Page 14 of Memories of the Past

“Not unless you have the same ex I do,” I said, shoving another piece of muffin into my mouth.

“Ex? You have an ex?” Peggy questioned, looking at me with big, rounded brown eyes.

“Unfortunately, I do. I know most people around here think I’m just some book-loving spinster, but I did date someone a long time ago.”

Peggy couldn’t help but start to laugh at my choice of words. “What happened?” Peggy sat back in the chair, getting comfortable, waiting for my story.

“The usual, girl meets boy, girl falls for boy, and then boy runs off and joins the western version of the circus.”

Peggy couldn’t help but laugh again. “Trinity what are you talking about.”

I blew out a breath and sat down in the chair across from her. “Thomas Jenkins happened. We were supposed to get married at the end of the summer after we graduated high school. He was going through a real rocky period with his father at the time. I remember it like it was yesterday. We were having breakfast at The Crispy Biscuit, and he ran into a man who used to work for his father. He had left to join the rodeo, and he had invited Thomas to come down to Darling Ranch to check it out. Without me knowing, he went later that day. That night he dropped the bomb that he was leaving Willow Valley.”

“Thomas Jenkins? As in William Jenkins’ son?”

“That would be him.” I nodded.

“So, he left for good? He left his parents behind?”

“Yep, Mr. Jenkins was always busy with the ranch. Betty used to come and have tea with Aunt Vi often after he’d left. She’d always ask about me, but I did my best to keep my distance. I was hurt enough.”

“So, you mean after all these years he never came back?”

“Oh, he did, once, maybe twice over the years. I followed his career for a little while after he left, and I know for a fact that he was here for his mother’s funeral or at least he had come into town when she died. I never did see him at her funeral, so perhaps he didn’t go. I just heard it from some of the others around town. I assume he came into town, had a fight with his father, and left again. After that, I never heard anything about him. He certainly never tried to find me, until now.”

“And how did he do in his career?”

I shrugged. “He did well, but I had to stop watching after a while. He was gone, and it was unhealthy to sit and wonder about someone who you knew wasn’t coming back. Besides, when he left, along with him he took my heart. I couldn’t allow him to take more than that.”

Peggy was silent. She just sat there staring at me for a bit, nodding in understanding. “I’m sorry. If I had of known, I would have lied and told him that the store had closed or something. I figured he was here to see Vi, since he only mentioned her.”

I shrugged. “It’s all right. You wouldn’t have known. Anyways when he showed up here last night, it shocked the hell right out of me. I didn’t know what to say. He, of course, acted as if everything was normal between the two of us. I just wanted him to leave. I couldn’t even look at him without every feeling I ever had for him rushing right back into me. I had to do whatever it took to protect myself, so I told him to just take a book and go.”

“What happened?”

“Exactly what I figured would happen. He took the book and left.” I shrugged. “He hasn’t changed. He’s still running.”

“Who’s still running.”

Both Peggy and I jumped at the sound of a man’s voice behind us. I turned and looked toward the door to see Thomas standing there, holding the book he must have taken last night in his hand.

I swallowed hard as I looked at the man I’d been in love with my entire life. He leaned up against the door, wearing perfectly fitted jeans, a blue plaid shirt that brought out his eyes. The sleeves of the shirt were rolled up, exposing his muscular forearms, and he held his hat in his large, rough hands. Large, rough hands that I’d kill to have hold me once again. I swallowed hard.

“Oh gosh, look at the time. I must be going. I’ve got to get to work. I’ll see you soon,” Peggy said, getting up from the chair, grabbing her purse and coffee.

Thomas stepped to the side to let her pass before turning to look at me. We stood there in silence looking at one another.

“Oh gosh, where is my head. Trinity, I almost took your mug,” Peggy said, running back inside, setting the mug down on the counter as she smiled and winked at me. Before I could say anything to her, she was gone again.

Thomas and I stood there for what felt like an eternity, in silence, looking at one another. My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I blinked and averted my eyes, grabbing my clipboard. I quickly turned to the shelves behind the counter to keep my distance from him.

“I figured I’d bring this back. I believe it may have gotten into the box it was in by mistake.”

“Is that so?” I bit out, not looking at him. “Not the type of reading material you were looking for?”

“It appears to be your aunt’s diary. I thought perhaps you might like to read it. The little bit I read is rather interesting,” he said, placing it on the counter.

I dropped the clipboard down on the counter and spun around. “Why would I want to read it. Wait! What? You read it?” I asked, shocked.

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