Re: NYC: Hannah & Hugh
She laughed a little, a nervous and grateful laugh. "Thank you. You brought me here, paid for everything, got me away before the bad things that might come with work. And then you go and make me feel really, really sane, too." It was a big thing. For a woman who hadn't been considered sane in years and years, long before AIs or husbands, it was a big, big thing. And he wasn't alone with finding it hard to make things okay with Jamie, and she knew that, so she appreciated it even more than he was willing to talk about this with her. It mattered a lot to her.
"I hope so. I hope you're right and everything will be okay, and I think for tonight I'm going to take your hope and make it my hope. I promise not to get it dirty before I give it back," she said, her smile a warm thing, something bright and of the moment, and she liked moments. She liked remembering them, freezing them, and this old pub was a good place for memories.
She didn't get the wrong idea at all. "I love you too," and she meant it like he did. She cared about him, and she wanted good things, and she squeezed his fingers back and nodded. "Okay," she told him of heading back, and she pushed her stool back and slid to her feet. "I'll wait outside while you pay? I want to steal as much of the New York cold and sounds and life as I can," she told him. "I might be dancing on the sidewalk by the time you get out there," she teased, and then she walked to where he was, kissed his cheek, and did as she said she'd do.