Page 1 of Memories of the Past

CHAPTER 1

Thomas

June 2009

Trinity sitting across from me, a soft smile on her face, and our favorite small diner, The Crispy Biscuit, had become my favorite way to spend an early Saturday morning. She was beautiful in every single way. I watched as she read the menu, the sunlight bouncing off her blond hair, and I realized that I could not wait for her to be mine. After this summer, our dreams, our plans would come true. As soon as we graduated, we were planning on taking a road trip, and we decided that before we returned to Willow Valley we would be married.

“What are you thinking of having this morning?” I asked, smiling at her.

“Hmmm, I don’t know.” She tapped her forefinger on her bottom lip. “It’s a cross between… pancakes or waffles.” We both said the last part in unison, then laughed.

It was one of the many things I loved about Trinity. She was a creature of habit, and every Saturday morning since we started dating in the tenth grade, she had done the exact same thing when we came for breakfast. She would debate between the two items, seeming to find the choice harder than the week before, but each time she would go for the waffles.

She looked back down at the menu, still laughing. “We both already know I will go for the waffles. I don’t know why I even bother looking,” she said, closing the menu and placing it off to the side.

“I know, but it’s fun to watch you crinkle your nose as you sift through the menu, and your eyes light up when you finally decide. If you really want, next Saturday I won’t let them give you a menu. Perhaps that way the decision will come easier.” I chuckled and winked at her, as she laughed again.

The moment I met her, I knew she was special, and the more I’d gotten to know her, the faster I fell head over heels for her. She took a sip of water and began talking about our upcoming trip and how we would have to find every single waffle house location on our way. Unbeknownst to her, I had already mapped them out, purposefully planning out our trip just so we would hit those locations. Trinity was the love of my life, and there was nothing that I wouldn’t do for her.

“Don’t you worry. I’ve got it all taken care of.” I winked just as Brooke approached our table to take our order.

“Well, if it isn’t the two lovebirds. What will you have this morning? Wait, let me guess, you’ll have the waffles, and you will have eggs, bacon, and toast.”

“You got it.” I answered, reaching across the table and grabbing Trinity’s hand. Brooke and Trinity had once been best friends, that was, until Brooke had made a pass at me. I saw Brooke glance down to our hands, then she scribbled down the order, and turned and walk away.

“How’s things at home?” Trinity questioned, quietly, so no one could hear.

Things had been strained between my father and me for a few months. He had wanted me to work for him on the ranch this summer and had been making life hard for me since I’d told him I was going to travel. It was something that the occupants of Willow Valley didn’t need to know, and I appreciated her keeping her voice low. Gossip had a way of spreading in this town.

I shrugged; I’d hoped she wouldn’t bring it up this morning. It was something that I hadn’t wanted to talk about. Instead, I just wanted to spend time with my girl and pretend that everything was fine, but I knew the question came from a caring placing inside Trinity. “Not good. I’ve worked sunup to sundown almost every day we’ve been out of school the past two weeks. He just won’t let up.”

“I’m sorry,” Trinity said, looking down at her hands. “I was hoping things would get better.”

“I just don’t understand why he can’t respect my wishes.” Instantly, I could feel the tension rising within myself, and since I didn’t want to ruin breakfast, I did my best to shrug it off. “Let’s not talk about it, okay.”

“Okay, we won’t talk about it.” Trinity grew quiet as she looked off across the street. “Hey, I think there is a man waving at you. Didn’t that guy work for your Dad at one point?” Trinity asked.

I looked in the direction she was pointing, and sure enough, Jed Hawkins was stopped at the crosswalk waving in our direction. I raised my hand and waved, Jed waving back. Jed had worked on my father’s ranch for a couple of years when I was just a kid, prior to joining the rodeo. He barely made it back to Willow Valley, but when he did, he always stopped in to see my father, and he always took the time to talk to me. He would come into Willow Valley normally with the rodeo.

“Thomas! How are you?” Jed said, approaching our table. “Miss,” he said, tilting his hat.

“Good, Jed. What brings you back to Willow Valley?” I questioned, standing up, now meeting his height.

“Ah, you know, same old thing. We’re putting on a demonstration down at the Darling Ranch. You should come and check it out later today or tomorrow. You expressed interest the last time I was in town.”

“I just might do that,” I said, knowing it would piss off my father. I caught Trinity glancing up at me with curiosity.

“Okay then, I won’t take up any more of your time, we can catch up later. Enjoy your breakfast with this cutie, and we can catch up later. I’ll keep an eye out for you today, but I saw you and wanted to come over.”

“Sounds good. It was good seeing you, and I look forward to seeing what you are doing over at Darling Ranch.”

As soon as Jed was gone, Brooke brought out our plates of breakfast and placed them in front of us, refilled our coffee, and went to another table. I was about to dig in when I noticed Trinity was still staring at me.

“What is it?”

“Are you really going to go and check things out over at the Darling Ranch?”

“Ah it’s just the rodeo demonstrations that I might go check out.” I shrugged as if it were no big deal while shoving a forkful of fried potatoes into my mouth. “Beats dealing with my father.”

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