The Memory Keeper: A Heartwarming, Feel-Good Romance(24)

The man she’d spent the entire day with yesterday, the person she’d woken up to this morning—that person didn’t seem like the kind of man who would abandon a child…

“Happy birthday,” Liam said, suddenly joining her. “I should’ve said that earlier.”

Hannah stood up to greet him. She had so many questions, but she knew she couldn’t ask any of them. “Thank you,” she said.

The corners of his mouth twitched upward as if he were trying to deny the grin that wanted to surface. His gaze slid down Hannah’s new “Virginia is for Lovers” sweatshirt, and a glimmer of humor drifted into his eyes. “You took my suggestion,” he said.

“Yes. Thank you,” she replied, pulling her coat over the sweatshirt.

He finally smiled at her, a broad, honest smile.

Georgia came shuffling toward Hannah excitedly, bundled up and holding a paper to-go coffee cup in one hand while dragging her suitcase with the other. Jerry was peeking out of his bag. “How’s everyone?” she asked.

“Great,” Liam said.

After the conversation she’d just overheard, Hannah knew his answer was false.

“How’s the birthday girl?” Georgia asked. “We should do something fun for breakfast to celebrate.”

“It’s fine, really.” Hannah didn’t want to take up everyone’s time, but Georgia had already jumped in again.

“We could go to a nice restaurant and eat instead of grabbing something on the go,” she suggested. “What do you think, Hannah?”

“You really don’t need to make a big fuss…”

Liam tipped his head to the side and studied her. By the look on his face, he seemed interested in her newfound caution. “It’s your birthday. It’s the big thirty-five, right? You only turn thirty-five once,” he said.

“Okay,” she replied, hoping that by conceding, he wouldn’t question her change in demeanor. She hadn’t meant it to show.

Hannah really didn’t want to delay the trip any longer than she had to. She wanted to get to Gran’s as soon as possible. But it looked like she was outnumbered.



The closest place open for brunch was Dos Pablitos, a Mexican restaurant about a block away from the hotel. Hannah meandered through the crowd between Liam and Georgia as they followed the hostess to their table.

“Hang on a second,” Liam said, sliding back out of the booth as soon as he’d sat down. “I’ll be right back.”

While he was gone, a waiter arrived and served them chips and salsa, handing them the menus. Hannah looked up and spotted Liam across the restaurant, eyeing an enormous sombrero that hung underneath a sign saying “Feliz cumplea?os,” which Hannah remembered from her ninth-grade Spanish class meant “Happy birthday.” He waved, grabbing the attention of the hostess. She nodded and Liam lifted the large hat off the wall, bringing it over. He slipped into the booth beside Hannah and set it on her head.

“That’s better,” he said, picking up his menu.

“It’s a good look for you,” Georgia said with a giggle.

Hannah grabbed hold of the enormous brim and adjusted it on her head.

“Yes, it’s becoming,” Liam agreed, the corners of his mouth twitching upward again with amusement.

“Ah! It is your birthday?” the waiter asked as he approached their table, smiling from ear to ear, showing off his bright white teeth.

“Yes,” Hannah replied, feeling self-conscious as a few people turned to look.

“And how many years have you?” he asked, in broken English.

She tipped the front of the sombrero up to see him better. “Thirty-five.”

“Thirty-five!” he called out, entirely too loudly.

Suddenly two guys with maracas came dancing toward her, all the wait staff falling in line behind them singing,

“Feliz cumplea?os a ti

We know what we see

A beautiful lady

Not a day over twenty!

Cha-cha-cha!”





They all cheered, the two men shaking the maracas, as others in the restaurant clapped.

When they all left, Hannah realized Liam was looking at her warmly. “Your cheeks are the color of a fire engine,” he said.

“That was the best thing I’ve ever seen,” Georgia said. She grabbed a chip and scooped up some salsa. Then she subtly eyed Liam as if to say, “See how he looks at you?”

Liam’s phone buzzed suddenly.

“Oh,” he said, a wave of something crossing his face. “Do you mind if I take this video call? It’s my son, Noah.”

Before Hannah could process anything more, he’d answered it, and the face of an adorable boy filled the phone screen. He had freckles and dark hair, the shape of his serious mouth just like his dad’s, his innocent face hypnotizing her.

“Hi, Daddy,” he said timidly. “Grandma said I should call you.”

“Hi, Noah,” he said. “I’m glad you did.”

The quiet lightheartedness that Liam had just shown them with the sombrero had quickly left him with this call. His shoulders seemed tense, his face full of thought. This wasn’t the reaction a father would usually have when he hadn’t seen his son in days. Instead of being jovial and silly, he was guarded.