by Sharon Sala
Oh my God. I must know his mother! But who does he remind me of?
* * *
Hope was used to getting up early, so she was already dressed and in the kitchen making coffee before daylight. After putting it on to brew, she peeked into the bedroom to check on Melissa, who was still asleep, and was in the kitchen when her phone signaled a text. It was from her husband, Johnny.
It’s lonesome in bed without you. How’s Melissa? Duke and I send her best wishes and swift healing.
Hope smiled. She’d missed Johnny last night, too. Her brother-in-law, Duke, was another story, but she was used to his clueless, often brash behavior. As soon as the coffee was done, she poured herself a cup and went into the living room to watch early morning news.
About an hour later, she thought she heard Melissa moving around, and ran back into the kitchen to get her a cup of coffee.
* * *
Melissa had dreamed of the wreck all night. In one dream, Niles kept trying to apologize, while Sully was pulling her out of the car. The last dream was her husband Andy telling her to be happy.
She woke up with tears on her face. She hadn’t dreamed of him like that in a while, and the message he gave her was curious.
She got up, eased her way to the bathroom, and when she came out, her hair was brushed, her teeth were clean, and she was thinking about getting into the shower. She was still debating about that when Hope knocked on the door, then came in with a cup of fresh-brewed coffee.
“Here you go, honey,” Hope said.
Melissa reached for it gladly.
“Thank you so much.”
“Absolutely,” Hope said. “So how do you feel?”
“Sore, of course, but better. I’m not dizzy anymore. Not even when I first get out of bed. I still have the headache from hell, but I haven’t had pain pills since midnight.”
“I’ll get you some,” Hope said. “Let the coffee cool a bit. I’ll get you some water to take the pills.”
Melissa set the coffee down, and then sat down on the side of the bed and shook two pills out into the palm of her hand as Hope came back with the water. She took the pills, then scooted to the back of the bed, using the headboard for a backrest.
“I’ll bet Johnny missed you last night,” Melissa said.
Hope grinned. “Of course. He already sent a text this morning, and he and Duke sent their best wishes and swift healing.”
Melissa smiled. “That’s so sweet. Tell them I said thank you.”
“I will,” Hope said. “After you’ve been up and moving about a bit, I’m going to call Dr. Quick with my assessment of how you’re doing, and see what he recommends.”
“Thank you, again,” Melissa said. “I rested so much better here than I would have in the hospital.”
“I know. Even when people really need to be there, it’s hard to find comfort in the constant noise and lights, not to mention the repetitive poking and prodding. So, what sounds good for breakfast?” Hope asked. “I saw pancake mix, cereal, and there’s still cold fried chicken and pecan pie.”
Melissa grinned. “You may think this is weird, but I think the cold fried chicken sounds way better than breakfast food this morning. Actually eating it cold is one of my favorite ways to eat fried chicken.”
“Then when you get dressed, just wander on down to the kitchen. I’ll get out the leftovers, and you can put whatever you want on your plate.”
“Deal,” Melissa said. “I’m going to enjoy this coffee first, and I’ll be there shortly.”
As soon as Hope was gone, Melissa picked up her phone and called the Bed and Breakfast.
“Blessings Bed and Breakfast. This is Bud.”
“Bud, this is Melissa Dean.”
“Melissa! It’s good to hear that you are up and about. How are you this morning?” he asked.
“Beyond being sore all over, not too bad,” she said. “I’m calling, because I need you to give Sully Raines my phone number. I owe him a cup of coffee, for sure, so if you would give him my cell number, he can call at his convenience. I’m going to be home all day.”
“Okay, I’m ready to write it down,” Bud said.
Melissa gave him her number and thanked him, then took a sip of her coffee. The warmth going down her throat felt good, and the idea of seeing Sully Raines again was even better. Even if it was just a moment between two old friends.
Bud started to take the message to Sully, when Rachel, who’d overheard the conversation, slipped it out of his hand.
“Let me,” she whispered. “I’ll tell you later.”
Bud shrugged. He loved his wife, but she was a drama queen, and he could only imagine what she was up to now.
Rachel sashayed through the dining room straight to Sully’s table. He was finished with breakfast, and reading something on his phone.
“Excuse me, Sully. I have a message for you,” Rachel said.
Sully laid down his phone as she handed him the slip of paper. The moment he saw who it was from, he looked up at her and smiled.
“Thanks a lot,” he said. “And by the way, breakfast was great.”
Rachel beamed. “Thank you,” she said.
Sully got up and left the dining room, unaware that Rachel was staring at him.
The newlyweds had already gone back to their room, and Bud was bussing tables.
“So what’s the big deal?” he asked, as Rachel began helping him clear up.
Rachel spoke quietly. “Something about Sully struck a chord this morning. For a few seconds, I saw a resemblance between him and someone I know. I just can’t put my finger on who it is.”
Bud’s eyes widened. “You mean, the mother he’s looking for?”
She nodded. “I think so. Wouldn’t it be amazing if I figured it out?”
Bud grinned. “Yes, it would be amazing.”
When he started into the kitchen with the trolley full of dirty dishes, Rachel called out to remind him.
“Remember not to put the Blue Willow plates into the dishwasher.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Bud said, and rolled his eyes. Like she hadn’t told him that every time they used them for the past however many years.
Upstairs, Sully was gathering up what he wanted to take with him this morning, and as soon as he had it all together, he sat down in the overstuffed chair by the window to call Melissa.
Order Sharon Sala’s next book
in the Blessings, Georgia series
The Way Back to You
On sale December 2019
About the Author
New York Times bestselling author Sharon Sala has over one hundred books in print, published in five genres. First published in 1991, she is an eight-time RITA finalist, winner of the Janet Dailey Award, five-time RT Career Achievement winner, five-time winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, five-time winner of the Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence, and winner of the Heart of Excellence and the Booksellers Best Award. In 2011, she was the recipient of RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2017, RWA presented her with the Centennial Award for recognition of her 100th published novel. Writing changed her life, her world, and her fate. She lives in Oklahoma, the state where she was born. Visit her at sharonsala.net.
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