The Memory House by Linda Goodnight

Author:Linda Goodnight
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2015-09-20T04:00:00+00:00

23

Honey Ridge

Present Day

May in Southern Tennessee was a radiant burst of color and sunshine. Eli had missed too many springs not to appreciate them now. Red and yellow tulips and purple Johnny-jump-ups waved from the town’s street planters. Citizens strolled from store to store, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk to talk with friends while two white-haired gents occupied a bench outside the sporting goods store.

He stepped up on the sidewalk next to Julia. They’d come into town together on a half dozen errands. First stop was the hardware store, where Julia had chosen paint colors for the carriage house. Then, she’d helped him inventory Opal’s house for an upcoming sale, an uncomfortable task that left him feeling empty.

Picking through the remnant of others’ lives seemed macabre, especially when one of those people had borne him a son. He hadn’t expected to find Mindy’s clothes still in the closets.

“Thanks for the help.” He didn’t know how he would have gotten through it without her. She’d been the one to recognize the importance of preserving a few of Mindy’s things for Alex.

“Once gone, they’re gone forever,” she’d said, her voice sounding strange. “Hold on to memories for him, Eli. He’ll thank you someday when he’s old enough to understand.”

So he had, though the box that was left of Mindy brought his guilt back to slap him in the face. Guilt or not, he’d do whatever his son needed.

“I owe you lunch,” he said. “What do you say?”

“After all that work, I’m starved.”

He hadn’t eaten out since coming to Honey Ridge except to treat Alex to McDonald’s fries after school one day. His wallet could manage lunch.

“Lead on. You know the best spots.”

She pointed down the street. “Miss Molly’s.”

His mind, that faithless demon, slid off the path into thoughts of what-if. What if Julia was his? What if he was a respected citizen with a right to a woman like Julia? What if they were a couple going to lunch?

She looked as pretty as the flowers in a silky blue blouse and gray skirt with her shiny hair tied back with a gauzy scarf and her ballet flats tapping on the concrete. Her ex must be an idiot.

Miss Molly’s Café, an eatery housed in an old Victorian home between the doughnut shop and the thrift store, buzzed with lunchtime customers and the delicious smells of Southern cuisine. His belly rumbled in anticipation, freeing him from errant thoughts about his boss.

A young waitress offered a smile and a menu as they entered. “Hi, Julia. Eli, right?” When he nodded, surprised, she went on. “Y’all might have to wait a few minutes. I think Boots and Clara are about done, though, and you can have their table.”

“No rush, Sarah,” Julia answered with her usual graciousness. “We’ll decide on our order while we wait.”

They retreated to an empty spot inside the door next to the window and had barely opened the menus when a pregnant brunette and a tall, brown-haired man in a black business suit entered the café.

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