Page 47 of Memories of the Past

“Do you?” Peggy asked as she tied the white ribbon around the bouquet and then wrapped it up in a pink paper, smiling at the finished product.

“I do.” I nodded.

She reached over and grabbed a box of chocolates off her shelf and held them up, gently rocking them back and forth.

I nodded. Trinity used to love chocolate, and I was sure she still did. “Yes, please,” I answered.

“Oh, and what about this?” Peggy said coming, around the counter, walking over to the biggest bear I’d ever laid eyes on sitting in the corner. “Trinity has loved this bear since I got it.”

I gave her a skeptical look, but her expression was so serious, I knew there was no way I was leaving this shop without it, especially if it meant making Trinity happy. “Okay, no problem, throw that in as well,” I replied and reached for my wallet while Peggy quickly tabulated my bill.

Half hour later, I was on my way out to the retirement residence with a giant stuffed bear sitting in the passenger’s seat.

CHAPTER 20

Trinity

The dining room was quiet now. Most of the residents had eaten and returned to their day. We still sat there, empty plates in front of us, sipping on coffee.

“That was excellent,” Jed said, placing his arm on the back of Aunt Vi’s chair while I ate the last bite of my pie.

“Sure was,” Aunt Vi agreed.

“So how did you two meet again, after all these years?” I asked.

“Well, if it hadn’t of been for my good friend Thomas, we never would have.”

“Thomas you say?” I questioned, meeting Jed’s eyes.

“Yep. He was a lot like me. Left Willow Valley young to chase after a dream. He, too, left behind a young girl, who he loved dearly. I think I remembered seeing him with her once or twice. She was a pretty little thing. I believe her name was Tiffany or Tammy.”

“Trinity?” I asked.

Aunt Vi looked over at me and smiled.

Jed looked over at me and smiled. “That is it. Did you know her?” he questioned. “Go to school with her?”

“Jed, this is my Trinity,” Aunt Vi answered. “My niece. Thomas’s Trinity.” Aunt Vi laughed at the look on Jed’s face and then looked over to me and winked.

“Aunt Vi, please, don’t call me that.”

“What a small world,” Jed said, winking at me and then looking past me. “And would you look at that, there he is now, my friend Thomas,” Jed said, pointing behind me.

I closed my eyes at the sound of his name. He was the last person I’d wanted to see, the hurt from yesterday still too raw. Yet I turned to see Thomas pushing a wheelchair that held the huge bear I recognized instantly from Peggy’s store, and almost laughed out loud. One of the nurses walked beside him holding a wrapped bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.

“Oh my, look at all that.” Aunt Vi giggled and placed her hand on my shoulder. “Remember what I said,” she said, meeting my eyes with a stern look.

As Thomas approached the table, he slowed the chair and then thanked the nurse as he took the flowers from her hands. He smiled and nodded at Aunt Vi, greeting Jed before turning to look at me. I couldn’t help but meet his eyes. Had he done this for me?

“Trinity, before you say anything…”

“I see that not only did Melinda get you, but it looks like Peggy got you really good as well,” I said, looking over the over-sized bear that sat in the wheelchair. I’d remembered when she’d purchased that bear last year. She’d figured it would sell in a heartbeat; however, it had sat in the corner ever since collecting dust.

Thomas grinned. “Nothing is too good for my girl,” he said, holding the flowers out for me to take.

I looked at him, then reached for the package and opened the pink paper and smiled down at the white orchids. “These are beautiful,” I whispered, tears coming to my eyes as I leaned down so Aunt Vi could see.

“She may have gotten me good, but she was trying to help as well.”

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