Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Dak didn’t bring her coffee or lunch on Friday. He didn’t text her or stop by to see if she needed help with any boxes. Ellie let her mope for the most part, not saying anything about it, only patting her on the back on occasion or stroking her hair. Memory couldn’t blame him for giving up. Every time he’d tried to let her know he was interested in getting to know her better, she’d slammed the door in his face. She’d spent half the night lying in bed trying to figure out exactly why that was. Even if she didn’t agree with what she thought he might be planning to do with a house in her town, did that make him a bad person? Of course not. So what was she afraid of?

“You know,” Ellie said at half-past four, “sometimes letting things out through our own mouths can trigger something in our brains we haven’t considered before.” She was straightening a shelf while Memory dusted the counter. There had been a lot of people in and out of the store that day, and she was planning to stay open until 5:45 so that anyone who came early for the parade could stop in. This was likely the calm before the storm while the townsfolk hurried home to eat and put on warmer clothing so that they could get back to the square and find a good spot before 6:00.

“I’m sure you’re right, Ellie. Talking about it would probably be therapeutic. I just don’t even know what to say.

“You like him, don’t you?”

It was a simple question, one that should’ve had a simple answer. So why did Memory seem to want to complicate it so much? “I do.”

“And you don’t really think he has bad intentions where the town is concerned, do you?”

She reflected for a moment before she said, “No, I don’t think so.”

“So? Why are you keeping him at arm’s length?”

Memory let out a deep breath. “Because... in my experience, things that are too good to be true usually are. Dak doesn’t seem like a real person to me in a lot of ways, Ellie. He seems like some knight in shining armor that swoops in and rescues the poor maid from her unfortunate circumstances. He’s like a wealthy Adonis dropped from the heavens. I keep asking myself why someone like him would be interested in me, and I don’t have an answer for that. Which means he either isn’t what he seems, or I’m in one of those silly Christmas romance movies where the girl meets the perfect guy just in time for a kiss under the mistletoe.”

Ellie was shaking her head as she stepped over. “Memory, I’m not sure what it is that makes you think a man like Dak wouldn’t be interested in you. Not only are you an intelligent, kind, thoughtful young lady, he isn’t the sort of person who would let social status or any other differences stop him from getting to know someone he likes.”

What Ellie said about Dak was certainly true. He definitely didn’t walk around with his nose in the air like he thought he was better than everyone else. As far as Memory’s disposition was concerned, Ellie’s words had been kind. “Thank you, Ellie. You’re so sweet. I don’t know how I ever got along without you.” She crossed the few feet between them and wrapped her arms around Ellie’s shoulders, inhaling her floral perfume. Ellie’s hugs were almost as comforting as Grandma Helen’s had been. “I’m going to miss you when you leave.”

“I know. I am going to miss you too, dear. So very much.” Memory stood, and Ellie patted her cheek. “But I can’t stay here. And you will be just fine.”

Memory wanted to ask if she was sure she couldn’t stay. If she had her own home, she’d ask Ellie to move in with her in a heartbeat. But she didn’t. “Where are you headed after this?”

“Some place warm,” Ellie said with a laugh. “Florida possibly, anywhere with a beach.”

“That sounds great on a day like this.” Memory looked out the window behind her. At least it wasn’t snowing, and the temperature was about ten degrees higher than it had been the night before.

The door chimed and customers started filing in. Memory put on her best smile and turned to greet them, glad she’d had a few moments to talk to Ellie. Even though her heart was still heavy and she didn’t know if she could let Dak know how she was feeling, talking to Ellie had made her feel considerably better. “Welcome to The Memory Box,” she said to a couple she didn’t recognize. “Can I help you find something?”

***

Finding a parking spot in one of the public lots at 5:45 on the night of the parade was impossible, so Dak had parked along a side street several blocks from the square. He was in such a rush to get there before the parade started, he almost locked his keys in his car. With them safely tucked in his pocket, he hurried down the sidewalk, along with a crowd of other people who were running late and had to park far away. He hoped to find Memory and her family before the grand marshal reached the square. Off in the distance, he could hear a marching band and knew he was almost out of time.

All four sides of the square were lined with people pressed together to get a good view, as was the route approaching the square for several blocks, where the parade would pass first. He imagined the side where they would exit was also busy. Dak took a deep breath, glad he’d made it this far before the event started. He could see a red convertible in the distance slowly approaching the side of the square near Memory’s shop, lots of floats and other entries behind it. Assuming that he’d find her near her store, he headed that way.

If Memory was here, she was buried in the crowd. He spent several minutes looking for her, wishing he’d taken the time to text her earlier and arrange a place to meet. The grand marshal entered the square, and everyone cheered. Dak glanced at the car and wasn’t surprised to see Mayor Charles and his wife tossing candy and waving. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and saw a text from Ellie. “We are in front of the hardware store, across from the gazebo.” She’d sent it ten minutes ago.

Dak dropped his phone back into his pocket without replying and started in that direction, wondering why they were standing over there and not in front of Memory’s store. He made his way through excited children sucking on candy canes from the mayor’s car and parents pointing out various floats and bands as they approached, crossing at the corner, twice, along with a few other people who were either lost from their party or late to arrive.

He saw Ellie’s red hair first but then Lorelei, who was sitting on her father’s shoulders, spotted him and waved, shouting, “Uncle Dak!” He laughed. She was adorable, even if she was slightly misinformed. He waved back, still not seeing Memory. It wasn’t until he was standing next to Ellie that he realized she was sitting on the curb next to Kirsten, Anson bouncing up and down with both of her hands in his as he danced to the approaching marching band.

Ellie wrapped her arms around him. “Glad you made it.”

“Sorry—I lost track of time, working on something for Chicago.”

“It’s okay. You didn’t miss anything. Unless you wanted a candy cane from Mayor Charles.”

Dak chuckled. “I’m good.” He shook Maison’s hand and waved at Bryce, who was standing several feet away with Sheila and a few other people Dak had met at church. Memory still hadn’t turned around, and he thought maybe she was mad at him for not contacting her at all that day. Either that or she was so busy with her nephew she hadn’t noticed. Kirsten hadn’t either, though, so he wasn’t sure what to think.

A gingerbread house float came by, complete with a dancing gingerbread couple, and Lorelei couldn’t contain her excitement. She cheered and laughed so loud, both her mom and aunt turned around to smile at her. Memory’s eyes caught his, and he thought he saw the flicker of relief light her face. He waved, but both of her hands were occupied, Anson’s fists gripping them tightly as he moved in time to the music, so she let the genuine smile he thought he’d seen a second ago grow into something else—that forced happiness she displayed to her customers and other people when she wasn’t quite feeling it. He hadn’t known her long, but he knew her well enough to notice when she was wearing an expression that didn’t match her mood.

She turned back around, and Kirsten said something to her. It looked like they were arguing again, which wouldn’t be too much of a surprise, unfortunately. A second later, Kirsten took Anson by the waist and moved him over so that he was standing in front of her, still bobbing up and down, the ball on his blue stocking cap waving. Memory stared at her sister for a moment, and even though he couldn’t really see her face, he imagined it was a glare. Kirsten ignored her, and Memory pushed up off of the curb, dusted snow off of her hands, and stepped through the elbows that separated her from him.

“Hi.” Dak took a step back, not sure whether or not she wanted to talk to him or had just gotten up because Kirsten told her to.

“Hi. I wasn’t sure you were coming.”

“Yeah. I know. I’m sorry. It was a crazy day. I should’ve sent you a text.” He bit back the part where he admitted he wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear from him after last night. He’d taken a chance and been a little too real with her for someone he’d only met a little over a week ago, and her response had been to run off with her dad. Probably not a good sign. But she was here now.

Memory didn’t answer, just turned back around so she could see the floats coming by. This one was a plywood church and a group of children dressed as angels tossing candy from what would’ve been the front lawn. Kirsten tried to balance Anson and pick up the treats at her feet for Lorelei, but when she wasn’t fast enough, the girl scrambled down from her dad’s shoulders to get them herself, Ellie helping her down and doting over her to stay out of the road.

Shaking her head, Memory said, “I told her she wouldn’t be able to do that.”

Dak assumed that had been what the discussion before Memory got up off of the curb had been about but he decided not to ask. Another marching band came by, this one playing “O Christmas Tree,” and he snickered, hoping she would, too. But she was staring straight ahead as if her thoughts were elsewhere.