Stealing Home

Chapter 7 : Appearances

The house changed by the hour.

By late afternoon, it didn’t feel like the same place Hannah had walked into earlier.

Lights came on in rooms that usually stayed dim. Surfaces were wiped down twice. Chairs shifted slightly to align perfectly with the table. Every detail adjusted, corrected, controlled.

Prepared.

Hannah moved through it quietly.

Not helping.

Not asked to.

Just… there.

People arrived early to help. Staff she recognized but didn’t speak to much. They moved around her like she was part of the space, not someone in it.

Which was fine.

That was easier.

By the time the sun started to drop, everything was set.

The table.

The drinks.

The lighting.

The house didn’t look lived in.

It looked staged.

Hannah stood in the hallway just outside the living room, her fingers brushing lightly against the wall as she paused.

“Hannah.”

Michael’s voice came from behind her.

She turned.

He stood a few feet away, already dressed, already composed.

“You’re not ready,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

“I was about to,” she said.

His eyes moved over her briefly.

“Don’t take too long.”

“I won’t.”

He held her gaze for a second longer, then nodded once and walked past her.

Hannah turned and headed back to her bedroom.

⸻

Hannah stood in front of the closet for a moment before opening it.

Everything inside was organized.

She pulled out a dress she knew Michael liked.

She changed quickly.

When she was done, she fixed her hair.

Then turned and left the room.

⸻

Voices filled the house now.

Laughter.

Conversation.

The low hum of people who knew each other well enough to speak easily.

Hannah paused just before stepping into the living room.

Then she walked in.

Michael saw her immediately.

His expression softened.

A smile—easy, natural—spread across his face as he moved toward her.

“There you are,” he said, his tone warm.

He stepped close, his hand settling lightly at her back as if it belonged there.

“You look beautiful.”

Hannah forced a small smile.

“Thank you.”

Michael’s hand shifted slightly, guiding her just a fraction closer.

Then he leaned in and kissed her.

He pulled back, his expression still warm.

He kept her close just long enough for it to be noticed.

Then guided her further into the room.

Introducing her.

Keeping her near.

To anyone watching—

they were the perfect couple.

Michael’s hand rested lightly at her back as he guided her toward the table.

He pulled out the chair beside him.

For her.

Hannah sat.

Michael took his seat next to her, his arm settling around her shoulders like it belonged there.

Easy.

Familiar.

“God, you two are cute,” Emily said from across the table, smiling as she leaned forward slightly. “Seriously.”

Hannah glanced up.

Smiled.

“Let me see your ring,” Emily added.

Hannah didn’t hesitate.

She lifted her hand, extending it across the table.

Her smile stayed in place.

Emily leaned in, admiring it.

“It’s beautiful.”

Hannah nodded slightly.

“Thank you.”

She kept her expression steady.

Her thoughts shifted.

She was glad she had taken it off.

Glad she had left it at home before the trip.

Because she didn’t want to explain to Michael how she lost it.

“Did you see who else was on that flight?” someone asked.

Another voice chimed in.

“Everett was on it, right? We saw it on the news.”

Hannah’s grip tightened slightly around her glass.

She kept her expression neutral.

“Yeah, I think I heard something about that,” she said.

“Did you meet him?” the first person asked.

All eyes shifted to her.

But Hannah felt Michael’s the most.

Hannah didn’t hesitate.

“No,” she said. “I didn’t see him.”

“Wow,” someone laughed. “Same plane and everything.”

“Crazy.”

Hannah gave a small nod.

“Yeah.”

Michael’s hand brushed lightly against her back.

She didn’t look at him.

Michael stayed beside her more now.

Closer than before.

His hand brushing her arm.

Resting briefly at her back.

Leaning in just enough when he spoke to her.

Every touch intentional.

Every glance timed.

A performance.

And she knew it.

She played her part anyway.

She accepted a drink she didn’t ask for.

Held it without taking a sip.

At one point, Michael leaned closer, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

“Stay with me.”

Hannah nodded.

“Okay.”

He smiled again.

⸻

Dinner ended slowly.

People lingered.

Drinks refilled.

Conversations stretched.

Michael kept the same energy the entire time.

Engaged.

Attentive.

Effortless.

The perfect host.

The perfect partner.

At one point, she found herself standing near the window.

The glass reflected the room behind her.

The people.

The movement.

Michael.

Laughing.

Relaxed.

Like everything was easy.

Her eyes shifted slightly.

Outside, the street was quiet.

Still.

Her fingers tightened around the glass in her hand.

“You okay?”

Michael’s voice again.

She turned.

“I’m fine.”

His eyes studied her.

“You seem distracted.”

“I’m not.”

“Then don’t look like it.”

She nodded.

“Okay.”

He smiled again.

Then stepped away.

Hannah stood there for a second.

Then she lifted the glass to her lips and downed the rest of her drink in one swallow.

The burn hit immediately.

Sharp.

She didn’t react.

Just lowered the empty glass slightly, her fingers tightening around it for a brief second before loosening again.

Then she set it aside.

⸻

By the time the last guest left, the house was quiet again.

Michael said goodbye to the last guest, then shut and locked the door behind them.

He turned back toward her.

Hannah hadn’t moved.

His expression was different now.

Tighter.

“Were you trying to embarrass me?” he asked.

The question landed hard.

Hannah blinked slightly.

“What?” she said.

“You seemed distant,” he continued. “Uninterested. Like you didn’t want to be here.”

Her chest tightened.

Because he wasn’t wrong.

He was exactly right.

But she didn’t say that.

“I’m sure they just thought I was still processing everything,” she said instead. “The flight… everything that happened.”

Michael watched her.

Silent for a moment.

Measuring.

Then—

“Don’t let it happen again,” he said.

Hannah nodded.

“Okay.”

He held her gaze for a second longer.

Then turned and walked away.

⸻

She walked slowly toward the window.

Only Hannah’s reflection remained.

The glass held her there.

Quiet.

Unmoving.

Her hand lifted slightly, resting against it.

Hannah couldn’t help but wonder what Everett was doing right now.

If he made his game in time.

Hannah shook her head, forcing the thought away.

Then she turned.

And walked away.