The Memory Keeper: A Heartwarming, Feel-Good Romance(18)

Hannah laughed. “You know, as a kid, my mother would always bake heart-shaped cookies with pink roses made of icing that we could eat the entire week leading up to my birthday. And when I was really young, I believed that all the Valentine’s candy I saw in the stores this month was really an early gesture to celebrate my upcoming birthday. Mom never told me otherwise.”

“Is your mother staying in Franklin with you?” He motioned again for her to have the last piece of sushi.

Hannah nodded, picking it up and popping it into her mouth. She swallowed. “She and my dad are. They retired in Florida, but they just flew back to help with my gran. My mom called to give me the news when I was on my way to surprise Miles.” She took another drink of her cocktail—some sort of pink concoction with rum and triple sec that the waitress had convinced her to buy, since it was part of the light menu package and the hotel only made them in February every year. The alcohol had relaxed her, causing her to open up a little more than she had in the car. “I’m really worried about Gran,” she admitted. “Mama sounded panicked when I spoke to her, and she’s never like that. She’s always as cool as a cucumber.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your grandmother,” he said.

“I can’t lose her,” she said, working to keep the line that formed between her eyes when she cried from creasing.

Liam seemed visibly affected by her comment, as though something she’d said had bothered him. But the look was gone before she could make sense of it. Whatever it was, he obviously didn’t want to share it with her.

“I keep trying to tell myself there’s no sense in getting upset until I know the facts,” she continued, trying to talk herself into the idea that everything would be okay. “But Gran sounded so frail when I spoke to her.”

They fell into a moment of quiet; both of them sipping their drinks, Hannah’s mind still going a hundred miles an hour.

“It’s interesting that Miles was on your flight,” she said, her thoughts coming out again. “It’s like all the events lined up, and the universe knew where I really needed to go.”

Liam watched her thoughtfully. “So maybe the universe made sure that Georgia and I were on that flight to get you back home.”

She liked the idea that the universe would send people to keep her safe. “It’s strange how things that seem so random end up being just what we need, isn’t it?”

It appeared as though her comment sparked something within him. “Yes,” he said, tipping up his bottle of beer and taking a drink. He leaned back in his chair, his shoulders more relaxed than they’d been previously, the beer bottle dangling from his fingers.

His phone rang, disturbing the moment. He grabbed it from his pocket and looked down at the screen. “I’m so sorry to do this,” he said, getting up and setting his beer on the table, “but do you mind if I grab this call quickly?”

“Not at all,” Hannah replied.

He put the phone to his ear and walked away, leaving her alone at their table. She watched people mingle around the bar, remembering a time when she and Miles used to stay out late like that. She only realized now how long it had been since they’d done anything fun together.

It was getting late, and the kitchen was closing soon. While she loved having dinner in this gorgeous hotel with the skyline view of the city below, they needed to get to bed if they were going to make an early start in the morning. She flagged down the waitress to ask for their bill, even though she was still starving.

The waitress set the leather folder with the check on the table and Hannah slipped her credit card inside.

While she waited for Liam to return, she decided to check in with her mother again and let her know that it would be well into the afternoon when she got into town. But it was already so late that she didn’t get a response when she sent the text. Hannah placed her phone in her lap and sipped her cocktail.

“Sorry,” Liam said, returning to their table. He slid his phone into his back pocket and took a seat.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

“I suppose so,” he said, as he settled into the chair and picked up his beer. “My mother is dealing with a touch of airport madness as well; her flight’s been delayed and it’s overbooked. If she gives up her seat, the airline is offering accommodation and a free flight. She’d taken a few days to unwind on the coast, and she just told me she’s going to stay at the beach another day or two.” There was something different in his face that Hannah couldn’t pinpoint. As if he were wrestling with something.

“Well, at least you can take your time getting there,” she said, trying to find a silver lining.

“True, except her house is locked and my key is in my checked baggage…”

“Oh no.”

“Looks like more hotels for me.”

The waitress returned with the receipt for their drinks and appetizers, and Hannah took her card back and slipped it into her wallet.

“You paid?” he asked.

“It was getting so late that I figured we should get a move on.”

“I’d have gotten it, though. It’s your birthday. Well, almost.”

“It was only an appetizer and two drinks.”

“Let me get you dinner then,” Liam said. “I know you’ve got to be hungry still—we barely ate anything. I’ll have it sent to your room for you.”