Aimee (A Time for Love Book 3)

by Phelps, Brandi

  “Joe’s officially closing at the end of the month,” Aimee said. “I’ll take a few weeks for minor renovations, and I’m hoping to open in early December.”

  “She’ll make it,” Joe said as he delivered two cups of coffee and a basket of mini pastries. “She’s got an excellent plan.”

  “And lots of help,” Aimee added once Joe left. “Tish and Lucy are helping with the marketing and promotions, Charlene’s handling the legal work, and Lucas has volunteered to help paint. Mandy’s even offered to work as hostess for the grand opening! And, of course, I couldn’t have done it without your help with the books!”

  “Any time.”

  Aimee watched as Frank nibbled on a chocolate doughnut hole. He looked relaxed, but his face was a bit pale. Was he tired already? He glanced up and caught her watching him. “I’m glad you’re doing better,” she said.

  “Me too.”

  They sat for a moment, and then Aimee asked, “What was it like? The war? I saw a bit of it, but I knew I was only there for one day. It must’ve been different, to spend months in the trenches.” When Frank didn’t answer immediately, she added, “Or if you don’t want to talk about it, I understand.”

  “It’s not that. I just don’t know how to describe it. At first, I was terrified. I didn’t mind the training so much, since no one was trying to kill me, except maybe the drill sergeant. But I knew things would get worse, and they did. Do you remember when we talked about change and how scary it could be?”

  Aimee thought back to one of their early conversations. They had discussed how sometimes life seemed to jump the tracks. She nodded.

  “You told me whatever was coming couldn’t be as bad as a bucketful of frogs. Whenever I was scared, like the first time I flew in a plane or crossed the Atlantic or heard enemy gunfire, I would remind myself that it’s not a bucketful of frogs.”

  “Did it help?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know. It was a distraction, at least. But the point is, when Edwina sent me back, I didn’t consciously remember you, but that bit of conversation stuck in my mind. You weren’t completely gone.”

  “I don’t know what that means. I don’t pretend to understand this whole time travel thing,” Aimee said, but she couldn’t help feeling pleased that he hadn’t forgotten her words.

  “I had to do things I hated. Be someone I didn’t want to become. Learn how to hurt people. Watch friends and comrades die.” Frank’s expression was serious. “I never expected to make it back alive. I didn’t want to make it back alive, because I didn’t think I’d be able to live with the things I did. You can’t live in a state of terror forever, so eventually you just get numb to the danger, unless someone’s actually shooting at you, and you do what you have to in order to survive. When you brought me back, I didn’t want you to see me, to find out what I’d become.”

  His words squeezed Aimee’s heart, and she reached across the table to clasp his hand. He didn’t seem to notice, just continued talking.

  “When you kept coming to see me, I hoped that maybe someday, months or years from now, I’d be far enough away from all the images replaying in my mind that I’d be able to work on a normal relationship. Instead, there’s a veil over those memories. They hardly even hurt. It’s like they went from a huge, gaping wound to an old scar in just a couple of weeks. Maybe it’s the time travel or all the prayers I said or the excellent care you and Edwina provide. Whatever it is, I’m grateful. I can’t promise I won’t break down at some point in the future.”

  “I don’t think anyone can promise that,” Aimee said dryly. She’d had her own mini breakdown after her split with Tom.

  “But for now, everything seems possible. I miss my family and my old life, sure, but now I have so many choices. I have to figure out what I want to do. What kind of life I want to lead.”

  He wasn’t shying away from personal topics now. In fact, the conversation was so intense, Aimee was getting nervous. What if he was leading up to dumping her again, or telling her he wanted to go back to Alabama?

  When Joe returned to check on them, Aimee seized the opportunity to thank him and make their excuses. She hugged Joe goodbye and promised to stop by again the next day. He really was a dear, and she hoped he would be happy in California with his wife and son.

  Once she and Frank were back outside, Aimee hesitated. Their next stop was only a few blocks away, but she decided that with Frank’s leg not completely healed, it was safer to drive. They stopped in front of a small shop with a red striped awning. The sign above it read, “Clem’s Extreme Ice Cream.”

  “More food?” Frank raised an eyebrow. “Are you trying to fatten me up?”

  “It’s strictly business,” Aimee said. “Come on, you have to taste their ice cream.”

  Aimee had met with the owner a couple of times, but the teenage girl working the counter didn’t know her. Aimee and Frank both ordered vanilla waffle cones with a shot of flavoring syrup. Seating in the ice cream parlor was very limited, so Aimee led Frank across the street to a small neighborhood park almost hidden from street view by a line of trees, and they walked slowly along the stone-paved path.

  Aimee was regretting the momentary panic that had caused her to cut short their time in the bakery. She hoped Frank would pick up the thread of their conversation, but he didn’t. Finally she asked, “What do you think of the ice cream?”

  “Mmm, delicious!” Frank said. “And adding the syrup? Brilliant idea. I love the vanilla and hazelnut combination.”

  “Good, because I’m planning to serve it.”

  “You are?”

  “Lucy and Tish both thought making multiple ice cream flavors in addition to the baked goods would be too much to start with. I’ve talked to Clem, and I’ll buy my basic types of ice cream from him. I’ll serve vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and a couple of sherbets every day. I can order more, add flavoring if I want to, or make my own ice cream for the more unusual flavors. But initially at least, I’ll be serving Clem’s.”

  Frank swallowed a mouthful of vanilla. “I hope you negotiated a discount.”

  “That’s why I need you,” Aimee teased. “Yes, I did. We’ll see how it goes. If the arrangement doesn’t work, I’ll look at alternatives.”

  “I think it’s a smart decision,” Frank nodded.

  They walked around a curve in the path, and Aimee spotted a bench beneath a maple tree whose leaves blazed a brilliant red-gold. Frank’s limp was growing more noticeable. Aimee didn’t want to call attention to it, so she sat without asking Frank. He joined her, and they watched a pair of squirrels as they scrambled through fallen leaves searching for acorns.

  Aimee wanted to ask Frank about what he’d said just before they left Joe’s. Was he trying to tell her he was leaving? That he needed time away from her? He’d already pushed her away twice. She didn’t want to risk a third rejection, so she didn’t speak, and Frank didn’t either. He checked his watch a couple of times, and Aimee wondered if he was getting bored.

  After he finished his ice cream cone, Frank tossed his paper napkin into a nearby bin. “Are you ready to go?”

  He must be getting tired. They’d done enough for his first outing. Aimee tried to squash her disappointment. They’d toured the bakery, talked, and shared ice cream. What more did she want?

  Aimee started the car. “Edwina will be glad we’re back early,” she said with determined cheerfulness.

  “We have another stop to make,” Frank corrected.

  “Where?”

  “Turn left here.”

  Frank directed her on a route that took them out of the central neighborhood where Joe’s was located and on a road heading out of the city. It took Aimee a few minutes to realize they were driving in the direction of her mother’s house.

  “Are we going to visit my mom?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Frank refused to say anything more until he told Aimee to turn at the church they’d attended with her mother. After Aimee parke
d, Frank headed for the same basement door where Aimee had taken him on their last visit. Aimee half-expected to find her mother waiting inside, but the fellowship hall was empty except for the piano onstage and a couple of chairs placed conveniently near the stage. Frank seated Aimee in one of the chairs.

  “Our last time here didn’t end well,” he said. “I thought we should replace that memory with what will hopefully be a better one.”

  He left Aimee in her chair and stepped onto the stage. He pulled out the piano bench, sat, poised his hands over the piano keys, and turned to Aimee. “This is for you.”

  He plunked out the notes of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” just as Aimee had taught him during their piano lesson. When he finished, he stood up and bowed, while Aimee clapped. He took the seat beside her.

  “I like to think of it as our song,” he said. “Mostly because it’s the only song I can play right now. But I think it represents our relationship.”

  His expression was serious, and Aimee didn’t know whether to laugh. She felt her pulse quicken. What was he saying?

  “When I left, you followed me. I never expected you to or thought for one second that you would be put in danger because of me. Now it’s my turn to say that I’ll follow you. Anywhere that Aimee goes, I’ll be sure to go. If you’ll have me.”

  He took Aimee’s hand, and she met his eyes. The lifelessness that had worried her was gone, replaced by determination and maybe a flicker of nervousness.

  “Aimee, I know we still need to learn to disagree, not destroy. To find out how to pamper our partner and forge a fireproof family and all the other things in Edwina’s two hundred-page workbook.”

  He really had been studying the book, Aimee registered, while at the same time, she could hardly breathe, afraid to spoil the moment.

  “Aimee, will you enter Marriage Preparation with me?” he asked.

  Aimee looked at his serious face, with its square jaw and steady eyes. She couldn’t think of anything clever to say, so she settled for a simple, heartfelt word. “Yes!”

  He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. She had wanted to hug him ever since she’d found him on the battlefield, and now she basked in the warmth of his arms. They sat for long minutes, not talking, just savoring the fact of being together. Just the two of them. It felt like they had all the time in the world.

  Finally Aimee pulled away. “There is one condition, though.”

  Frank looked nervous. “What?”

  “We have to get a better song.”

  Frank smiled. “I’ll work on it, I promise.” And he pulled her into his arms again.