The Unwanted Wife's Return (Ex-Husband Wants Me Back) novel Chapter 249

HANNAH’S POV: 

I went back to the office corner where I had left Maya and found her with a fresh cup of tea and Kate sitting beside her talking at a warm and very Kate pace about something that seemed to involve both a film she had seen recently and a strong opinion about the correct way to store fabric bolts, which was a remarkably specific combination of topics but that was Kate. 

Maya looked up when she saw me coming back and her eyes asked the question. 

I gave a small nod. 

She exhaled. 

“Kate,” I said, sitting down. “Thank you for keeping her company.” 

“Of course,” Kate said, getting up with the absolute ease of someone who can read a room. She looked at Maya. The offer of a third cup stands,” she said. “I will leave it open-ended.” 

“Thank you,” Maya said, and she sounded like she meant it. 

Kate went back to her table and Maya looked at me. “Is it done?” she asked. 

“It is done,” I said. 

“The biscuit really did help,” she said, after a beat, looking at the small plate Kate had left. “I am going to say it. The biscuit was the right call.” 

“Do not tell Kate that,” I said. “She will bring you one every day for the rest of the month.” 

“Would that be terrible?” Maya said. 

I thought about it. “No,” I said. “It would actually be very on brand for this warehouse.” 

She nodded very quietly. No long exhale of theatrical relief. Just the stillness of someone who has been holding a heavy thing for a long time and has finally been allowed to set it down. 

“I am sorry I left,” she said after a moment. 

“You were trying to protect people,” I said. “I understand that more than most.” I held her gaze. “But my dear Maya, next time something feels wrong, you come to me first. Not after you have built a full case or after you have sat with it for six weeks. You come straight to me the moment you feel it. Okay?” 

“Thirteen.” 

She looked around at the racks and the wall and the collection in various stages of becoming. Then she looked back at me with the expression I had been waiting to see since the moment I walked in and found her standing in the middle of this floor. Focused, ready and very back. 

“Then tell me what you need,” she said. “Right now, today, let us go.” 

I smiled. 

“Welcome back,” I said. 

Later that evening I told Lucas. 

He was quiet for a moment after I finished. Then he said, “Is she okay?” 

“She is better than okay,” I said. “She is back.”