Page 60 of Amnesia

“It’s fall. People around here really get into this time of year.”

“Have you ever carved one?” I asked, glancing around.

“Of course.” He scoffed. “I’m a brilliant pumpkin carver.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Pick one,” he said, and my eyes snapped back to him. He laughed. “Go on. Pick one. We’ll carve it later.”

“Really?” I echoed.

He nodded.

I pointed to one sitting on the ground outside the bin. “That one.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “That’s the biggest one here!”

I felt myself grinning back at him. “I know.”

He made a bunch of sounds as if he might be dying as he lifted it up. “Open the door for me, baby.”

My stomach flipped with his words, but I rushed around him to pull open the door. He went in ahead of me, telling everyone to make way for “the great pumpkin.” People were chuckling, and I heard them talking to Eddie as he carried the pumpkin off somewhere.

Loch General was beautiful. I’d never seen anything like it. I was barely inside the door, but I couldn’t go any further. There was just too much to see. Everything was wooden, but not so dark it was uncomfortable. Even though it was a huge grocery and goods store, it was quaint and charming. I could feel the history here. I could almost picture generation after generation working here side by side.

To be part of something like this, to have somewhere I’d always belong,I thought to myself. It was amazing, almost too good to be true.Way too good for you.I physically recoiled from the last thought. A pang of hurt pierced me when the words drifted through my head. What a horrible thought.What if it’s true?

“Hey,” Eddie said, coming up behind me. His voice was soft with concern, the warmth of his palm at the small of my back bringing me out of my head. Without thinking, I turned, stepping incredibly close, and buried my face in his chest.

“Hey now,” he murmured, folding me into his embrace. “What’s wrong?”

I just shook my head, pressing a little closer.

I felt his hand smooth over the back of my head, over my hair. It soothed me, and I took a breath. “Sorry,” I said, moving back.

He tugged me close again. “I’m not ready to let go yet,” he whispered against my ear.

My arms slipped back around him, holding him tight. I didn’t know why, but I felt as if my time with him was suddenly limited. Like I was just living in a fairy tale and soon I would wake back up to reality… and my reality was nothing at all like this idyllic lake life.

“Me either,” I whispered.

Eddie held me firmly, his body swaying a little, rocking me into a sense of calm. “You want me to take you back to Maggie’s?” he asked eventually.

“No!” I gasped, ripping away from him and shaking my head adamantly. “No way. Show me around.”

Amused, his eyes lit up. “You sure?”

I grabbed his hand and spun around, ready to wander through this amazing place. My feet faltered, though, when I saw we were being watched.

A few shoppers had literally stopped what they were doing to stare. I blinked, feeling like an attraction at the zoo.

“Hello.” I finally spoke out because the women were still standing there staring at me in shock.

My voice seemed to shake them, and all at once, everyone started moving around again.

I glanced back at Eddie, and he rolled his eyes. “Gossip hounds,” he whispered.

I made him show me every inch of the general store. I loved it. It was my favorite place I’d seen in town so far, and I told him so.

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