Page 13 of Memories of the Past

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I sat out on the front porch of the home I’d known growing up, enjoying the night air and silence. When I’d returned from town, I’d spent some time looking around. The more I looked, the more I realized that the place was not only in bad shape. It was probably far beyond repair, in some cases. I wasn’t sure how much it would take to repair, or how much money it would take even if I wanted to at this point. It might just be best to put the place up for sale and pass it on to someone who would love it the way my parents had.

I took a sip of my coffee, thinking of all the things I’d need to do around the house before I had a pile of people here for the wake. I knew Lyle would give me a hand, since he’d already offered. I placed my coffee mug on the small table that sat beside me on the porch and picked up the book I’d gotten from the bookstore. I ran my hand over the leather cover. I hadn’t even opened it to see what it was. I’d been so shocked at the fact that Trinity wouldn’t take a couple of minutes to talk to me, I just took what was in my hand.

I opened the front cover to a blank page. Two hand-drawn hearts were there, the namesJed and Vi foreverwritten underneath. I frowned, then turned the next page. A date was scrawled in pretty handwriting on the next page: July 5, 1966. My curiosity getting the better of me, I flipped the page to seeDear Diarywritten in the same pretty handwriting.

Was this Vi’s diary? I questioned. It had to be. I read a little further and then decided that I’d need to return this to Trinity. It must have gotten into the box by mistake. I shut the journal and set it down on the small table, my eyes wandering to the flower beds in front of the house, then back to the diary. Then I reached for the book again, my curiosity getting the better of me. I opened it back up to the first page, but within minutes shut it again. I had no right to read someone’s personal thoughts.

I placed it on the table beside me and picked up my coffee cup. I glanced out over the fields. The sun was just beginning to set, providing a beautiful reddish-orange hue over everything. For some reason, I knew it would be hard for me to let this place go, but I knew there was no way I could keep it. I’d never been interested in running a ranch.

The longer I sat there with my own thoughts, the more I wanted to get out of my head. I looked back to the small table where I’d placed the book and let out a deep sigh. “Oh what the hell,” I muttered to myself. I picked up the book, opened it up to the center, and began reading.

CHAPTER 6

Trinity

I carried my coffee into the bookstore and placed it down on the counter. It had been a late night, and I’d barely gotten any sleep. I’d spent the night tossing and turning, only to rise early to try and stop the thoughts of Thomas from consuming my mind. I looked up at the little clock that sat above the register; it was almost nine. I walked over to the sign in the window and flipped it over, then opened the front door and wedged a piece of wood underneath it to allow the fresh fall air to pour in.

It was going to be a beautiful day. The sun shone brightly, and the streets were already bustling with people. I waved to a couple of girls who walked by.

“Morning, Trinity!” they both shouted.

“Morning, girls,” I called back, then pulled out the welcome sign and set it out front of the store.

I went back inside and grabbed my clipboard from behind the counter, making my way over to one of the bookshelves, and began taking inventory of what books had sold.

“Good morning!” I heard behind me and turned to see Peggy in the doorway, a box from The Crispy Biscuit tucked securely under her arm.

“Morning,” I said unenthusiastically.

“Well, if I had of known you’d be this excited to get your coffee cake muffin, I’d have ordered you two.” Peggy giggled, sitting down in one of the chairs that sat in the corner.

“I’m sorry, I had a bad night,” I said, placing my clipboard down on the counter and crossing my arms in front of me. “How are you?”

“Good. I can’t stay too long this morning. I had a huge order for some funeral arrangements. Plus. I need to get all the baskets done for Mrs. Parker as well.”

“Funeral? I’ve been so busy that I’m behind on all the town gossip. I almost feel as if I live in another universe right now. Who passed away?”

“William Jenkins. His son came in yesterday to order the flowers for the funeral. Oh, did he stop by? He asked about the store by name, so I’m guessing he used to live here at one point,” Peggy said as she peeled the wrapper away from the soft, cakey muffin.

Peggy had only moved to Willow Valley about four years ago, after she lost her husband. Even though we became friends almost instantly, I’d never told her about Thomas. Some things were just better left buried, and Thomas Jenkins was one of them.

I felt my stomach turn. That explained it completely. That was why Thomas was back here. It had to be. There’d be no other reason. I walked over, picked up the muffin Peggy had brought for me, and removed the paper, then I buried my teeth into the sweet cake, savoring every bite.

“Did you want coffee?” I asked with my mouth full.

“Yes, please. I’m going to need the energy.” Peggy giggled.

I brought out a fresh, hot cup of coffee and set it on the counter, noticing that Peggy was looking at me, a look of concern on her face. “Trinity, is something wrong? Where’s Vi?” she asked, looking down the hall toward the back.

“She moved to the new retirement village. I dropped her off there on Tuesday. She said she was ready to retire. I’m not going to lie. It came as a shock, to be honest.”

“Is that what’s got you so down?”

“No, if she is ready to retire, I say let her. I’m happy for her. What I’m not happy about is the visitor I had last night,” I said, taking a sip of my hot coffee and setting it back down.

“Oh? Is it something I should be worried about?” Peggy asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

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