn’t try to constrict herself to giggles, or hide the sound behind her hand. She just tilted her head back and laughed. It was beautiful.
They got to work on the rest of the decorations. When it was finished, they appraised their work with pride. Stacking the empty boxes, they propped them in the hallway inside and moved to the back porch. Their conversation was steady as they put up the new decorations. The easy back and forth was something they both enjoyed immensely. Hannah thought the slightly surprised expression Rafferty made every time she teased him was adorable. She found herself caught up in the way he laughed, the way he tilted his head when he was thinking about something she’d said. He made casual comments about things she’d never noticed before, and it made her curious about all of his opinions. He never dismissed anything she said out of hand even if it was clear he didn’t necessarily agree. It was nice to have discussions that didn’t turn into arguments.
When the back porch was finished, they went inside. They took the empty boxes downstairs to the basement, and grabbed the ones they’d left in the front hallway to put them away also. The plan was to get some more hot chocolate, then join Emma and Jake at the stable to see if they needed any help. After grabbing full mugs, they wandered into the living room to see AJ and Mimi hanging fairy lights near the ceiling.
“Oh, you two are done? Wonderful!” Mimi exclaimed. “We need you to go into town and get two more strings of lights.”
Boone was on the couch. Strings of lights were stretched out on the coffee table in front of him. There were bunches on the floor next to his feet, most likely the ones that had burnt out.
“Sure, Mama. Do you need anything else while we’re there?” Hannah asked. She included the rest of the room in her question. “Does anyone?”
“Oh, I think I wrote down some groceries I need somewhere,” Mimi said. She bustled toward the kitchen, calling over her shoulder, “Just let me check.”
Hannah and Rafferty sipped their warm drinks, patiently waiting for Mimi to come back. AJ was humming Mr. Grinch to herself while she finished with the lights. It was her favorite Christmas carol, which never f
ailed to amuse anyone who had experienced her bubbly personality firsthand.
“Careful out there,” Boone said, suddenly. “Storm’s brewing.”
Rafferty looked from Boone to where he was staring out the window. It looked a little grey, but not enough for him to be concerned. He glanced at Hannah, who was frowning at the sky outside the window with a critical eye.
“Soon?” she asked her father.
“Few hours,” Boone said. “Bad, though.”
“It’s okay, Daddy, we shouldn’t be gone that long. I’ll keep an eye on it and let you know when we’re on our way back,” Hannah said.
Boone hummed. He tilted his head at her. Hannah smiled and offered her mug without a word. Rafferty looked between them, once again marveling at the close relationships within their family.
7
Chapter 7
Mimi returned with the list and shooed them off. They agreed to take Hannah’s car in case they got caught in the storm. Rafferty argued that he had insurance, but Hannah wouldn’t hear it. Knowing that it would actually be a hassle if anything happened to the rental, Rafferty acquiesced. As they drove, they turned on the radio and Rafferty begged Hannah to sing along to any songs she knew. She laughed at him, but agreed.
She had a sweet voice that Rafferty didn’t mind getting lost in. He attempted to sing along with her to the one song he knew. They both had to stop because the way they harmonized with each other was… It was easier to start talking than to keep singing.
Rafferty reviewed the list Mimi had sent with them. It was relatively short and didn’t have anything that would spoil if left in the car. He wanted Hannah to show him around a little before they headed back. Boone’s warning was still at the forefront of his mind, so he didn’t expect them to stay too long, but it would be nice to see a few of the other shops besides the grocery store and wherever they were going for lights.
They breezed through the grocery store. Hannah sent Rafferty searching for specific things while she picked up everything they needed in a particular aisle. Every time he found her again, she would smile slightly at the sight of him. Every single time, the knowledge that she was pleased to see him sent a thrill straight up his spine.
After throwing the groceries into the trunk, they made their way to the hardware store to get some lights. After an intense discussion about whether to get simple white lights, multicolored, or one specific color, with many pros and cons listed by each side, they finally decided to get white, multicolored, and blue. As they were headed back to the car after they’d made their purchase, Rafferty spoke up.
“I know we have to get back soon so we avoid the storm, but I would like it if you could show me around a bit.”
Hannah stared up at the sky for a moment. “Okay, I think we have some time. Anything in particular you’re interested in?”
Rafferty thought for a moment, a memory tickling the back of his mind. “We could go to that store you like. The antique one, I think?”
Hannah looked at him with wide eyes.
“Did I get it wrong?” Rafferty asked. “Is it a different type of store?”
“No, it’s an antique store. I’m just surprised you remembered my mentioning that. I’m sure I couldn’t have talked about it more than two times,” Hannah said.
Rafferty shrugged. “You said you really liked it,” he said, as if that was reason enough for him to remember one thing amongst the hundreds of things they’d discussed in their messages.
Hannah felt her cheeks warm and whirled to open the driver’s side door. “Let’s go then. It’s been a while since I’ve been there and I would love to show it to you.”
Considering what it was purporting to sell, Rafferty had expected the store to be dusty, dim, and disorganized. Instead, the store was bright and airy with neat rows and contained sections. There seemed to be a separation based on color, material, and object. He noticed Hannah automatically start toward the section with lavenders and violets, before pausing.
“Does anything catch your eye?” she asked.
Rafferty smiled at her thoughtfulness. He nodded toward the green section. “I’ll explore over here. You can head to your section.”
She seemed a little embarrassed, but laughed it off and started browsing the purple aisles. Rafferty went through his own section, often glancing in Hannah’s direction, absently noting all the things that made her expression light up.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” a voice at his elbow asked.
Rafferty looked at the sales girl, startled. He’d been too busy watching Hannah to notice her walking up to him.
“I’m quite alright, thank you,” he said politely.
Her eyes widened. “Wow, you’re not from around here.”
“No, I was invited for the holidays,” Rafferty said with a laugh. He nodded in Hannah’s direction.
The sales girl said something to him, but Rafferty was captivated by the way Hanna’s expression had just shifted into one of awe. “Excuse me, miss,” he murmured, “I’m just going to…”
He made his way over to Hannah, who was still staring at the object that had so arrested her at first sight. Stepping closer, Rafferty studied the little figurine she had in her hands. It was a likeness of a ballerina. She was en pointe in dainty lavender shoes. Her tutu was made up of delicate white feathers with a lavender bodice. Her arms were stretched out to either side, wrists drooping in an exquisitely wing-like fashion. The features of her face were almost indistinguishable and somehow managed to convey intense grief. It was a beautiful little thing, but he couldn’t see anything to explain why Hannah was so bewitched by it.
“Hannah?” he asked softly.
“It’s Harriet Morton,” Hannah said, in a slightly dazed voice. “Playing the betrayed swan before she truly felt betrayal.”
Rafferty wracked his brain. Hesitantly, he asked, “From a book? One of your favorites?”
She slowly turned to look at him. “I only read that book a few weeks ago. I’m sure I hadn’t mentioned it to you yet.”
Rafferty tried not to feel smug about having guessed correctly. “No, but reading is your favorite form of entertainment. If you hadn’t gotten around to telling me yet, it was more likely that it was a book than anything else. Thoroughly liking a movie or a series tends to surprise you, and you rave about them more immediately.”
The silence stretched out. Rafferty was beginning to feel like he’d said something terribly wrong. Had he offended her with his observation?
“I can’t believe you know me so well,” Hannah blurted.
Rafferty raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You know me just as well, I’m sure,” he stated.
Hannah shook her head and looked back down at the beautiful ballerina. His confidence in her made her feel guilty. She doubted she could remember something he’d mentioned once in an email from months ago, or guess why he was interested in something that he’d never spoken about before.
“Hannah, what’s my favorite color?” Rafferty asked.
“Indigo,” Hannah said. She frowned and raised a hand halfway to her mouth, as if surprised the word had slipped out. “You liked the way it sounded when you learned about the rainbow.”
“And the very last movie I would ever willingly watch?” Rafferty asked.
“Mary Poppins. Rosalind watched it endlessly when you were children and it drove you mad, as you would say. You can still spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious at the drop of a hat,” Hannah said with a laugh.
“What was my dream job when I was five?” Rafferty asked, smiling.
“Astronaut,” Hannah said. “You wanted to see the stars.” He looked at her with such gentle fondness, such sweet affection that her heart seized.
“You know me, Hannah.”
“I do know you,” she agreed.
It shouldn’t have been such a startling realization. They’d been emailing back and forth for almost two years now. The messages were more sparse in the beginning, but as they grew
closer, it wasn’t uncommon for Hannah to end her day reading an email from Rafferty and sending one back. Rafferty was one of the people who knew her best, Hannah suddenly grasped. More than likely, she was one of the few people who could say she knew him very well. He’d never mentioned close friends, just business colleagues and uni buddies that he didn’t see particularly often.
How many people knew his favorite color or least favorite movie or earliest career aspirations? How many people knew anything intimate at all about Rafferty Winthrop?
“Would you like to purchase it?” Rafferty asked, disrupting her thoughts.
Hannah looked down at the figurine in her hands and sighed wistfully. She would very much like to buy it. Tilting it upside down to spot the sticker on the base, she couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her lips.
“$75? I can’t countenance paying that much for one little figurine,” Hannah said. She placed it down gently. It was gorgeous, but it would have to find its home somewhere else. She hoped wherever it ended up, its owner would appreciate it. Hannah stroked her fingers along the delicate, winsome lines, wondering why she’d been so sure it would be hers the moment she saw it.
She remembered reading that someone had once said time is curved. Maybe, one day in the future, she would have something similar. Releasing a heartfelt sigh, Hannah walked away.
Behind her, Rafferty took a moment to nudge the tiny dance behind a bigger display of standing jewelry boxes. He followed Hannah slowly, hoping to find an employee with whom he could have a quiet word. Luckily, he saw the same sales girl who had been speaking to him earlier.
“Just a moment, Hannah,” Rafferty called.
Hannah glanced back, then stopped as she realized he was talking to an employee. It occurred to her for the first time that Rafferty might try to buy her that figurine. She didn’t know what she would do if he made the attempt. Part of her would want desperately to accept, while another didn’t think he should spend so much money on her when she wasn’t willing to spend it herself. It seemed her worrying was for nothing, though. Rafferty nodded to the sales girl and made his way over to her with a slight smile.
