The Memory Keeper: A Heartwarming, Feel-Good Romance(64)

Hannah threw her arms around Georgia. “That’s amazing! The publicity would be incredible…” She clapped a hand over her mouth in excitement. “When would the piece run?”

“He wants to do it as soon as we’re ready. Here.” Georgia reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card. “It’s got his name and number. I could definitely help with the photo shoot of the shop…”

“I’ve got to get Ethan in here, like, now. Do you have the keys to the truck?”

Georgia handed them to her, a buzzing glimmer in her eyes.

“Man the fort. I’ll be right back.”



Hannah burst through the door of the body shop, calling for Ethan.

“What’s all the fuss?” Ardy said, lumbering up to the front.

“I need to talk to Ethan. Is he in the garage?” she asked, brushing past Ardy.

“Hey, you can’t go back there.”

Hannah pulled open the door and stepped into the large, echoing space, the hissing of hydraulics and whining of drills drowning out her calls for Ethan. She paced through the line of cars, some with the hood up, others on lifts, peering into the faces of the mechanics as they stopped working to give her confused looks.

“What the heck do you think you’re doin’?” Ethan asked, walking up from the back.

“I need you,” she said.

Someone whistled at her from one of the cars.

Hannah ignored it. “I talked to Christie,” she said.

Ethan’s eyes widened in guarded interest.

“She said she’d talk to you. Has she?”

“Nope.”

“I need you to paint a mural for me right now.”

“I already told you—”

“I know what you said, and I’m not listening to any of it.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him with her toward the door, to the hoots and hollers of Ethan’s fellow mechanics.

“Hey, where y’all goin’?” Ardy asked as they crossed the waiting area, heading outside.

“I’m stealing him for a bit,” Hannah said.

“Ethan, Christie won’t like this!” Ardy called after them.

“She’s fine!” Hannah said over her shoulder. “I’m getting her dance lessons!” She opened the passenger side of the truck. “Get in. You’re mine for the day.”

“Dance lessons?” Ethan asked when she’d gotten in the truck.

“Yep.” Hannah pulled off and headed straight to the paint shop.





Twenty-Three





“It’s been a long time,” Ethan said, hesitant, as he stood in his Wright’s Body Shop uniform and steel-tipped boots among the cans of paint. He was facing the blank wall at the back of The Memory Keeper, the old bravado Hannah used to see in his eyes replaced by uncertainty. What had happened to that swagger? He’d been hemming and hawing the entire time they’d shopped for paints, when the younger Ethan had breezed in and grabbed them with barely a single deliberation.

“God’s gifts don’t fade. If He gave it to you, He won’t take it away.” Hannah put her hands on his shoulders. “You can do this,” she said, as Georgia looked on with Jerry in her arms.

Ethan’s shoulders seemed tense, his lips set in a line as he concentrated. “What do you want on this wall?” he asked, clearly still not convinced.

“A vintage Franklin Main Street skyline would be amazing,” she said.

They’d picked up a variety of colors at the paint shop. Against the bright white walls and the furniture they were going to refinish, the colors would be a really nice backdrop to showcase the flowers, making the whole room bright and inviting.

“I don’t think I can do it.”

Georgia looked over at Hannah for an explanation.

“Ethan,” Hannah said, walking up next to him. “You can do this.”

Ethan folded his arms and shook his head, staring at the empty wall. Finally, he faced Hannah. “I’m sorry. I’m not doin’ this.” He started stacking the cans of paint against the wall.

“Ethan, you’re the best. I need the best for this.”

“I’m not the best anymore,” he said through gritted teeth. “I’ve left the guys at the garage shorthanded, and I’ve gotta get back. I’ll walk if I have to.”

“It’s just the one painting,” she said, trying to think of anything to help. She stood in front of him and looked into his eyes. “We’ve both changed, I know that,” she said gently. “A lot of time has passed since we were partners in crime.” She allowed a nostalgic smile. “But when I look at you, I see you, not only the guy in your dad’s uniform. That’s just a part of your life. But there’s so much more to you than that one thing.” She reached down and grabbed a paintbrush, holding it out to him. “I trust you. Now trust yourself, because you’re absolutely fantastic.”

His jaw clenched harder the more she talked, his whole body tensing up. “Hannah, I need you to respect the fact that, the same way you’re not that girl I drove home from school with her boots propped up on the dashboard of my truck, I’m not that kid who drove you home. And while those parts of us are in our pasts, neither of us is the same, and we will never be those people again.”