Page 40 of Love and Memories

“I don’t even know who I am! I have some things to figure out first.”

Anna let out a deep breath. “You’re right. Sorry. I just love love.”

Love wasn’t even in the equation. Love was so far away she couldn’t even see it on the edge of the horizon.

The bell above the door chimed as they walked into the store. A few other customers browsed around, and everything was tidy and clean.

“Wow. I wasn’t expecting it to be so–”

“Nice? Yeah, Camille is serious about her store.”

“Camille. Is she the owner?” Bella asked.

Anna pointed across the store. “Oh, there she is.”

A thin young woman with long dark hair strode toward them with her arms open wide. “Anna!”

Anna met her and fell into the embrace. “I brought a friend. This is Isabella Young. Bella, this is Camille Harding.”

Staring at the woman’s face, Bella extended a hand on autopilot. She’d seen the woman before. She knew it as well as she knew her own name.

“Have we met before?”

15

ISABELLA

Camille tilted her head, and her smile didn’t waver. “I don’t think we’ve met, but maybe I’m wrong.”

Anna clasped her hands in front of her chest. “You think you remember her? This is so exciting.”

Bella continued to stare at Camille. “I’m sorry. I was hit by a car about two weeks ago, and there are a lot of things I don’t remember from my most recent past.”

Camille’s jaw dropped open. “Are you serious? I was in a wreck a few years ago and lost a lot of my memories too.”

Anna slapped her palm against her forehead. “Here I was thinking Camille would use her attorney sleuthing skills to help us dig up your past, and I forgot she went through something similar.”

Bella reluctantly released Camille’s hand. Knowing she wasn’t the only one who’d gone through something so strange and difficult was comforting. “Did your memories come back?”

Camille’s smile widened. “They did! It took a while, but I believe I’ve remembered everything. It was actually a blessing in disguise because the incident and the recovery forced me to move back home to Blackwater. I’m still an attorney, but I endedup changing my focus from corporate law to family and civil law. Oh, and I married Noah, my best friend from high school. I’m not sure I would have come home if not for the wreck.”

Hope welled thick and warm in Bella’s chest. What could have been the most difficult time in Camille’s life ended up being the best. Just knowing someone else had pulled out of the mental block made her own recovery seem possible.

Anna rested a hand on Camille’s shoulder. “Bella doesn’t remember much of anything from the last five years or so, and she doesn’t even know how she got here. If she’s seen you before, maybe she lives around here.”

Camille’s smile melted. “Is there a chance you would have seen me at Blackwater Hope House?”

Anna’s tone lowered. “The women’s and children’s shelter?”

A wave of cold rushed down Bella’s face. Could she have been homeless before the incident? “I don’t know.”

Camille held up a finger. “I’ll find out. Give me just a moment.” She pulled out her phone and stepped away.

Anna faced Bella and rested her hands on Bella’s shoulders. “This could be our lead.”

“Yeah. A lead that could still leave me without a home or a job,” Bella pointed out.

“Stop it. Camille is fantastic at what she does. Her life’s mission is helping people get back on their feet. The Lord meant for us to run into her today. Trust me.”

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