The Memory Keeper: A Heartwarming, Feel-Good Romance(66)

“And what if they haven’t—what will you do?” Mary asked, looking down at the photos. She smiled at the one with the baby before handing them back to Georgia.

“I haven’t thought that far,” Georgia said. “But even if I don’t find them, I’m glad I came because I got to meet you, Liam, Hannah, and her parents. Hannah’s been so nice, letting me work in her grandmother’s shop. We’ve had an absolute blast…”

“Oh yes,” Mary said, addressing Hannah. “Liam tells me your grandmother owns the local florist’s, is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Are you still considering closing?” Liam asked, taking a sip from his wine.

“Well, Georgia and I have been brainstorming and we’re completely redoing the whole place. I think it will really surprise Gran, and hopefully revitalize the business and bring in some new customers.”

“It’s gonna take a lot of customers to cover the spike in rent,” Georgia added, “but it’s worth a try.”

Liam’s attention seemed to sharpen at the mention of Hannah fixing up The Memory Keeper.

“How lovely,” Mary said. “I’m not sure how I could help, but I always have a supply of fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables… and I make a mean lemonade recipe.”

“Actually, Gran always offered muffins and lemonade to her customers. I’d love to feature your farm’s lemonade. That would really give it a local flair.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea,” Georgia chimed in.

“I’d be delighted to help,” Mary told them.

The waitress came to take their food orders and only then did Hannah notice the undecipherable look on Liam’s face. What was it—uncertainty? Was he wondering if she’d stay in Franklin, or was something else on his mind specific to Gran’s shop? He’d been acting differently ever since she’d mentioned it.

“You okay?” Hannah asked.

“Yes,” he said, pushing a smile across his face. He picked up his menu. “Ladies first,” he offered to the waitress so she could take their orders.





Twenty-Four





Just after the sun came up the next morning, while Georgia stayed back at The Memory Keeper to design the display window, Hannah went to see Gran. Since Georgia hadn’t had any luck finding her birth parents, Hannah took the photos of Georgia’s family with her to see if Gran knew anything about them, by chance.

“The woman I rode from the airport with—Georgia—she wanted me to show you these photos to see if you recognized the people in them.” Hannah slipped them out of her wallet and handed them over to Gran.

“Could you get my glasses off the table, dear?” Gran asked, setting the photos on the white knit blanket that covered her legs. When Hannah handed them over, Gran took a closer look. “No,” she said, inspecting them. “I’m sorry to say that I don’t.” She handed them back.

Disappointed for her friend, Hannah put them back into her wallet. “That’s okay,” she said. “I feel bad for Georgia. She really just wants to find her people.”

Gran chuckled. “That’s all any of us want.” She smoothed the blanket. “How’s the shop?” she asked.

Hannah moved the walker Gran had been using to get around the hospital out of the way, and sat down in a nearby chair. “I’ve got everything under control,” she said, not wanting to tell her much to spoil the surprise, but at the same time wanting to set her mind at ease. “I’ve been working hard to get it into shape, and I’ve even gotten a local farmer to provide some fresh lemonade for your customers.”

“Oh, Hannah, that’s lovely,” Gran said, sitting up straighter. “And how’s Speckles?”

“I’ve made sure milk has been put out for her every day,” Hannah said carefully, not wanting to tell her that she’d had to dump the milk at the end of the day because it had gone untouched.

“I knew you would come through for me,” she said, leaning back with a satisfied crossing of her arms. “And how are you, my dear?”

“I don’t know, Gran,” Hannah answered honestly. “I don’t know what I’m meant to be doing anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve worked really hard to get where I am in my job in New York, and I’ve been very successful… But there’s a problem with one of the projects I’m working on and something occurred to me. I’d been avoiding the problem, not even wanting to think about it or try to figure it out—that’s not like me. I should be leading, but instead I’ve been sidestepping.”

“You’re just giving yourself time to process what you really want,” Gran said. She always had the kindest ways to spin things. “And you’ve been a bit frazzled in the last day or so. Give yourself a break.”

“I’ve been pulled back into my old life, and all of a sudden, here I feel like I’m alive,” she confessed. “I’m still that same woman from New York, but she feels comfortable here, too.”

“We feel the most alive when we are doing the things God intended for us. Just because you’re here doesn’t mean you have to become the girl who grew up in this town. You’ve changed, Hannah. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”