Page 94 of Love and Memories

Travis accepted his hug from Kendra next. “Is there any chance you’ve seen Bella before? She thinks this place looks familiar.”

Kendra’s mouth twisted to one side. “Sorry, but I haven’t. I was working the morning of your accident. I remember all the lights and sirens passing by.”

“Do you remember anything else from that morning?” Travis asked.

Kendra propped her hand on the counter beside her. “Well, there was a man in here. He said he was just passing through, so I asked him a little bit about where he was from and all that. He just said he was from out of town. He got a little stiff when the sirens and lights started, and he asked for his breakfast to-go.”

Bella’s back straightened. It had to be Bill. “What did he look like?”

“He was tall. About this high,” Kendra said as she moved her hand to a spot in the air above her head. “Kinda lanky. White hair and white beard.”

“That’s him,” Bella whispered. “That’s Bill.”

“You don’t think he could have been the one who hit you, do you?” Kendra asked. “I mean, he was here, but maybe he hit you before he came in.”

Bella reached out a hand. “No, no. He’s a friend. Did he say where he was going?”

Kendra thought for a moment, and a slight crease formed between her brows. “Actually, I don’t know when he slipped out. Someone else gave him his order, and I guess I was paying too much attention to the sirens to notice.”

At least Bill had been safe for a moment. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ve been worried about him.”

“He was such a sweet man. Very patient with our early morning rush,” Kendra said as she grabbed a couple of paper menus. “Are the two of you eating in today?”

“We are,” Bella said. “I’ve heard great things about the pork chops here.”

“Oh, they’re second to none,” Kendra said as she gestured to an empty booth.

Travis didn’t bring up Bill throughout the meal, and Bella locked the information from Kendra away as a win. If Bill was here without her and she’d been hit between here and town, then that meant Bill probably dropped her off here. Small pieces were finally coming together.

After they ate, Travis stayed close to her side as they got back into his truck. “Are you sure you still want to see it?”

Bella climbed into his truck and nodded. “Yeah. I need to. Coming here today at least gave us a little more information. I feel like it can only help.”

In truth, she had no idea where she’d been found. Travis said it wasn’t far from here, but she hadn’t been conscious until after she was checked into the hospital.

Travis rounded the truck and got in on his side. “If you change your mind, just tell me.”

“I will. Thanks for doing this.”

He reached for her hand as he merged onto the main road. “Anything for you.”

She focused on the warmth of his hand in hers as she scanned the area. Trees crowded the road on both sides, and autumn leaves drifted across their path.

Bella scooted forward in her seat. “If Bill dropped me off at the diner, I would have been walking this way.”

“Most likely. Anything look familiar?”

A dirt drive intersected the road ahead. “Can you pull over? I want to walk.”

“I don’t like that idea. Walking got you hit last time.”

“But you’re with me. Surely, I won’t get run over twice,” she pointed out.

It was strange how her mind assumed she was safe with him. Just having Travis beside her made her feel invincible.

Travis pulled over in the drive and opened his door. “Let me come around. The ground might be uneven.”

As silly as she found it, she did as he asked. She wasn’t pregnant enough that she was losing her balance, but the extra weight was something to get used to.

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