NYLON ~ CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE ~ GLAD YOU CAME

Hanna finished typing up her marketing report for the new junior's line and sent it to Maria. She'd told her boss about the pregnancy a few days ago and Maria had been more than accommodating, especially after Hanna promised to finish out her contract and make sure the junior's line was completely developed before taking her maternity leave.

"Hey," Hanna looked up to see Caleb tapping on her door.

"Come in," she smiled gesturing toward the chair facing her desk. Caleb walked toward her and left a small kiss on her cheek.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Tired," Hanna replied rubbing her stomach which had finally popped and was now becoming impossible to hide.

"I've got an idea," he told her. "How about we skip out early and go back to my place. I'll cook dinner."

"That sounds amazing," Hanna smiled logging off of her computer. "It's exactly what I needed today."

"Let's go," he smiled grabbing her hand and leading her back to his place on Roosevelt Island.

Once inside, Hanna immediately grabbed a seat on his tattered couch and propped her feet up on his coffee table while Caleb got to work cooking his signature dong po. Clearly he'd been preparing for this already as dinner was on the table within the hour.

"This is amazing," Hanna told him finishing off the last bite of pork. "Those cooking classes really paid off."

"I thought you'd enjoy a gem from the past," he smiled as Hanna's phone rang.

"Do you mind?" she asked digging through her bag for her cell. "It might be work."

"Go ahead," he told her picking up the plates and heading to the sink.

"Hello?" Hanna answered.

"Hey sweetie," she recognized Ashley's throaty voice but she never used this tone unless there was bad news.

"What's wrong?" Hanna asked picking up on the mood. "Mom?"

"Your father," Ashley explained. "He passed away Tuesday night…from a…a heart attack. They're holding a service for him on Sunday."

"Dad?" Hanna breathed. "That was three days ago. Why didn't I know until now?"

"I called as soon as I found out," Ashley explained. "Isobel just called to tell me. She's had a rough couple of days."

"I'll be there tomorrow," Hanna said quietly.

"Okay Hanna," her mother replied. "Let me know if you need anything."

"I'll be fine," she said. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Have a good night," Ashley told her. "Bye honey."

Hanna hung up the phone and slunk down in her chair trying to process the news she had just learned. Caleb finished the dishes and looked over to see Hanna's mode had changed completely. He walked toward her and sat down wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

"Hanna," he whispered. "What's wrong?"

"My dad," she panted, "he had a heart attack."

"Oh Hanna," he sighed holding her tight.

"I have to go," she told him after a few minutes had passed. "I have to be in Rosewood for his funeral."

"I'll go with you," he told her.

"Really?" she asked looking into his eyes.

"Yeah," he smiled. "I want to be there for you."

Caleb followed Hanna out of the cab and they stepped onto the sidewalk outside her childhood home. He paid the driver and picked up their bags as they stepped toward the porch. Hanna's mind was racing. She hadn't quite come to terms with the loss of her father and she was now rushed into telling her mother about the baby and her newfound relationship with Caleb. Her fingers lingered over the doorbell for a moment until she finally mustered up the courage to ring.

"Hey," Ashley smiled seeing her daughter. Her eyes lingered on Caleb and then she composed herself. "Um…come in."

"Thanks," Hanna followed her mother into the living room where Caleb put down their bags and the three sat down.

"I'm glad you came," Ashley told her. She turned to Caleb. "Although I didn't expect to see you, it's good to have you here."

"There's something I need to tell you," Hanna told her mother as she grabbed Caleb's hand. "I probably should have said something earlier but I'm pregnant."

"You two?" Ashley gestured between the two of them completely speechless.

"We're together," Caleb assured her.

"That's amazing!" Ashley gushed giving her daughter a hug. "I am really happy for you."

"I'm really sorry I waited until now to tell you," Hanna told her. "I just didn't know…"

"It's okay," Ashley smiled. "I'm just glad you told me now."

Hanna wore a sleek black dress with a empire waistline under a black trench coat. Caleb stood next to her in a crisp black suit. His arm protectively wrapped around her shoulder as a single tear rolled down her cheek. She watched the polished cedar box slowly lowered into the ground and thought back on all of the times she had stood in that same cemetery seeing a loved one be buried.

She hadn't been close to her father toward the end of his life. His relationship with Isobel still stung but his loss was painful to bear. He may not have been the best father in the world but that didn't keep her from feeling sadness at the thought of death and loss. She had experienced so much sadness in her youth and death was a sore subject for her. Almost as if reading her thoughts, Caleb took that moment to pull her in closer and placed a soft kiss on her head.

"He would be really proud of you," Caleb whispered giving Hanna's shoulder a squeeze. "You're the bravest woman I know."

"Thank you," Hanna breathed. She swung her arm around his waist and buried her head in his chest. "I'm glad you came."

I know it's been a really long time since I've updated but my work has gotten super busy. I hope you like this chapter!