A Promise Remembered

by Elizabeth Mowers

  “No need.”

  William cracked his neck and held out an arm toward the door. “After you,” he managed to say, his voice straining. As they proceeded to the next possible location, he found himself royally irritated with Annie Curtis. If she didn’t like the place, all she had to do was politely say so instead of embarrassing them both in front of Arnold.

  Their next stop was a tiny shop squeezed between a sports store and post office. Farther uptown and away from the lake, it was the ugly stepsister of Cappaletti’s. Dingy, dark and reeking of mildew, it would take a lot of elbow grease and time to fix up. But as William poked around, he determined it wasn’t an impossible feat.

  “It’s a bit of a fixer-upper, eh?” William said.

  “You could always remodel it to fit your needs.” Arnold smoothed a hand over his hair and spun a large gold ring around his chubby finger.

  Annie shook her head and led William into the kitchen. “It wouldn’t fit our needs, William.”

  “This place used to be a sandwich shop,” Arnold called, turning on all the overhead lights. William couldn’t recall the sandwich shop, but as he scanned the buyer’s sheet, he thought the price was in their range.

  “It’s not too bad.”

  Annie frowned. “It’s a pass for me.”

  William clucked his tongue. “Why? What’s wrong with this one?”

  “For starters the kitchen isn’t equipped for a diner. It was designed for a simple sandwich shop, so you’re going to have to sink a fortune into it—grills, exhaust system, major appliances.” William leaned back into the kitchen again to see what he had missed. “And I came in here once before when it was a sandwich shop. I couldn’t get a parking space, so I never returned. No amount of money will enable us to build a parking lot when there isn’t land for it. Plus there are two similar restaurants within walking distance of here. Why would we want to set ourselves across the street from the competition right out of the gate?”

  William slapped the buyer’s sheet back down on the table and signaled they should proceed to the next location. He hated to admit it, but Annie did know what she was talking about, even if she dampened the initial excitement of real-estate shopping.

  By the time they’d visited and rejected the fourth location, William knew he wasn’t the only person feeling defeated.

  “Okay, kids,” Arnold said on a sigh, locking the front door. “I have another appointment I need to race to, so let me sift through your feedback and see what else I can find.” He handed them his business card with the motto It’s not hard with Hardy, flashed his pearly white trademark smile and jetted off.

  They loitered in the parking lot a minute, Annie clutching her purse against her side and studying him.

  “You’re disappointed, aren’t you?” she finally asked.

  “Me? No.” It was a lie, and they both knew it.

  “I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time, William, especially mine.”

  “You certainly didn’t, Annie. We made record time.”

  They strode through the parking lot to his truck. After he walked ahead of her to open her car door, she paused, leaving him to stand awkwardly, waiting for her. Her brow twisted.

  “What’s the problem?” he asked after a few moments.

  She shifted her weight to one foot and readjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. “Why do you always do that?” Her question was more of an accusation.

  “Do what?”

  “That.”

  “Standing? Breathing? Aging by the second? You’re going to have to be more specific, Curtis.”

  “You’ve been holding the door open for me all morning.”

  “And?”

  “You don’t have to do that, you know.”

  It dawned on him that her furrowed brow was merely a guise. For the first time since he’d arrived back in Chinoodin Falls, she seemed self-conscious. Any annoyance he’d had with her while looking at properties melted away as he saw now that her tough exterior was a facade, most likely built and crusted over in the last few years she had spent wrangling through life with Sean.

  Even though she had known him once, loved him once, she didn’t trust him now. That much was apparent.

  She expelled an exasperated sigh, and he yearned to assure her he was a good guy, like the Old Timers she trusted so much. But as his past flashed through his mind, he wasn’t sure he could make a convincing appeal.

  “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he said softly. She straightened at his wise observation.

  “I’m not uncomfortable,” she protested, hurrying to slide into the car. “You just don’t have to do that—that’s all.”

  As they cruised back to the diner, he knew that if he were to make an ally of Annie, he would need a lighter touch. After all, if they were going to move Pop’s Place to a new location, she had to be on board. She’d be the person to help Joyce run it. With any luck, he’d be gone, west, free...

  “So what are the kids doing this summer?” he asked, breaking the silence.

  Annie readjusted in her seat, seeming to relax a bit at the mention of her children. “Marjorie, my neighbor, babysits them when I work. They’ll spend the entire summer at the lake if she lets them.”

  “And what about you?”

  “I learned this morning I’ll be watching you relocate Pop’s Place.”

  “You’ll be doing a lot more than watching, Annie—trust me.”

  “Hmph. Easier said than done. Tell me again why Pop’s Place can’t stay put?”

  “Do you want Joyce to make money?”

  Annie rolled her eyes. “I’ll admit the place could use a bit of a facelift.”

  “More like a total reconstruction. You’ve been working there so long, you don’t notice how bad it is. I’m seeing it through fresh eyes.”

  “I suppose that’s the silver lining of you being gone.”

  They arrived at the diner, so William drew his focus from the road to face her, but she refused to make eye contact. She had begun to climb out of the truck when he stopped her. “Annie. Wait.” She leaned back against her seat, giving him a chance to continue. “You knew what you were talking about this morning, and you gave me a lot to think about before the next meeting with Arnold. Thank you.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Oh...you’re welcome.”

  “Are you willing to visit more prospective locations with me?”

  She drew a quick breath. “If Joyce can’t do it, I’ll go with you.”

  As she hustled ahead of him into the diner, her defensive wall was apparent to him. How had he not seen it before? Was the girl he loved still in there, still yearning to be near him again? There had been a time when she would have been excited to spend time with him, but these days...

  Brandon was leaning against the counter, talking with Annie as she cinched her apron over her dress. William stopped short when Annie threw her head back and laughed. He hadn’t heard her laugh wholeheartedly since he’d been in town, and the lilting melody of it sailed through the crowded diner to him, tinkering with his heart. It reminded him of times gone by, of high school, of their youth. She had been so fun-loving. Her eyes flashed with joy whenever she saw him, and it had always made him catch his breath. Like now.

  “There he is,” Brandon called out when he saw him. “Annie and I were reminiscing about Mrs. Peebles’s class.”

  “How are you doing, man?” William replied, slapping Brandon on the back. “She was a character, that’s for sure. Do you remember how she used to stare at me for long stretches, trying to catch me doing something wrong?”

  “That’s because you usually were.” Brandon grinned.

  “Some things never change,” muttered Annie.

  Their morning had been civil enough that William pretended not to hear her. “Where’s my mom?”

 
“How should I know?” Annie coughed.

  Brandon rested his chin in his hand, his eyes shifting back and forth between William and Annie. She took off to wait on a table, and Brandon broke out into chuckling once she was out of earshot. “Well, it’s definitely not in your head, man.”

  “Right?” William agreed, sliding onto a stool.

  “She went from hot to cold in five seconds flat.” Brandon really began to laugh. “Wow, man, that was terrible. I thought you were exaggerating before because you still liked her.”

  “What? No, you didn’t.”

  “Oh, yeah. Annie Curtis? I thought you’d make a move by now.”

  “Why would I?”

  “Why wouldn’t you? I mean, now I can clearly see she can’t stand you, but other than that...”

  William frowned. Anybody would have gone for Annie Curtis ten years ago, but now she was so guarded, he couldn’t imagine what an actual date with her would be like. Although she hadn’t been guarded at all with Brandon. She apparently thought he was hilarious.

  “Maybe you’re attracted to her. She was giggling like a schoolgirl for you a minute ago.”

  Brandon slapped the counter and beamed. “Nope. I’m going to pop the question to Kim this weekend.”

  “Really? Congratulations.”

  “Congratulate me after she says yes.”

  “Any reason why she wouldn’t?”

  “Only if you start spreading rumors that I’m interested in Annie—that could stall things.”

  William chuckled. “Nah. I’d never do that.”

  “She’s cute though, right?”

  “Kim?”

  “Annie.”

  William hesitated to respond. Annie was bustling around the bar to fill drinks at the soda fountain.

  “Annie,” Brandon began. “How do you like having William hanging around here again?”

  Annie’s mouth set in a hard line as she kept filling soda glasses.

  “Did you know William back in the day, Annie?” Mia asked, emerging from the kitchen.

  “We went to high school together.”

  “It was more than that,” Brandon corrected.

  “Annie was pretty hard to miss,” William added without thinking. His comment caused her head to jerk, giving him a once-over. The fierceness of her gaze surprised him, and a thrill surged through his body at having gotten such a reaction.

  “Were you a heartbreaker, A?” Mia giggled.

  Annie rolled her eyes at the question and hid her face behind a tipped soda glass, but Brandon was eager to supply an answer. “A good-looking woman is always a heartbreaker. Right, William?”

  Annie’s eyes rose to William, whose face broke into a lopsided grin at having been put on the spot. “Uh...a good-looking woman is always a heartbreaker,” he repeated matter-of-factly.

  Mia smiled mischievously at him.

  “What?” he immediately demanded.

  “Oh, nothing,” Mia replied. “I can just picture you and Annie in high school.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I would bet you were the heartbreaker, William.”

  William spotted Annie’s grimace as she rushed off to seat new patrons.

  “It’s funny how things turn out, isn’t it?” Brandon whispered.

  “How so?”

  “Of all the guys back then, did you ever think she’d marry Sean?”

  William shook his head. The fact still amazed him. She wouldn’t have ever given Sean a second glance, but a lot had obviously happened since he’d left Chinoodin Falls... To the both of them.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ANNIE DROPPED HER purse on the back porch, plopped down next to Marjorie on the steps and leaned on her elbows.

  “Long day, honey?” Marjorie asked, patting a hand on her knee.

  “You could say that. You three are a sight for sore eyes.”

  The children frolicked in the sprinkler, taking turns jumping over it and back again. The temperature was barely warm enough to allow bathing suits, but the sun was shining and Annie was ready to relax for the night. As long as the children’s lips weren’t turning blue, she was happy if they were happy.

  “I think I did something wrong,” Marjorie said, wincing. Annie sat up in concern. “Sean stopped by a little while ago to see if you were home from work yet. While we were talking, I mentioned that I was called for jury duty.”

  “When?”

  “I received the notice this afternoon. It was on my mind, and before I could think, it slipped right out of my mouth. It wouldn’t have been so bad, but Sean then said he’d arrange to get off work so he could take James on a trip during that time. I was so shocked at his suggestion, I didn’t know what to say. I tried to backtrack, but the more I talked—” her voice broke “—the more adamant he became that he was going to do it.”

  Annie’s body straightened into a fighter’s pose. “He can’t take James for a trip. I won’t let him.”

  “I know, dear. Goodness, I know that. I feel awful that it would cause a point of contention for you. I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth. You know how flustered he makes me.”

  “It’s okay, Margie. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Annie wrapped an arm around her friend. “I’ll take care of it.”

  “James heard us talking and was really upset about it,” she explained hurriedly. “After Sean left I could tell he was getting worked up, so I distracted the two of them with popsicles and scooted them outside to play in the sprinkler.”

  “You’re so good to us, Margie. Don’t worry about anything. Sean can make anyone flustered.”

  Marjorie patted Annie’s leg again. “I would bury him in my backyard for you, Annie. You know I would.”

  Annie chuckled. “He’s so stubborn he probably wouldn’t stay put.”

  “I’d make him stay put. That man makes my blood boil.”

  Betsy and James bounded over, throwing their sopping-wet bodies into Annie’s arms.

  “Mom, what’s for dinner?” Betsy asked.

  “Uh, I haven’t gotten that far yet.”

  Betsy nodded at James. “Pizza? Puh-lease?”

  “I’d go pick it up,” Marjorie offered.

  Annie laughed. “Are you in on this, too?”

  Marjorie winced again. “I may have suggested pizza for tonight. As long as you don’t mind the company.”

  Annie nodded her approval. She smiled as Betsy and James cheered and followed Marjorie into the house to place the order, but her stomach was churning. She imagined Sean whisking James away for a week. Her chest tightened as she clasped the flesh of her neck in a panic. Her only option was to flat-out refuse his plan and deal with whatever repercussions came her way.

  * * *

  WILLIAM PULLED INTO his mom’s driveway and was surprised to find Annie’s car parked along the curb. He sat for a moment before cutting the engine. He hadn’t been able to shake a mental image of Annie all day. Something about the way her eyes had flashed at him when he’d admitted she was a beautiful woman had sent his heart racing. He couldn’t stop replaying it in his mind, deciphering the moment when her eyes had sparked. Whatever it took, he wanted to elicit that kind of response from her again.

  Curious, he stepped through the back door as quietly as a puma on the prowl. If she and his mother were talking, perhaps he could catch a glimpse of her before her guard went up again. The hum of the television drew him to the family room, where Joyce was camped out on the couch with a cup of something steaming hot nestled in her hands. Quickly glancing around, he spotted Annie’s jacket slung over the back of a chair.

  But no Annie.

  Navigating his way to the foot of the stairs, he strained to listen and began to climb only after the creak of floorboards above clued him in on Annie’s presence. From the upstairs hallway, he spotted
her poking around his bedroom. One delicate step after another, he stalked the distracted visitor and watched in fascination from the doorway as she breezed around his room, flitting over his belongings.

  The corner of his mouth curled in amusement at having caught her snooping. How relaxed she seemed as she picked through the assorted coins and receipt stubs he had scattered across his dresser. Carefully crossing his arms over his chest, he leaned against the wall and cleared his throat.

  “Need change for a dollar?”

  Annie yelped, clasping her throat as she jumped back in alarm. “You startled me,” she blurted out, the blood from her face drained in an instant. “Don’t you know you shouldn’t sneak up on people?”

  “In my bedroom?” William smirked, sauntering forward. “Didn’t hear me coming? That was your first mistake. You’d never make a good cat burglar.”

  “I’m not stealing anything,” she protested, but he wagged a finger at her.

  “Tsk, tsk, tsk. You need to have a better poker face than that. Second mistake—you underestimated your target. You wasted a good thirty seconds rifling through the nightstand when the good stuff is actually hidden inside the dresser.”

  The blood began to surge back into Annie’s cheeks. “Let me guess. You hide your valuables in your underwear drawer. A little predictable, William, don’t you think?”

  William playfully opened his underwear drawer and rummaged a hand inside. “Aha! There it is! Phew, that was a close one. I’m glad I caught you when I did.”

  “Very funny,” Annie mocked. “I don’t care about the few dollars you have hidden in your balled-up socks.”

  “Folded, not balled,” William corrected. “You really didn’t peek in here?”

  “Disappointed?”

  William shut the dresser drawer and rasped his hand over his chin. “You snuck up here while an old woman was distracted in front of Jeopardy! Now, that’s appalling.”

  “I didn’t—”

  “That is really low, Annie Curtis. She trusts you like the daughter she never had.”

  “William—”

  “Which brings me to your third mistake—no believable reason for being in here.”