Under Age and Undercover: A Hannah Clark Novel (under edit)

2. Home (edited)

Our way home seemed to drag on forever.  My usual happy-go-lucky demeanor that I kept up whenever I was around my girlfriends was far too difficult to uphold whilst my mind was running a mile a minute with the endless possibilities I could be facing when I arrived at home, and my lack of enthusiasm in our conversations didn’t go unnoticed by my friends. My stress was blatant, and I’m sure they wanted to say something about it but decided not to after my quick brushing off of the matter earlier in the afternoon. I could tell, though, that they were concerned.  As we pulled up to my house I graciously thanked Rosaline’s mom for the ride and got out of the car, unhitching my bike from the back of her SUV. I walked slowly to the front door, turning around to wave my friends off before entering the house. I was once again very aware that each step I took was bringing me closer to the crazy, fast-paced life that existed in a whole other realm than that in which I visited the mall and went to school with my friends. I opened the door cautiously, anticipating the uncertainty that was already beginning to consume me.  God, the back and forth of this whole operation was beginning to get the best of me.

Nothing seemed different. The house looked almost exactly how I remembered aside from the dim light of nighttime coming through the bay window in the main room. The lack of scenery change was expected, but what I didn’t expect was the lack of change in the emotional atmosphere of my home. It was still warm and inviting, the faint waft of freshly baked cookies made its way to my nose as I closed the front door. I expected my return home to consist of strictly business, and that I would feel cut off from the outside world as soon as I was safely inside.  I expected paperwork and assignment folders, not chocolate chip cookies.  But it still felt like home.

I walked upstairs and set the house key on the banister. I smiled to myself when I noticed Bryce’s pirate ship left out in the middle of the living room. He was always leaving his toys about and I was always chasing after him and demanding that he learn to pick up after himself.

“Hannah!” he screamed, running out to greet me, “Hannah, Hannah, Hannah!”

“Hey bud, how are you?” I answered, trying to sound cheerful whilst feeling anything but.

“Good. Nana’s downstairs. She’s leavin’ now you’re here, right Hannah?”

Nana was Bryce’s babysitter. A nanny for when I was at school- or work- and my mom was at the hospital, either on call or on her scheduled time in the office.  She was a sweet old woman, short in stature and temper, with long dark hair and a thick Spanish accent. Her aura seemed to always give off calm and loving vibes no matter what situation she was dealing with, unless you somehow managed to get on her bad side. Bryce absolutely adored her. I hesitated while I recalled the brief conversation I had with Michael over the phone. Usually I would take over babysitting duties when I returned home and my mom worked the late shift, like today, but things had changed. I doubt Nana was aware of the situation because I had only just learned of it less than an hour ago, but I also doubt she will want to watch Bryce for any extended period of time unplanned.  The only option then would be to take him with me. How was I supposed to make it to San Diego for my assignment with my little brother tagging along?

“Um, yeah,” I finally replied, “Since I’m home. Gracias, Nana!” I said louder, as Nana came up the stairs.

“Guess we’ll see you Tuesday then, right Nan?”

“I will most likely be needed again before Tuesday, Hannah,” She replied with a knowing smirk. Of course, she was well aware of what it was I did in my free time and what specific details that need not be shared with my mom. I smiled. A huge benefit to having a former CIA agent as a babysitter for Bryce was that Nana probably knows more than I do about who I worked for and knows enough about the field to make me at ease with her watching my little brother. After she retired from the CIA she came to work as a caretaker for the younger agents like myself.  While I needed a certain amount of watching over when I first started working for the FSS I was a quick learner and didn’t divulge any information to my mom that she didn’t need to know.  When her assistance with my personal protection was no longer needed, she signed on to a long-term contract to watch over my family whenever I was gone. As a federal agent I tend to rack up a long list of enemies, and Nana was here to ensure that none of them attempted to attack my family. That was a convenient additive to the babysitting gig she used as cover for watching over Bryce and my mom.