Chapter 2
"The worst kind of pain is seeing someone you love in pain" – GBatiste
The car ride was almost silent with only the low buzzing of the radio and snores from the little girl in the back seat.
Caleb pulled into his old parking spot and damn did it feel good to be back in the building again.
"I'll grab Mochi and meet you upstairs." Caleb uttered as he left out the driver's door and towards the back seat.
'Mochi' was the nickname Caleb had given to Nahani a couple of years ago, when the uncle niece team had gone to the supermarket and got the same named treat. Nahani found the taste of the treat not to her liking but loved the word and kept repeating it, Caleb then started to call her 'Miss Mochi' but that was a bit long, so he took it the 'miss' and viola! Nahani 'Mochi' Raine Vanderwaal was introduced.
Hanna grabbed her purse and headed towards the door, then towards the elevator with Caleb trailing behind her. They reached the fourth floor and entered her apartment in complete silence.
"Where do you want me to lay her down?" Caleb asked in a low whisper, attempting not to wake the child.
Her beds not ready so, ou...ah, my bedroom" Hanna caught herself
Caleb heard her Freudian slip but didn't respond. He just walked off through the familiar hallway and went to lay the little girl down.
It felt so odd to him to be in this apartment again, because here he felt at home where he was staying now was bigger but it just wasn't the same. Hanna was here, therefore this was home.
Caleb walked back through the hallway trying to embrace every second because he likely wouldn't be here for a while. He turned into the kitchen to find Hanna pouring herself a glass of water.
She looked pained but she still looked beautiful. Her blonde/brownish hair was in a messy ponytail, she had taken off her shoes and thrown them in the corner, Caleb also thought that he had never seen an under the knee simple black dress look sexier.
"Hopefully she'll be asleep for a while." Caleb announced .
"Ya hopefully" Hanna replied in a low tone as she took a sip of her water.
They stayed quiet for a bit just standing there trying to avoid each other's lingering looks.
Till finally "How are you?" Caleb asked.
"Is that an actual question?' Hanna retorted
Damn he missed that spark.
"Hanna" he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand " I just thought talking about it would help" Caleb completed.
"I'm better than I was five days ago, little touching and sarcastic, I think this phase of grief is depression, hopefully tomorrow I'll be on acceptance and I'll get myself together, cause the last thing Nani needs is a guardian who is a gross sobbing mess." She didn't know why she was telling him all this, but he was Caleb and she trusted him.
Caleb took in what Hanna said then spoke "Rushing yourself to get over it isn't going to do anything but hurt you more. Mochi understands what you're going through and your mom and Ted and I will be there to help. Hanna you're not alone, but you have to give us a chance, you have to let us in."
'Maybe I should listen to him this time.' Hanna thought.
She didn't want to start crying in front of him, but now not only was she missing Mona, she was missing him too and missing his hugs and having him around when she needed him.
"You know it's funny cause, whenever I felt this way I would always call Mona and now I can't." She said as a tear slipped from her left eye down her cheek.
"You can call me." The man tried to comfort as he stepped towards her
That's when she burst into full on tears, sobbing , her heart aching.
Caleb brought her into him, he put his strong hands on her back and pulled her close.
" I never hhhad to call you, youuu were always there and now you're not and its all my fault " she spit through her sobs and into his black dress shirt.
