The Memory Keeper: A heartwarming, feel-good romance

by Jenny Hale

  She closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the rocking chair, thinking.

  Without warning, something thumped into her lap, startling her, her eyes flying open to find a purring black cat. It snuggled into the blanket as she sat there, stunned.

  “Speckles?” she whispered.

  The cat meowed.

  “Oh my goodness,” she said, stroking the cat as it purred. “You’ve been looking for Gran, haven’t you?” Hannah asked, relieved. “Have you been getting your milk?”

  The cat meowed again.

  “Gran will be so happy to hear about you,” she said. “She should be coming home soon, you know.”

  Hannah set the journal down on the table beside her and stroked the cat, rocking back and forth like Gran had done so many times when Hannah was growing up. As she looked out at the tree-lined yard, holding that sweet cat, she felt the serenity Gran must have felt sitting there. What a wonderful feeling it was.

  Thirty

  “How’s my favorite person in the world?” Hannah asked, as she set down the oversized bouquet of fresh tulips on the counter of Gran’s hospital room. She’d made the arrangement this morning to celebrate Gran’s discharge, after she and Georgia had set up everything for the festival.

  “I’m doing well,” Gran said, pushing herself into a sitting position. She had on her pink cardigan set rather than the hospital gown, giving Hannah a fizzle of happiness. “I walked down to the cafeteria this morning unassisted.”

  “That’s amazing!” Hannah pulled a chair over to the side of the bed. “I can’t wait for you to come home.”

  “Nor can I. How’s the shop?” she asked.

  “It’s… good.”

  Gran perked up. “What do you mean, ‘good?’”

  “Well, before we get into that, I thought I’d let you know that Speckles showed up at your house yesterday. She sat on my lap on the back porch.”

  Gran clasped her hands in delight. “Oh, I’m so excited to hear that.”

  “That cat has been giving me fits. It was the first time I’ve seen her since I’ve been home. I didn’t want you to worry, so I hadn’t told you.”

  “I would’ve worried,” Gran said.

  “I know.”

  “Have you told me everything when it comes to The Memory Keeper?” Gran asked. “Hannah, I know the shop looks like it could fall down at any moment. My worst fear was that I’d lose it before I was well enough to make it wonderful again. Even though I know my head’s in the clouds.”

  “Maybe not entirely,” Hannah said. “I’ve decided to stay and run it with you.”

  Gran threw her hand to her heart. “Oh, my dear! You have?” Without warning, she broke down into sobs.

  Hannah grabbed a tissue, handing it to her and wrapping her in a loving embrace.

  Gran sat back, the tears still falling. “You know,” she said, sniffling, “The Memory Keeper is a tangible reminder of the life I’ve lived. And when it looked like the shop was closing, it was a shocking thought that everything I’d built during my time here was finished. I’ve waited for you to come home for years, praying for you to see that this is where you belong. I felt it in my bones.”

  Hannah could hardly keep her emotions in check. As always, Gran was right.

  The sound of live music made its way through the laughter and conversations of the crowds as they gathered around lemonade stands and perused craft tents, the scent of funnel cakes, caramel corn, and barbecue in the air. A little girl ran by Hannah holding a silver balloon, her face painted in bright colors. She disappeared into the crowd, beside the street performer spinning a line of hula-hoops on top of his head. The Spring Festival was underway.

  Hannah stopped at the juice tent and bought herself a raspberry Popsicle, nibbling on the end of it while she looked for Mary, Noah, and Liam. Darlene broke through the mobs of people, waving armfuls of carrier bags from various stalls.

  “How are you?” she said when she reached Hannah.

  “I’m doing well,” Hannah replied. “Looks like you’re having a good day.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” she said, wriggling her arms excitedly. “I got a bouquet and print from the shop too! Your new employee Georgia is holding it for me until the end so it doesn’t get crushed.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Hannah said, taking a lick of her Popsicle.

  “I love what you’ve done with The Memory Keeper,” she said. “Your gran should be proud of you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “It’s definitely bringing in business. Georgia could barely keep her head above water.”

  “Really?” Hannah had considered the idea that the tent outside might increase business, but she hadn’t thought it would do so by that much.

  “Yes. You’d better go help her out. She was behind by about ten orders when I left her. They’re coming in faster than she can keep up with them.”

  “Oh my goodness. Thank you for letting me know,” she said, chucking her Popsicle into a nearby trash can, the excitement that their idea was working bubbling up. “I’ll go right now. It was great to see you, Darlene.”

  “You too!”

  Excited to see what Darlene had described, Hannah rushed across Main Street, and turned the corner headed to the shop, weaving through people while she texted Liam to let him know to meet her at The Memory Keeper. She stopped at the edge of the lawn and took in the sight in front of her.

  Georgia was chatting animatedly with a group of customers as they stood under the tent outside, half a bouquet arranged on the table at the back of the tent. She was moving excitedly as she explained the concept of the prints, handed out mini bouquets, and took money. Others had their hands on the glass door of The Memory Keeper, peering inside, while more had settled at the tables and chairs which were now set up out front. Hannah put her fingers over her grinning lips, a thrill like she’d never felt before rushing through her. While she knew that every day wouldn’t be a festival, they might have just done enough to get people interested.

  “Need some help?” she asked Georgia, walking behind the table, dropping her handbag down and grabbing a vase.

  “Yes,” Georgia said with a giggle, obviously just as giddy at their success.

  Hannah grabbed the half-filled vase from behind her and held it up. “Who’s waiting for this arrangement?” she asked the crowd.

  Two elderly women raised their hands.

  “They’ve already paid,” Georgia said, her focus on the order she was taking.

  “Come on inside,” Hannah told them, unlocking the door, and beckoning them in. She called to the crowd, “The showroom’s now open! Feel free to look around. We’ve got complimentary, farm-fresh lemonade for all our guests.” She set the bouquet on the antique counter and turned the record player on low, to give them the festive atmosphere she hadn’t experienced since those days with Gran. Then she began filling glasses with lemonade from the bar fridge and setting them on a silver tray.

  “It looks like you’ve ordered our arrangement called ‘The Twin Irises,’” she said to the two women, holding up the bouquet to take a look at the flowers Georgia had started arranging.

  “Yes, ma’am,” one of the women told her, her gaze roaming the space. “It’s just lovely in here.”

  “Thank you,” Hannah said, pulling the rest of the flowers from the various baskets on the wall where the silver buckets had been to add to the arrangement. “Would you like a glass of lemonade?”

  The two women each took a glass.

  Hannah trimmed the ends of the flowers, threading them into the vase. “This is a beautiful bouquet,” she said. “It’s one of my favorites.” She finished the last few flowers and handed the vase to the women.

  The bells on the door jingled and Mary, Noah, and Liam walked in. Liam showed his surprise at the renovation, though he hung back at the entrance of the shop. Noah ran past the tables of displays and behind the counter, throwing his arms around Hannah. Without even thinking, she grabbed his hands and spun
him around, dancing to the song on the record player the way Gran used to do with her.

  Noah threw his head back with laughter and wriggled around. “Do that again!”

  Hannah had gotten so wrapped up in the excitement of the shop’s success that she only realized just then that this must be how Gran had felt every day. She gave Noah another twirl, making him giggle some more.

  “I’ve walked past this shop before,” Mary said, “so I know what you’ve done with it. It’s simply stunning, Hannah.”

  “Thank you,” Hannah said. “I couldn’t have done it without Georgia.” Hannah peered through the freshly designed display window at her new friend, who was just as busy as she’d been when Hannah had come inside.

  Hannah’s attention shifted to Liam. He was still near the door, his eyes on her. Their lost opportunity ate away at Hannah. Just looking at him, it felt like coming home, and she wanted to run over to him, to delight with him in the excitement of today, but his business decisions were hanging between them like a heavy fog. She wanted to move beyond it, but she just couldn’t.

  “Ready to go?” Noah asked, taking her hand.

  “I’m not sure I can just yet,” she replied, finishing the bouquet. She wanted more than anything to go off with Noah and play at the festival, but she couldn’t leave Georgia to man this by herself. “It’s busier than I expected. But I’m going to get someone to help us so I can join you very quickly, okay?” Hannah’s mom would certainly come to relieve her if Hannah told her what was going on.

  “Why don’t I take Noah to play some of the games until you’re ready?” Mary suggested. “He wanted to try to win the big sombrero on the ring toss.”

  Hannah smiled at the memory of his call on her birthday.

  “Liam will stay here and work with you until your help comes.”

  “It’s really fine,” Hannah said as two more people came in, causing Liam to step closer to her. “I’ve got it. I’m going to text my mom to come in. Liam doesn’t need to stay.”

  “No, I will,” he said, walking toward the counter. “Once Hannah’s mother gets here,” he told Mary, “Hannah and I will meet you and take Noah around. Save the bungee bounce for us, buddy, okay? We’ll all do it together.”

  “We will?” Hannah asked, happiness bubbling to the surface at the fact that Liam had initiated a bonding moment with his son.

  “Yeah,” he said, clearly more thoughts behind his answer than he’d verbalized. He came behind the counter, joining her, and peered down at the cash register. “Show me how to ring people up, and Georgia can send them inside to pay.”

  “Okay,” Hannah said.

  “I’ll let Georgia know,” Mary said. “Noah, let’s give these two some time to get through the heaviest of the crowds. You and I can get an ice cream and find all the fun things to show them when they meet us.”

  “Okay,” Noah said, running over to her.

  Mary and Liam held the door for another group to enter the shop.

  Hannah texted her mother and she texted back that she’d be right over.

  “It does look amazing in here,” Liam said to Hannah. “You’ve done an incredible job.”

  “Thank you.”

  His attention shifted to her necklace and then back up to her eyes.

  An elderly man came in with a bouquet and print, interrupting the moment. He set them down on the table and pulled his wallet from his back pocket. “I’m getting this for my wife,” he said with a smile. “We’ve been married for sixty-five years.”

  “That’s incredible,” Hannah said.

  “Being with her is the easiest choice I’ve ever made. Want to know the secret?” the man asked.

  “Yes.” Hannah was all ears.

  “It’s about bringing out the best in one another and not letting the problems that plague this life eat away at it. When you find someone special, you hang on for dear life and weather the seas together.”

  “That’s beautiful,” she said back to the man with the bouquet. “I hope your wife loves the flowers.”

  “I’m sure she will.” The man handed over his credit card and Hannah showed Liam how to ring him up on the register. She returned the man’s card just as three others came in, lining up at the counter to pay. Business was positively booming.

  The crowds at The Memory Keeper had reached a more reasonable level, and after Hannah’s mother had arrived and gotten things under control inside, Liam and Hannah left to find Noah. A tense silence hung between them as they walked down the now quieter street together. It was jarring after working side by side in the buzzing shop. Hannah paced beside him awkwardly, not sure what to say, nothing feeling right.

  At the end of the street, Liam suddenly stopped.

  “When we were kids, I wanted to tell you how I felt about you, but I never did, and I learned from that,” he said with intensity in his eyes. “I’ve also learned that the if-onlys get bigger the older we get, and I don’t want you to go away not knowing what I have to tell you now.”

  She waited for what he had to say.

  “I’ve been going back and forth with Jonathan to see what, if anything, we could do to lower the rent on The Memory Keeper. Jonathan won’t budge, and I struggled to get him to even listen. The rent on Main Street and the surrounding area is high due to the demand. I can’t lower it because it truly is a competitive rate.”

  Hannah nodded, unable to hide her disappointment.

  “I knew you’d be upset, which is why I didn’t want to tell you all this before.”

  “Thank you for trying,” she said.

  “Well, remember what I just said about the if-onlys?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I told you they get bigger. If I didn’t make it right, I’d regret it for the rest of my life. I thought moving on after Alison would be too difficult, but you helped me see that with the right person, it isn’t as hard as I’d feared it would be. The last piece of my life with Alison that I needed to handle involved my brother-in-law. I told you before that he and Alison started the initial plan for Mercer Properties together—well, when I took over after she died, we suddenly found ourselves dealing with some pretty substantial real estate. Jonathan was counting on my inheritance to buy the building in Chicago—we’d planned on it—and I felt that if I pulled out, it wouldn’t have been what Alison had wanted for her brother, so I pressed on. But after you and I spent time together, I lay in bed and all I could think about was this town, the farm… you.”

  Hannah hung on his every word, hoping that he could somehow make this all better because she wanted so badly to see where things went with the two of them.

  “So last night, I offered to sell Jonathan my half of the business. It’s a deal he can’t refuse. After all, it was his and Alison’s dream, not mine. But I asked for one provision.”

  “What was that?” she asked, breathless.

  “That he let me buy 110 Ivy Lane.”

  She threw her hand to her gaping mouth. “What did he say?”

  “He agreed to it.”

  She gasped. “You own The Memory Keeper?”

  He shook his head. “No. You do.”

  “What?”

  “I’m going to reimburse you for the renovations and your grandmother’s debt that you covered, and then you can make me an offer to purchase the property.” He reached out and took hold of her waist, pulling her in. “And I’ll accept all terms.”

  She looked up at him through her eyelashes. “All terms, you say?”

  “Yes.”

  “Sooo, I can write in there that you and Noah have to stay in Franklin?”

  He laughed. “Unusual for a sale of contract, but I suppose you can ask for whatever you want.”

  “That’s what I want.”

  He pulled her in and leaned down toward her, his lips brushing hers. “Then we think alike.” With the sounds of laughter and Skee-Ball slides, the bells from the carnival games as winners hit their marks in the distance, Liam pressed his lips to Hannah’s a
nd her path suddenly felt very clear.

  The crowds had died down a touch as everyone had gotten a chance to spread out around town. Ethan and Christie caught her eye, waving from across the road. Ethan had his son on his shoulders, laughing at something Christie was saying, and Hannah couldn’t have asked for a better view. The lights of the carnival games and the twang of country music swirled around her as she and Liam walked up to Noah and Mary. The little boy waved madly when he saw them, his mouth covered in sticky candy, a sombrero on his head, and a stuffed animal in his arms.

  “Noah won a caramel apple in the cake walk,” Mary said.

  “And I played lots of games! Look what I won, Hannah!” he said, wiggling his head to show her the hat.

  “That’s awesome, Noah,” Hannah said. “There’s the bungee bounce.” She pointed to an inflatable platform with kids strapped to bungee harnesses, soaring into the sky. “Are you ready to do that? The line looks short right now.”

  “Yes!” Noah sprang up and down.

  “Let’s go do it then,” Liam said, taking his hand.

  By the time they got over to the bungee bounce, the line had dissolved, the last child coming off the large inflatable. Liam paid the attendant. “Three, please.”

  “You’re really jumping?” Hannah asked.

  “Of course.”

  Noah’s face lit up with a mixture of delight and astonishment. He kicked off his shoes excitedly and set his winnings down.

  Liam took his shoes off and climbed onto the air-filled platform, reaching down and pulling Noah up with him. Then he helped Hannah up, their faces mere inches from each other, taking her back to the other times they’d been that close. She swallowed, righting herself and moving over to her bungee harness.