Page 11 of My Almost Ex

“That’s vague,” Dori says but looks back at me. “Do you remember what coffee is?”

I stare at her blankly. “Yes, I know what coffee is. I just need to find my mom, Adam, and Mr. Greene.”

“Oh,” Ethel says and her and Dori’s eyebrows go in all different directions. “Why?”

“Because this is my life and so what if I don’t remember anything? I’m going to eventually. One day I’ll find out exactly why my mom and Adam don’t like one another, why I’d leave Adam and go to my parents, and everything else about who Lucy Davis was. Or is.”

“You mean Lucy Greene,” Dori says.

Shit. I never thought about that. I am Lucy Greene, but only until Adam divorces me.

We pull into downtown and I reposition my ponytail, trying to look halfway presentable.

As I step out of the Cadillac in the parking lot behind the square, a minivan pulls up beside the car and a woman flies out, swarming me. “Lucy, Lucy!”

My back presses against the car as she tackles me and hugs me so tightly, I struggle to breathe. Pulling back, she holds my forearms, looking me over.

Then her face transforms into a scowl and her pointer finger is right in front of my face. “You leave me again and so help me God, I will sucker punch you right between the legs.”

I squeeze my thighs together on instinct, but the only thing I’m happy about is that I recognize her. “Cora.”

She’s a little older than I remember, but her strawberry-blonde hair and freckled face still holds youthfulness.

“She remembers her, but not me?” Dori says from next to us.

“Hello, Ethel. Dori.” Cora tips her head in greeting. A crying baby sounds from the minivan and Cora backs up. “Sorry, give me a moment.” She pulls out a baby and settles it on her hip.

“You have a baby?”

Her smile dims.

I hate that reaction. As though I’m disappointing people.

“Yeah, Luce, I married Toby, remember? And I was pregnant when you left.”

My heart sinks. I don’t remember such milestones in one of my best friend’s lives. But I do know that there was never a thing I kept from Cora, so maybe she can help me regain some of my memories.

“Can we talk in a bit? Are you busy?” I ask.

“It’s story time at the bookstore. It’s Brody’s favorite time of day. But after, you can come over while he takes a nap?”

“You should go to story time with them,” Ethel says.

“Next time. I have to get to the coffee shop.”

“Just go in for a second. In the meantime, I’ll find Hank and Adam for you.” Ethel pulls out her cell phone.

Cora’s already got her stroller out and is placing her son inside. “Walk with me. You were gone last night before I could catch up with you. We arrived a half hour after the action, from what I heard.”

We round the corner into the town square and it’s just like last night but not nearly as crowded. Cora stops in front of a bookstore next to the brewery. I look inside.

“Presley?” I ask, remembering the woman inside from last night.

“You know her?” Cora acts surprised.

“I met her last night. She looks so much like Clara.”

“Oh yeah. That’s a whole thing I’ll have to fill you in on when we catch up.”

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