Angels Everywhere - Debbie Macomber [224]
David Morganstern stood behind his wife, his hand on Ruth’s shoulder. His eyes, dark and inquisitive, rested on his daughter.
“His name’s Joshua Shadduck,” she admitted. “He’s an attorney.”
Her mother gasped softly and covered her mouth with her hand. Hannah wasn’t sure if this was because she’d admitted to dating someone while engaged to Carl or because Joshua was an attorney.
Her father frowned. “Didn’t I recently meet this young man?”
Ashamed that she’d deceived them both, Hannah lowered her gaze. “Yes. He was in the deli.”
“How could you have fallen in love with him?” her mother asked, her voice raised with disbelief. “How could you hurt Carl like this? He’s such a good man. We couldn’t ask for a better husband for you.”
“Joshua will make me a good husband, too.”
“I forbid you from seeing this Joshua again,” her father said sternly.
“Daddy, I’ve never defied you. I’ve always done what you’ve asked, but I love Joshua with all my heart. I need to see him. I need to be with him.”
Her parents stared back at her, too shocked to respond right away.
“How did you meet him?” The question came from her mother a moment later.
“We met at the Thanksgiving Day parade. Then, before I had a chance to analyze how I felt about him, Carl asked me to marry him. I didn’t want to agree, but at the time it seemed like the best thing to do. You and Dad were so pleased, and you both like Carl.”
“He’s been like a son to me,” her father admitted sadly.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” Hannah whispered. “I didn’t mean to disappoint you.” Before either one could say anything more, she rushed out of the apartment.
“Hannah, please, don’t go,” her mother shouted from the top of the stairway, but Hannah pretended not to hear. Never in all her life had she ignored her mother and father.
Hannah caught a taxi outside the deli and read the driver the Riverside Drive address Joshua had written down on the back of his business card.
“It looks like it might snow,” she said, glancing toward the darkening sky. The sooner she reached Joshua, the better. She needed him now as never before. When she told him what had happened, he’d come with her and together they’d talk to her family and make everything right.
The driver mumbled something in return that she didn’t understand.
Several minutes later the cabdriver pulled over to the curb and flipped off the meter. Hannah gazed out the car window at the high-rise apartment building and experienced a sense of relief. The man she loved, the man she’d defied her family to marry, lived in this building.
“Lady, are you going to stare out the window all day?”
“No, sorry.” She returned her attention to her purse and pulled out her wallet. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a familiar figure. Looking up, she saw Joshua coming out of the building. She raised her hand and was about to call him when, suddenly, she stopped. The happy shout died in her throat.
Joshua wasn’t alone.
Standing beside him was the most beautiful, elegant-looking woman Hannah had ever seen. Joshua slipped his arm around the other woman’s waist, bent down, and kissed her gently on the lips.
Her heart pounding like a locomotive chugging uphill, Hannah hurled herself back against the seat, not wanting him to see her.
“Lady, are you going to pay me or not?” the cabbie asked a second time with far less patience.
“Yes, yes, of course.” Hannah leaned forward just far enough to peek at Joshua. It was apparent the two were long-term acquaintances. The woman with him gazed up adoringly, as though this were the happiest day of her life.
“Please,” Hannah whispered. “Take me home.”
“You got the money or don’t you?” the taxi driver asked.
She handed him a twenty-dollar bill for security. “Now take me back,” she pleaded. She’d go home because she had nowhere else to go. With her tail between her legs, her heart heavy with pain, she’d return to her family, who would love and support her despite the fact that she’d deeply embarrassed and disappointed them.
“All right, if you want to go back, then fine, I’ll take you.” The driver hesitated,