The Memory Keeper: A Heartwarming, Feel-Good Romance(75)

Liam stopped, giving her his guarded attention.

Hannah reached out and took his hands. “Talk to me,” she urged.

He hung his head, his gaze moving across the gravel path.

Hannah took a step closer, intertwining her fingers with his. “What is it?”

“I’ve failed him.”

His statement was like a punch in the gut. She realized that while he put a ton of pressure on himself for everything else, he’d also put those same demands on himself as a father, and his fears were clouding reality.

“I don’t think you have,” she said. “I see him warming up to you. He just needs your permission to do it, and the way you give him that permission is by spending time with him.”

To her surprise, he pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms around her. “You make it seem so effortless.”

“You don’t have to try so hard. Just be with him. Let me help you some more with Noah,” she said.

He leaned back and looked down at her.

“The Spring Festival’s coming up. Why don’t we take him together?” She’d thought about working at the shop during the festival, but she could probably figure something else out. Perhaps her mother could fill in for her and help Georgia. “Let’s give Noah another opportunity to see how much fun you are.”

“Thank you for having faith in me.”

“It’s easy to have faith in you. You’re a wonderful person.”

He opened his mouth as if he were going to tell her something, but then it seemed he thought better of it. Instead, he leaned down and kissed her nose. “Shall we go back in with the others?”

As they walked back down the tire-tread-shaped dirt path, Liam didn’t let go of her hand.

“Thank you for allowing me to take photos at the farm today,” she said.

“It’s no problem. I’m just glad I could help fix the issue at work.” He stopped walking. “I should take you out for a drink in the city tonight to celebrate. Would you be up for it?”

“I’d love to.”

As they reached the end of the path, she had no idea where it would take them from here.



After the photo shoot, Hannah went to see Gran. When she got to the end of Gran’s floor, she met her nurse, Lanelle, at the door to her vacant hospital room. The emptiness was odd, causing Hannah to instantly worry.

“Where’s Gran?” Hannah asked, her heart plummeting into her stomach at the thought that something might have gone wrong and Gran had been rushed somewhere. Since their last visit, she’d gotten caught up in registering herself and Christie for dance lessons, chatting with her mom over coffee, and doing her photo shoot when she could’ve been here. She’d never forgive herself if something had happened to Gran.

“Don’t worry, sweet pea,” Lanelle said with a smile that enveloped her entire face, making it impossible to have any concern. “Ms. Faye is walking around the unit.”

“Wait, walking?” Hannah asked, as a plume of hope rose in her chest.

“Yep. She’s been doing so well on her new meds that we have her on an exercise regimen. No walker at all.”

“Really?” Hannah nearly shrieked. She couldn’t help herself. She threw her arms around Lanelle, who gave her a big squeeze right back.

“She’s doing great.”

“How great? Like coming-home-soon great?”

Lanelle let out a laugh of happiness that ballooned from her contagiously. “We’ve got her on some new heart medication, and if she tolerates it, she can go home.” She held up a finger. “On one condition, however. She won’t be able to work. I know that’s gonna make her crazy, but she just can’t be on her feet like that. She’ll have to take it easy and be sure to take her medication.”

“She’ll never agree,” Hannah worried aloud.

“She has to.”

If they could just make enough money to hire Georgia, they’d have enough help to do the work, and Gran could still pop by and enjoy the shop. Hannah didn’t know if she’d be able to make it happen, but she’d do everything in her power to try.





Twenty-Seven





Hannah had done her hair and makeup, and put on the new sweater and boots she’d gotten at a boutique in town, along with her most stylish pair of jeans. She stared at herself in the full-length mirror, as she fiddled with her dangly earrings. When Liam had mentioned drinks, had he meant it to be a date? Or were they just running out to grab a beer at the local bar? She hoped it was a date.

Hannah headed down the hallway to check on Georgia before she left.

“Oh, you look like a million bucks!” Georgia was dressed up more than usual, with her hair pulled into a clip, fine tendrils falling delicately around her face. She’d powdered her nose and was wearing lip-gloss.

“You look nice too. Are you going somewhere?”

“While you and Liam were outside at the farm, Mary and I couldn’t stop talking—she’s so nice. She was headed into town to grab a few groceries, and since you and Liam are going out, she asked me to come over for dinner. She’s picking me up in about ten minutes.”

“That’s wonderful,” Hannah said.

“She’s letting me bring Jerry too. I’ve got his leash, so he won’t get lost in the fields chasing after rabbits.”