Page 47 of Hidden Memories

That’s the man I remember in those stories—one who carried an unbearable weight on his back.

But the man in front of me? There’s light in his eyes. A real smile on his face. And from the way he lingers when Julia speaks, the way his gaze tracks her movements with interest that’s both subtle and unmistakable—he’s flirting.

It’s enough to make my heart swell.

Everyone deserves happiness.

Everyone deserves another chapter.

Luis holds my hand a little longer than most, his grip warm, firm—assessing me. His dark eyes study mine, searching for something, though I don’t know what.

Then, he tilts his head slightly, his voice colored with familiarity.

“So, you must be Kat?”

The words hit me like a fist to the ribs. Not because he’s just said my name but because it sounds like how he would have said it thirteen years ago.

Like if I’d met him back then.

Like if Santi had ever gotten the chance to introduce me.

So, you’re the Kat my Santi couldn’t stop talking about…

And just like that, I’m dragged back to those slidingdoors and wonder if I could have been wrong about what happened that day.

Luis lets go then gazes down at my son and salutes him. “Theo?”

My son offers one curt nod.

“Ava told me about our new Echo Valley residents. Being quite new myself, I wanted to make sure you all were invited to a dinner at Enzo’s. Ava said she’d extended the invitation, then the pair got busy, so it looks like I’m in charge now.” He glances down at Theo. “Are you a burger man or a hot dog man?”

“Burgers. With bacon.”

I shake my head. “You don’t have to make the bacon, Luis.”

“Are you kidding? I’ll pile the bacon nice and high, Theo. It’ll put hair on your chest.”

Theo blows a little laugh out of his nose and scrunches it. You can tell Luis has five kids. He’s very natural. He’s the warm-hearted man I expected.

“That’s nice of you, Luis. Is it still on Thursday?”

“Yes, it is. Julia will drive you two over to Monarch Hills. Five p.m. will give us some daylight because Ava said she’s going to teach Theo some math or something around the ranch?”

Theo nods.

“All right then,” he says, bemused. “See y’all Thursday.”

I lift my takeaway cup. “Thanks for the drinks.”

Julia watches him leave with a wide-eyed look I didn’t know the lady was capable of and then she lets out a sigh and claps her hands together.

“Theo, I’ll need you to sit up here at the cash register. You can finish your hot chocolate andman the fort.”

He deadpans, “I don’t know how to use the cash register.”

“Since we aren’t open yet, I don’t think that should be a problem.” She winks.

She turns to me. “I’ll be here in the shop sorting through the shelves, but if you could take inventory in the storage building out back, I’d appreciate that.”

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