The Memory Keeper: A Heartwarming, Feel-Good Romance(73)

Mary answered the door. She was made-up, her face lightly dusted with powder and blush, her lips glossed. She had on a pair of jeans and a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled three-quarters up her arm.

“You look perfect for a casual farm spread. I love it,” Hannah said. “Thank you so much for letting us do this.”

“It’s a pretty easy decision if I get to be in Farmhouse Living. I had no idea that you worked there, Hannah. I’m so thrilled—I have a subscription to that magazine.” Then Mary hunched over with a shiver. “I’m heading inside. Y’all just come in. I’ll put a pot of coffee on to warm you up.” She walked off toward the kitchen.

“She’s such a nice woman,” Georgia said quietly from the front door of the farmhouse, as she peered through the lens of her camera.

Georgia snapped a shot, turning it toward Hannah. The photo was spectacular: a shadow of Mary striding down the hallway, flanked by the incoming sunbeams that fell in oranges and yellows onto a beautiful side table with a curling wooden sculpture.

“Stunning,” Hannah said, running her hand over the table. Hannah wanted to take her time with this and make Mary proud of the feature. She pointed, directing a side shot of the porch. “What if we get one with the light coming in on the old steps like that?” she asked. “We could pair it with the one you just took.”

“Oh, excellent idea.” Georgia pointed her camera and snapped, tilting it up and down and capturing a few different angles. She squatted down and twisted the focusing ring, snapping another of the rustic barrel that sat next to the front door.

“Let’s take a wider shot of the porch before we head in with Mary,” Hannah suggested.

When they got to the kitchen, Mary swished toward them in a country-blue apron with yellow flowers, and handed them each a cup of coffee.

Noah came running in and gave Hannah a bear hug.

“Did you get all the photos you wanted outside?” Mary asked.

“Yes,” Hannah replied. “Show her the one of Noah,” she said to Georgia, before squatting down to Noah’s level. “We got a picture of you in the window.”

Noah giggled. “Can I see?”

Georgia showed the shot to Mary while Hannah lifted Noah up to see it.

“That’s incredible,” Mary said, putting her hand on her chest. “You are certainly talented,” she told Georgia.

“What’s this about a photo of Noah?” Liam asked, joining them in the kitchen. He was clean-shaven with his hair combed and styled just slightly. He had a well-fitting T-shirt on with a pair of rugged jeans. He leaned over Hannah to see the picture, giving her a jolt of happiness when she caught his scent of cedar and fresh cotton. “Wow,” he said.

Mary bent down to address Noah. “You’re going to be in a magazine,” she said to her grandson.

Noah’s eyes grew round. He pumped his little fists.

“Let’s celebrate everyone being home,” Mary said. “Coffee’s ready, and I’ve got heavy cream, milk, and my secret spice.”

“Secret spice?” Georgia asked as they followed her to the table.

Hannah took a seat and Noah climbed up next to her.

“I sell it at the farmer’s market,” Mary replied, handing her the jar with a label that said Mary’s Secret Spice for Coffee and Cakes.

Georgia held it up and shook the container. “What’s in it?”

“It’s a secret,” Mary replied with a grin, tapping the label. “But there’s cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and cocoa powder in it, if that helps you to decide.”

“That sounds amazing,” Hannah said.

Mary poured them all a steaming cup and joined them at the table, the scent of spice dancing into the air around them.

“So do you run this whole farm all by yourself?” Hannah asked.

“I do. Ever since my husband Harvey passed away. My sister Sarah handles some things remotely for me—she lives in Georgia. But most of it falls upon my shoulders.”

Hannah couldn’t imagine managing an entire farm by herself.

“It’s okay, though,” Mary added. “I love it. I built this life with my husband and we raised Liam here… Every late night I spend doing the things Harvey used to do, I feel fulfilled and happy.” She threw a teasing look over to Liam. “I keep trying to convince my son to take over when I retire, but he has this wild idea that buying buildings is his future.”

“Mom,” he said, clearly not wanting to air their differences.

“I just don’t understand it,” she said anyway with a sad smile. “If you worked less, focused on the farm, it would give you more time with Noah.”

Liam didn’t reply.

“I’m gonna go color,” Noah said, climbing down from his chair. He ran off to another room, which was probably a good thing, given the turn in conversation.

“He needs his father,” Mary continued. “I know you have your friends here and it’s not really the best time to talk about it, but it needs to be said before you leave. One day, you’ll be all he’s got.” Her eyes glistened with the truth of that statement.

“You’re right, we don’t need to talk about this now,” he said.

“When should we, then?” Mary asked. “The only time you’ve stopped working lately is when Hannah comes over. And you’re amazing with Noah when she’s around. Noah tells me about the times you all are together. But you want to run away to some city where you have no roots whatsoever, and for what? To buy up useless buildings.”