Arrowheart

Chapter Seventeen

Hannah runs down the hall, full of excitement, while I follow behind her toward Laurel's apartment. I stop momentarily when I hear my phone buzzing from my purse. I take it out to see my father is calling me. I press decline, and as I put it back in my purse, a hand lands on my shoulder. I let out a high-pitched squeak and turn to see Oliver trying not to laugh.

Oliver: "Hey, sorry I was running a little late."

Elizabeth: "Ollie, what the hell?"

I playfully slap his arm.

Elizabeth: "Why'd you have to scare me like that?"

Oliver: "I didn't mean to, but I'm glad I did."

He kisses me, and I kiss him back.

Elizabeth: "We should probably go inside."

Oliver: "Yeah, we should."

We kiss again.

Elizabeth: "We don't seem to be going in."

We laugh as we kiss again but separate when we hear someone running down the hall. I look over to see Hannah running toward us.

Hannah: "Daddy!"

Oliver: "Hey, Hannah."

She runs into his arms, and he picks her up and hugging her while kissing her cheek. When he puts her down, she grabs my hand and Oliver's and pulls us toward Laurel & Tommy's apartment.

Hannah: "Come on, come on, I wanna see Uncle Tommy."

Elizabeth: "Alright, we're coming."

We follow her to the door, which she quickly knocks on, and Tommy opens it.

Tommy: "Welcome."

Hannah: "Uncle Tommy!"

Tommy: "Hey Hannah-Banana."

She hugs his legs and then hands him her gift.

Hannah: "Happy birthday, Uncle Tommy!"

Tommy: "Thank you, munchkin. I bet this is another fantastic Hannah Queen original drawing, isn't it?"

Hannah: "How did you know?"

Tommy: "With my amazing mind-reading powers."

He kisses her head and hugs her. She then runs over to Laurel as Ollie gives him his gift, and we step inside.

Oliver: "This is for you."

Tommy: "Thank you."

They hug.

Tommy: "Um, oh, this feels like a Chateauneuf-du-Pape."

Oliver: "It's gonna taste like one too."

Tommy: "You are a true friend. Thank you."

I hand him mine as I hug him.

Elizabeth: "And I bet you can't guess what your amazing sister got for you."

He smiles as he tests out the weight of the bottle bag.

Tommy: "Could my favorite family member have possibly gotten a Single Malt Scotch Whiskey?"

Elizabeth: "From 1918."

Tommy: "You are the best sister ever. Thank you."

We follow Tommy into the dining room, where Laurel awaits us with Hannah.

Laurel: "Ollie, hi."

She hugs him.

Oliver: "Hi."

Laurel: "Liz, I'm so glad you two could make it."

She hugs me as well.

Elizabeth: "Same. Sorry, my meeting took a little longer than I thought it would."

Laurel: "It's okay. I only just finished setting up."

Tommy walks over with a wine glass for each of us. I accept mine, and then he takes a sip from one before handing it to Hannah. I nudge my brother.

Elizabeth: "Tommy, she is four years old."

Tommy: "I know, don't worry. That one is grape juice."

Oliver chuckles behind me as I sigh in relief. Tommy raises his glass toward all of us.

Tommy: "A toast. [we lift our glasses toward him] To the first birthday that I have enjoyed in a long time. I got my best friend back. Hannah got to meet her dad. My sister is happy. And I have finally figured out why poets have been in business for the last few thousand years."

Ollie holds my hand as we watch the exchange between Tommy and Laurel.

Laurel: "Happy birthday, baby."

Tommy: "Thank you."

They kiss.

Tommy: "Cheers."

We all say cheers as we clink our glasses together, and we hear a knock at the door.

Laurel: "I think that's the food."

Tommy: "Okay."

She hands her glass to Tommy as she goes to get it.

Oliver: "Oh, thank god, she didn't cook."

Tommy: "Amen."

They take a sip of their wine.

Elizabeth: "Seriously, you two. Is this how you talk about me when I'm not in the room?"

Oliver: "Of course not."

Tommy: "You can actually cook."

We look over at Laurel when she opens the door.

Laurel: "Mr. Merlyn."

Malcolm: "Laurel, can I come in?"

She lets him in, quickly walking over to us while Hannah runs to my father.

Hannah: "Papa!"

Malcolm: "Hi, sweetheart."

He hugs her. Tommy and I aren't thrilled to see him. I can tell Oliver notices the tension in the room when he gives me a questioning look. My dad puts Hannah down, and she walks over to Ollie.

Malcolm: "Oliver."

Oliver: "Mr. Merlyn."

My dad looks over at Tommy with a nervous smile.

Malcolm: "I've been trying to get in touch with you."

Tommy: "What are you doing here, Dad?"

He pulls a small gift box out of his jacket.

Malcolm: "Happy birthday, Tommy."

Tommy turns to us.

Tommy: "Just give us a second."

Laurel: "Of course."

My father tosses the gift to Oliver, who catches it and puts it on the table.

Malcolm: "I need to speak with you too, Liz."

I hand my wine glass to Oliver and bend down to Hannah's height. Hannah looks confused.

Hannah: "Mommy?"

Elizabeth: "I will be right back, baby. Stay with Daddy."

Hannah: "Okay."

I go out into the hall with my father and brother.

Tommy: "We're about to eat, so--"

Malcolm: "I can't stay."

Tommy: "Oh, well, that works out because you weren't invited."

Elizabeth: "Why are you here, Dad?"

Malcolm: "I'm being honored by the Starling City Municipal Group. They're bestowing me with their annual Humanitarian Award."

Tommy: "What, they ran out of actual humans to give it to?"

Elizabeth: "Because giving it to the man who wants to shut down a free clinic was the only option available."

He ignores our sarcastic remarks.

Malcolm: "I would like the two of you to be there if you could."

Tommy: "I am 100% certain that I'll be busy."

He tries to return to the apartment, but our father grabs his arm.

Malcolm: "You might not believe this, but all I ever wanted for you was happiness. If it will allay this tension between us, I'll turn the switch back on."

Tommy: "Save your money, Dad. I don't need it anymore."

He holds Tommy's hand and puts an invitation in his hand.

Malcolm: "I'd still like you to come to the event. It would mean a lot to me."

He turns to say something to me, but Tommy stops him.

Tommy: "You know what, Dad? Sometimes the people that you want there the most...aren't. You taught me that...[he puts the invitation on our father's chest.]... multiple times."

Tommy goes back into the apartment, and my father looks at me.

Elizabeth: "After everything you did, I'm not surprised he reacted that way."

Malcolm: "Elizabeth, will you come to the ceremony?"

Elizabeth: "I still haven't forgiven you. However, I know how I would feel if Hannah didn't attend something like that for me. So I will be there as a thank you for helping me learn to defend myself."

He hands me my invitation, and I put it in my purse before returning to the apartment.