The Memory Keeper: A Heartwarming, Feel-Good Romance(27)

“Me?” she replied.

“Yes. I want to go with you.”

“Maybe we could all go…”

Liam’s eyes stayed on the road, but by the way his lips were ever so slightly pursed, it was clear that something bothered him.

“What else can we do?” Noah asked.

“Well, when the weather’s nice, there’s a lot to do. We could hit baseballs at the park, get ice cream downtown, kayak…”

“Yeah!” he said, running around with the phone, the turquoise water sliding in and out of focus with his movements.

“With that kind of reaction, we’re going to have to take him,” Hannah said to Liam with a grin, once she’d gotten off the phone. “He’s such an adorable boy. I’d have a lot of fun with him. His smile is so cute that it makes me laugh.”

Liam stayed quiet, but looked over at her for a second, attentive. Then he turned his focus back to the road. Hannah looked out her window, wondering what in the world was going on between Liam and his family.





Nine





“Just drop me off here,” Georgia said from the backseat when they’d exited the traffic circle, directing them onto the main route of the southern town of Franklin, Tennessee.

The street brought back nostalgic memories for Hannah, and the shame of being gone so long returned with a vengeance. It had been nearly three years since she’d walked down this street, although even then she’d breezed down it quickly on her way out of town. It looked smaller now, compared to the towering city she called home. The warm glow of sunlight filtered in through the trees that had started to bud early, signifying warmer days that had been enjoyed before the recent cold snap. They passed the side street where The Memory Keeper was, and she craned her neck to try to see it, but construction and overgrowth blocked her view. Like an old film, her memories assaulted her.

“Slow down!” Gran had called to an eight-year-old Hannah as she ran ahead to get to the ice cream shop. She and Gran always walked there on summer days when the heat would slow a person down to a near crawl, making something as simple as sitting on the porch swing difficult to manage. Impatiently, Hannah would stop at the crosswalk and wait for Gran.

The vintage stores that lined the two-lane road had been exactly the same since childhood. They were all open for business, their windows filled with pink and red decorations and heart-shaped wares for the month of February. Despite the cold, the sidewalks were full of people. Families lined up for the day’s show outside the old Franklin theater, while others dipped into the local chocolate shop to get their taste of gourmet treats. Music sailed into the car from a street performer strumming gritty southern tunes on his guitar, as passers-by dropped tips into his cowboy hat.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to take you somewhere specific?” Liam asked. “It’s freezing outside.”

“I’ll be fine,” Georgia replied, as she opened the pet carrier and leashed up Jerry. “There are lots of restaurants and coffee shops I can duck into if I get too cold on the walk, and I have your number if I get into any trouble.” She waved her cell phone in the air.

“Want me to help you take all your bags somewhere?”

“I’m fine. I’ve been on my own long enough to handle a few bags. Pull over there.” Georgia pointed to an empty parallel spot near the stoplight.

Liam complied and put the car in park.

“Well, it’s been fun knowin’ you two.” Georgia gathered her things in the backseat and put Jerry on the sidewalk, where he immediately found a nearby tree.

Liam popped the trunk and got out to help Georgia with the rest of her bags.

Hannah put down her window. “You sure you don’t want to head over to my gran’s house with us? I can almost promise there will be birthday treats and a home-cooked meal.”

Georgia grinned. “That’s okay, but thank you.”

“Text me if you need anything at all,” Hannah said.

“Sure thing.” Georgia slung her bag over her shoulder and picked up the pet carrier as Liam set her suitcase next to her on the sidewalk. “Catch y’all later.”

Liam got back into the car and Hannah put the window up. As they pulled away, she watched Georgia shrink in the side-view mirror as she made her way through the crowds. “I have to admit, I’m going to miss her.”

“It’s weird, isn’t it—being with someone for two days straight and then not knowing if you’ll ever see them again.” He glanced over at her, and the look in his eyes made her wonder if that particular concern applied to her as well.

“Yeah,” she said, her attention lingering on him longer than she’d meant to. He caught it, offering another glance in her direction.

“Which way?” he asked.

She refocused on the task at hand. “Take a right on the next street.”

After a few more turns, they finally pulled up in the drive at Gran’s blue clapboard bungalow. Ethan’s fully restored, turquoise 1977 convertible Ford Bronco Sport sat out front. He’d been tinkering with that thing since they’d driven off Old Man Samson’s used car lot when they were eighteen. Hannah got out and walked up to it, peering into the windows. New leather seats.

“Wait, wait, wait—I gotcha,” Ethan had said to her the last time she’d ridden with him, running around to her side of the truck to let her in. He’d spread an old beach towel over the soiled, torn seats and held his hand out, palm side up. “For you, milady,” he’d said with a dramatic bow. Then he’d made some joke about her being too much of a princess.