Page 120 of Eight Years Gone

Jen turned with a long piece of pale-yellow ribbon in her hand, taking a moment to slide her strawberry-blond hair behind her ear. “I’ll take a small green tea and one of those huge M&M cookies.”

Maggie laughed. “I like the way Jen thinks. Go ahead and double that order.”

Grace grinned, knowing that Aunt Maggie would share half of her treat. “Consider it done. It’s the least I can do after all the craziness. I shouldn’t be any more than ten or fifteen minutes. If you can listen for the door.”

“With the way things are going, you might have to make a run for it.” Aunt Maggie winked as she smiled again.

Grace chuckled. “You’re not kidding.”

Walking back out front, Grace put on her coat and grabbed her purse, then pushed through the door, keeping a quick pace as she headed toward Brew.

If she was lucky, things would settle down for the rest of the afternoon. She would grab drinks and snacks for her crew, then take ten or fifteen minutes to catch her breath in her office.

If she’d brought another one of her mother’s journals to pass the time, well…

Grace wrinkled her nose as she chuckled because it was safe to say she was obsessed. Over the last week, she’d hung on her mother’s every word, voraciously reading every free chance she could get.

Her initial reservations about picking up a volume and invading her mother’s privacy quickly vanished into delight as her mom brought so many memories back to life from a different perspective.

As Grace greedily read through each book, she learned that her mother hadn’t only written about the best parts of her life.

Rose Evans had been a strong, independent woman and an amazing mother, but she’d had her struggles and down days too.

Through the years, her parents had occasionally argued and had hard times. But more often than not, the Evans family’s life had been good.

Grace pulled open the door, stepping into the heavenly warmth and aromas at Brew.

“Hey, Grace,” the barista said as Grace approached the counter.

“Hi, Kelly.”

“What can I get you this afternoon?”

“The usual, please.”

“Am I adding a dark brew for Jagger?”

Grace shook her head. “Jagger’s at the dojang with Todd today. But Jen and Aunt Maggie are looking for a couple of your M&M cookies.”

Kelly winced. “We have a fresh batch in the oven now, but it’ll be a few minutes.”

Grace perked up. “That’s okay. I can wait.”

“Are you sure? It’ll probably be ten minutes. Maybe fifteen.”

“Yeah. Definitely. I actually have a book in my purse.”

Kelly smiled. “I’ll let you know when everything’s ready.”

“Thanks.”

Taking off her jacket as she walked to the quiet corner of the empty shop, she snagged a chair by the small fireplace before she texted Aunt Maggie.

I’ll be about fifteen-or-so minutes. The cookies are in the oven.

Aunt Maggie texted back. Freshly baked cookies on a cold day. Even better.

Grinning, Grace pulled her mother’s last journal from her purse, opening to where she’d left off late last night while Jagger had slept beside her.

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