The Memory Keeper: A Heartwarming, Feel-Good Romance(80)

The back wall was alight with a vintage design in tans, oranges, and browns—subtle like an old photo, but full of life and character. The buildings of Main Street curved as if they were musical notes dancing along the wall. Crowds of people filled the doorways and windows. An old truck sat along the curb outside one of the shops. And the sun was setting, drawing long shadows along the road.

Hannah clapped her hands excitedly. “I knew you still had it in you!” She walked over to hug Ethan, but he stopped her.

“I’m full of paint,” he warned. “You’ll ruin your sweater.”

“I don’t care.” She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a squeeze, the cold wet paint soaking through to her skin. Then she turned around. “Christie, I’m coming for you next.” She held out her paint-spotted arms. “Thank you for dancing with me and being supportive of Ethan painting this for me.”

“That’s fine,” Christie said, backing away. “Just don’t touch me with all that mess on your shirt.”

“Oh, come on. You know you want a big hug,” Hannah teased.

“Yeah, she does,” Ethan said, coming toward his wife.

Christie put her palms up in the air, waving them. “Ethan, if you dare… There’s a couch with your name on it!” She started running around the shop as Ethan chased her, making her hoot with laughter. He caught her and scooped her up, making her squeal, but she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.

Hannah went over to the old record player and put on a 45-record with a dance beat that would work for their salsa moves. “Let’s teach Ethan what we learned, Christie.”

With a swipe of white paint on her cheek, Christie grabbed Ethan’s hands and pulled him to the center of the room.

“What in the world are y’all doin’?” he asked as Christie moved him into position.

“Dancin’,” his wife replied.

“I don’t dance,” he said, giving her a spin. “But I will for you.” He leaned in and kissed her again.

Christie pulled back. “There’s plenty of time for all that sweet talkin’,” she said. “But right now, we’re dancin’. Move your left foot like this,” she said, showing him.

As Ethan and Christie danced to the music in the empty shop, the new mural behind them, Hannah caught a glimpse of the freshly painted sign: The Memory Keeper. So many memories were already being made.



“Don’t kill me,” Georgia said, as Hannah walked up to the front door when she got home. Georgia put Jerry down on the porch, letting him sniff around. He inspected the leg of one of Gran’s rocking chairs.

Hannah bounded up the steps. “What’s up?”

“I was talking to Mary, and she said that Noah is so excited about going with you to the Spring Festival tomorrow.”

Hannah sat down on the porch swing, dismay washing over her as she remembered offering to go with Noah.

“I wasn’t sure if you could stomach being with Liam after the rent thing…” Georgia gritted her teeth together in dramatic nervousness. “I’m heading out to see her after dinner, so if you really don’t want to, I can think of something to say to cancel.”

Liam had hurt her, and the thought of spending an awkward night with him that should have been a blast made her apprehensive, the loss of something wonderful settling on her shoulders. “No, it’s fine,” Hannah said. “If Noah wants me to go, I’d feel terrible not going.” She didn’t love the idea of spending an entire afternoon with Liam, but she could be adult about it.

Georgia scooped up Jerry before he headed down the steps into the yard. “Mary will be happy. She seemed just as excited.”

“You and Mary have been chatting a lot,” Hannah noted.

“Yes.” Georgia shifted Jerry into her other arm to open the door, and they went inside. “She’s the sweetest woman.”

They went into the living room and sat down on the sofa. Jerry curled up in Georgia’s lap as Chuck came in and joined them. Jerry perked up at his entrance, jumping down to greet him. Chuck picked up the dog and petted his little head. “Maura’s at the grocery store, and I’ve been dying for some company,” he said, plopping down in an overstuffed chair Gran had decorated with a yellow-and-navy-blue throw pillow.

“You know, I told Hannah that I’ve felt so comfortable around your family since I got here,” Georgia replied. “My birth parents brought me into the world, but I have to admit that if I don’t find them, while I haven’t known you very long, you all feel pretty darn close to family to me. I’ve never felt like I was a part of something until now.”

“So maybe you did find your family,” Chuck said.

“I think I did,” Georgia said.

“I think she did too,” Hannah added. “And I’d love it if she could work at The Memory Keeper.”

Chuck looked over at her. “Georgia told me about the genius idea for the mini bouquets and photos you’re gonna take tonight for the festival. But she certainly doesn’t want to work for free,” he said, grinning in solidarity with Georgia. “I mean, a Chihuahua’s gotta eat, right?” He stroked Jerry’s head.

“You’re right,” Hannah said, feeling overly optimistic, despite the rent issues. “Georgia and I will work together at The Memory Keeper, and we’re going to make it so successful that we’ll be able to take her on permanently,” she told him. “I quit my job to run the shop full time.”