Hanna’s Prov

My plane landed at the airport at ten o’clock that evening. Walking through the airport towards baggage claim I would see couples holding hands, hugging, and kissing goodbye. I kept my head down and just kept on walking. I waited anxiously at the carousel waiting for my bag to come. Grabbing it quickly, as it made its way around the bend, I went out of the airport. I caught a cab just as it was about to pull away. “The Carolina Hotel please” I said slipping into the backseat of the cab. The cabbie started driving and I stared out of the window as the rain began to fall. We pulled up to the hotel and the driver stopped the car.

“That’ll be twenty even” he said with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. I handed him the money and opened the door. “Any help with your bags miss?”

“No thank you. I’ve got this” I retorted. I grabbed the last of my bags and the cob zoomed off. I threw my purse on my shoulder and strolled into the hotel and up to the front desk.

“Yes how may I help you?” the clerk asked.

“There should be a room for Hanna Monroe for five days” I answered. She said nothing as she scrolled through the computer.

“Ah yes room 218” she said. I signed for the room and she handed me the key. I made my way to the elevator and pressed the up button. The doors opened and I got in. But before they could close all the way a hand stopped them. To my surprise they looked oddly familiar and I couldn’t help but stare.

“Like what you see?” they asked. I tripped back in shocked over my bag and fell to the ground.
“Sorry didn’t mean to do that to ya. Here let me help you up” They stuck out their hand and I took them up on the offer.

“Do you do that to everyone you meet in an elevator?” I grunted while wiping the dirt off of my clothes.

“Only the pretty ones,” he said laughing. “I’m Luke by the way”

“Hanna” I responded while picking up my phone from off of the floor. I noticed that it was still on airplane mode and switched it back. Just then my phone pinged about five times and most of them were from Harry but one was from Ali. I opened the one from Ali and read it.

Ali: you need to call Harry asap! he is a complete mess

I slid the phone into my back pocket not wanting to read Harry’s. “Are you going to answer that?” Luke asked.

“Are you going to stop being nosey or keep going? Oh wait I know your answer, ‘only to the pretty ones’” I said sarcastically. I could see from the look on his face that I hurt his feelings.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to snap. It’s just that . . . that a lot is going on right now”

“Nah it’s all good. Sorry that I kept pushing ya” he said so that you could hear a little bit of an Australian accent. “May I ask why . . . if you don’t mind?”

“I’m here because I was made executive of my grandma’s will. So I’m here for business. What about you?” I asked. Before Luke could answer the doors opened on my floor. “Well I guess I’ll see ya around” I said hoisting my bag on my shoulder.

“You can’t get rid of me that fast. This is my floor too room 248” Luke said stepping out beside me. I just shrugged and made my way to the room and Luke followed. I slid the key into the slot, opened the door, and looked around at the place that will be my home for the next five days. I threw my bag on the bed and flopped down next to it. Luke took a seat in the chair and flipped on the television.

“Luke, go to your own room. At the OTHER end of the hall” I said looking up at him. “I need to make a phone call to a friend” I looked at my watch and it was already midnight in Michigan. “Luke really you need to go” I repeated.

“Okay fine geez. But we will continue this at dinner tomorrow” he said getting to his feet.

“Sounds good. I’ll meet you in the lobby” He walked out the door and down the hallway. Now time to go call Harry. I sat down on the bed and dialed putting the phone on speaker.

“Hey love! How was the flight?” Harry asked.

“The flight was fine. Had time to think about what I was going to say and I’m pretty sure I have it straightened out now,” I took a deep breath before continuing. “Harry, I can’t do this”

“Now don’t say that Hanna” I could hear a door close in the background. “Let’s talk this through. Are you just saying that because of the pressure from the meeting you have this week? Is that it? Please I am so terribly sorry it’s just that . . . just that”

“Just what?”

“Just that I can’t lose you. That night in the elevator after you stormed out, I realized what an idiot I was to just let you walk away” he managed to say while holding back tears. We continued talking for what seemed hours when in reality it was only one hour. There were tears streaming down my face and I clutched the pillow before saying the one thing I knew he didn’t want to hear.

“Harry darling, I can’t come on the tour” I said digging my nails into the pillow.

“Are you sure?”

“I think that’s what best right now”

“If that’s what you want. Then okay. I love you Hanna”

“I know you do. Goodnight Harry” and with that I hung up the phone. I put the pillow over my face and sobbed for all that I was worth. I fell asleep to myself trying to regain a normal breathing pattern.

~the next day~

I woke up to my alarm going off. Feeling around the bed I tried to find my phone to shut it off. Once I found it I looked at the screen and gasped. The time read 8:30 and my meeting was at 9:30 at the law firm. I threw off the covers, placed my feet on the ground, and walked to the bathroom. I grabbed the face wash and washcloth groggily and began to clean up my face. Once the cold water hit my face I became more awake. I brushed my teeth, did my makeup, and then placed my hair into a Dutch crown braid. I opened up my suitcase and took out my white and black striped shirt, with black skinnies, a red blazer and my white Converse. Once I felt that I looked presentable I made my way to the elevator to go down to the lobby. The elevator doors opened and I started to descend. I walked out of the doors and up to the front desk.

“Yes, what can I do for you?” the clerk asked.

“Would it be possible for you to call a cab?”

“Yes ma’am, I will call one right away” he said picking up the phone. I waited by the desk until the call was finished. While he was making the call I looked around at all the people walking pass me. There were families with screaming children, elderly couples, singles, couples, and hotel staff all walking by. “Your cab is on the way if you would like to wait out front” the clerk said interrupting my train of thought. I smiled in response and headed out the front door. Ten minutes later my cab rolled up and I got in.

“Water’s Law Firm please” I spoke to the driver as I buckled up. The cab jolted forward and I braced myself not to hit the panel in front of me.

“Sorry about that miss. She does that sometimes” he said in a husky voice.

“That’s okay I’m alright” We didn’t speak for the rest of the ride. He pulled up along the curb and parked the cab.

“That’ll be twenty two flat” he spoke sticking out his hand.

“Keep the change” I replied handing him the fair. I got out of the cab and looked up. The building was ascending into the sky and I couldn’t see the top because the fog was covering it. I walked inside and up to the front desk. “Excuse me; I’m here for a meeting with Mr. Waters. Do you know what floor his office is on?” I asked the clerk. She looked up from her work and glared at me like I did some horribly wrong thing.

“15th floor” she mumbled then returned to her work. I quickly walked away and headed to the elevator. I pressed the 15th floor button and the lift began to go up. The bell dinged, the doors opened, and I stepped out onto the marble floor. I walked up to the desk that was sitting outside in the waiting room.

“Yes may I help you?” the receptionist asked.

“I’m here to see Mr. Waters about a will.” I responded.

“Name”

“Hanna Monroe” I said sheepishly.

“Ahh yes, Miss Monroe. He will be with you in a moment” and she also returned to her work. I sat down in one of the leather chairs that faced toward a television mounted on the wall. A commercial was playing about some new chip brand that was on the market. “Miss Monroe he will see you now” she said interrupting my focus on the tv. She opened up his office door, I walked in, and then she closed it again.

“Ah Miss Monroe, so glad to see you” Mr. Waters said walking towards me. Mr. Waters was a middle-aged man with peppered hair, keen features, and wore a gray suit. “I’m glad you could make it here on such short notice. I do appreciate it”

“No problem” I spoke shaking his hand.

“Please would you sit?” he asked pointing to the chair opposite his own. I reluctantly sat down and folded my hands on my lap. “This will not take long at all. Basically what I’m going to do is go through the will with you, talk about it, and then have you look it over for yourself” he said pulling out a manila envelope. We started going through it and I would ask questions here and there about the way my grandma worded some of the items. An hour went by and we finished the meeting.

“So basically I inherit everything?” I asked again, making sure I understood.


“Yes. You received everything she left behind” We talked a little bit longer and then the meeting came to a close. “Again thank you for coming Miss Monroe and sorry for your loss” I walked out of the office and to the elevator. Going down to the lobby I was deciding if I should call Harry again or not. Nah I wouldn’t want to bother him. He’s probably at the studio or practicing for a show or something. I made my way back through the lobby and outside. Walking down the streets I looked all around me, taking in everything. I stopped in at a little pizzeria for lunch and sat down at a booth with my back to the door. I ordered my food, took out my phone and started to mindlessly fool around on it.

The door opened and I heard a familiar voice. “Hey Hanna! Is that you?” Really it’s him. Out of all places to eat he chooses here. I turned around and it was just who I thought it was, Luke, but this time he had three other people with him.

Notes