Page 20 of Crash and Burn

“Of course, honey.”

“I think I know what triggered her. If you don’t answer my question, then I’ll know I’m right.” Sheila side eyed me. “Was it the bonfire?” I asked.

She didn’t say anything and looked down at the table. Finally, she said, “I need to go clean tables, Hudson. Give her some time. When she gets like this, it usually takes several days to get the Amelia we know back.”

“Does anything help it happen faster?” I asked with high hopes.

She let out a deep breath and tossed her towel between her hands. I could tell she was nervous to tell me anything. “She loves books. Likea lot.”

I smiled, “Thanks, Sheila!”

Sheila shot back, “For what?”

“...Nothing”

She smiled and winked, “Darn, right.”

I had an idea.

*

Saturday– Amelia

I kept replaying Hudson’s visit in my head and felt like such a jerk. Hudson was trying to be friendly and make sure I was all right, and I shit all over him for it. I couldn’t take that back. I called into work again. I just need one more day. I needed to pull myself out of the house and do something. Usually, when I get in these funks, I treat myself to an expensive coffee and head to the bookstore. I thought that would be the perfect thing for me to get lost in for the day.

Once I finished my shower, I pulled on my warmest sweater. It was almost Halloween and the temperatures had dropped. I slid into my favorite jeans and picked out my best pair of boots. The black leather western boots that went up to just above the ankle were calling my name.

Alright, Amelia. Let’s enjoy the day today.I grabbed my coin purse and keys from the tray on the buffet and headed for the door.

I stopped in my tracks when I opened the door and saw a box sitting on my front step with a card on top. I knelt down and looked for an address, saw it was from Hudson, and smiled. I brought it back inside, setting it on top of the buffet. Opening the card, it read:

Amelia – I’m sorry I showed up unannounced. I was just worried about you. One friend to another. It’s not much, but I hope this box cheers you up.

-Hudson

P.S. Can you come back to the diner now? Sheila is great, but if I drink my coffee any darker, I’ll start having heart palpitations.

Tears sprung to my eyes. I took a deep breath and let out a slow exhale. It was everything. Then I giggled, because Sheiladoesmake the darkest coffee in town, and bless her heart but everyone at the diner knows it’ll keep you awake for days.

I couldn’t believe he bought me something. I reached for a knife and opened the box gently, worrying that whatever might be inside might be fragile. Hudson had taped it up like he was sending it to the south pole. I laughed and shook my head while pulling out the tissue paper. I gasped, “BOOKS!” and thought,HE bought ME books. He said he doesn’t read, so I was supposed to pick out a book for HIM. He remembered....I couldn’t get over it. I pull each one out.One…. two…. three…four books! Four books!And all from different genres. I read the titles of each book:

Stanton Adore by T.L. Swan(It has a note inside:The lady looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for a good romance book.)

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton(Another note:This lady was in a TV show. The girl at the counter went crazy when she took me to this book.)

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz (Note: I lied. I’ve read one book. ?)

Wow! Wow! Wow!I couldn’t believe he picked out four books for me. I laughed at each note he left. Of course, he’d read theScary Storiesbook.Ha. I didn’t have any of them.How could he have known?

I was so excited I could hardly stand still and took each book over to my bookshelves, placing them all together at eye level. Setting a bookend after them to keep them in place, completed the picture. I thought,one book gift deserves another. I need to find him a good one.I left the house for the bookstore with an extra spring in my step.

Chapter 8

Hudson

I hadn’t been back to the diner since I talked to Sheila and picked out the books for Amelia. A few weeks had passed, and it was early November. I didn’t even know whether she liked the books or not. Buying the books for Amelia didn’t feel right. I hadn’t shopped for another woman since Devina died. Shopping for Amelia even scared me away a bit. I wrestled with it, thinking I might have stepped over the line again, I might have looked desperate, and I might have offended Devina in some way.

---