Page 83 of Find Me in California

“Magnolia Blu. The woman I picked up this weekend. This is her.”

A chill runs down her neck, tightening her skin. She looks warily between him and the picture. “Are you sure?”

“That’s exactly how I saw her.”

“But that’s my grandmother. That picture was taken over fifty years ago.”

“I know. How is that possible?”

Julia is speechless. She looks from Matt to the photo.

He throws up his hands. “That explains it. I’m losing my head.” He shoves the photo back at her and paces the room, dragging his fingers through his hair.

“You’re not.” Julia returns the photo. “I’m sure there’s another explanation.”

“One aside from me having a psychotic break?” Matt turns to her, his eyes bright with the need for answers. “What about your grandmother? She recognized me. Those things she said ... It felt like she was talking to me.”

“All of which has an easy explanation,” Julia reassures. “You must have seen a photo like this at some point and your subconscious tapped into it.”

“Maybe.” He sounds doubtful.

She tries another angle. “You lived with Liza for what, eight years? You probably saw a picture there. As for my grandmother, she wasn’t seeing you, Matt. She saw Matty. And what she said about you coming back, it makes perfect sense. The night Matty died, he was supposed to come back for my grandmother. They were going to run away together.”

Matt frowns. “I don’t remember that part. Was it in the diary?”

“It was. I didn’t get the chance to read it to you. I think you hung up on me or your phone died.” Julia returns the photo to the shelf.

“What happened to Mag—your grandmother after Elizabeth told her she was pregnant with my mom? Did she stay with her?”

“For a short time, until Liza found the diary and read it.”

“She read about Magnolia’s affair with Matty. Liza made her leave.”

“Yes, though I think Mama Rose would have left anyway. She was pregnant.”

Matt follows her to the couch, sitting beside her. “Sam’s kid?”

Julia shakes her head and sees the instant it registers with Matt. His eyes flare. “Matty Holloway isyourgrandfather?”

“I think so. Mama Rose said as much in her last entry.”

“So, what happened?”

“As you can imagine, that was the end of their friendship. Mama Rose returned home and tried reconciling with her parents, but they refused. She eventually ended up back in California, married Benjie, and started her business. This was their house.”

“And they lived happily ever after.”

“For a while.”

Matt fixes his attention on his hands clasped between his knees, his expression pensive. “She seemed so real to me. I could smell her. I was touching her.”

“Maybe—” Julia stalls.

Matt looks at her. “What?”

She shakes her head, feeling embarrassed. “You’ll think it’s foolish.”

A sharp laugh bursts from Matt. “After what I experienced this weekend, not a chance.”

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