The Memory Keeper: A heartwarming, feel-good romance

by Jenny Hale

  Today? My gracious. I’m so terribly sorry to hear that, dear, Gran texted. Remember this whenever it hurts, because it will for a while: It may not feel like it right now, but it’s just a step in the path to make you who you’re meant to be.

  Gran was always saying things like that, but Hannah wasn’t sure she believed any of it anymore. Was there some sort of golden path they were all meant to take, or was her life just a collection of chance encounters, millions of variations, and possibilities? As a girl, she’d believed Gran when she’d said those kinds of things, but now it had become more difficult. Hannah considered her choices. Would she have been happier spending her mornings like she used to: reading in one of Gran’s porch rocking chairs, with a blanket over her bare legs to keep the morning chill off her skin before the sun filled the sky? Would she have been a different person if she’d stayed? Would she have been happier?

  Thanks Gran. I’ll call you whenever we stop next, okay?

  Gran came back: All right, my sweet girl. I’ll count the minutes until I see you.

  Just texting with Gran filled Hannah with a kind of warmth she hadn’t felt in years. Gran could make everything seem okay.

  The snow fluttered down around them. Visibility was extremely low, and the only distinction between the road and the ground was the string of brake lights on the barely moving cars in front of them stretching as far as Hannah could see. Liam had both hands tightly on the wheel at ten and two, the windshield wipers going like crazy but only succeeding in smearing two large semicircles of precipitation across the windshield.

  “Does anyone know a five-letter word for a kitchen item that starts with a P?” Georgia said, still wearing her headphones, her voice too loud for the confined space. She leaned forward and tapped the row of squares in the puzzle book she was working on.

  “Plate,” Liam said, his eyes still on the road.

  Georgia huffed. “How did I not get that?”

  They all fell quiet again, and Liam turned up the radio to fill the void—some call-in radio station. “We’re asking people to tell us their answers to this question. Are you ready?” the radio announcer said. “What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? We’ll be back to hear from our callers after these messages.”

  Liam checked his rearview mirror to change lanes. “Besides going on a fourteen-hour road trip with two people from the airport after spending all morning in flight? I’m not sure,” he said with a laugh, answering the radio announcer’s question.

  “Oh, come on,” Hannah teased. “I knew you as a teenager. You’ve done crazier things than that, I’m nearly certain.”

  He looked over at her, amused, and she caught a glimpse of the boy she’d known. “I climbed the old Franklin water tower once, when I was sixteen,” he said.

  “Rebel,” Georgia teased from the backseat.

  “It’s higher than it looks,” he said with a laugh, turning the radio back down so they could hear each other. “I was actually dared to paint something on it, but I chickened out,” he added.

  “What were you going to paint on it?” Hannah asked.

  “I have no idea. My friend ended up painting something instead. It was Billy Robertson. He went to my high school—do you remember him?”

  Hannah shook her head. “Wait, was that the time someone painted ‘Party’s Here’ with an arrow pointing into town? I remember my gran was on the town board and they debated on whether or not to keep it—some people actually liked it.”

  “Yes, that was it! Billy painted it. The arrow was actually pointing toward Leiper’s Fork, where I lived. My parents were going out of town that weekend, and he kept threatening to have a party at our house.”

  “Did you?” Georgia asked.

  “No. I went out to a bonfire instead.” He grinned at Hannah, and she instantly made the connection.

  “So that’s the craziest thing you’ve done?” Georgia asked, rolling her eyes playfully. “Almost painting a water tower? Or going to the bonfire?”

  “I suppose I have one more. In college, I made one of those full-court basketball shots they offer one fan at halftime, and I won a huge prize.”

  “What did you win?” Hannah asked.

  “Twenty thousand dollars for charity. I gave it to a local boys’ and girls’ club.”

  Georgia leaned forward. “Are you a real person or some sort of storybook character?”

  Liam laughed. “So what’s the craziest thing you’ve done then?” he asked.

  “At eighteen, I left home to be a photographer,” Georgia told him. “I lived in the woods for three years, photographing landscapes and doing odd jobs to pay for my food. I mailed my parents letters every week to let them know I was okay, and I lived my life my way.”

  “Wow,” Hannah said, nearly speechless, she and Liam looking back and forth at one another in complete surprise.

  “I sold one of the photographs I’d enlarged and framed for five hundred dollars, and followed the guy who bought it to Chicago. That’s how I ended up there. We didn’t last long, but I just never left.” She shrugged as if the whole thing had been no big deal.

  “I think you win for the craziest thing ever done by any of us,” Liam said. “Unless Hannah can top you… Done anything crazy?”

  Hannah started to speak, but noticed Liam’s shift in mood as he looked down at the gas gauge.

  “What is it?” Hannah asked.

  “Looks like the rental car company didn’t fill the car up with gas. It’s nearly empty. We’re going to have to pull off to get some as soon as we can.”

  Concerned, Hannah peered through the window at the three lanes of bottlenecked traffic between them and the exit lane. Was this some sort of terrible nightmare she was going to wake up from? This could not be real life…

  Liam put on his blinker, but no one was moving.

  “You have got to be kidding me,” Georgia said, gently smacking her crossword puzzle against her knee, one of her headphones pulled back past her ear as she quickly assessed the current situation. “I’m gonna file a complaint with the rental company once this is all finished.”

  Liam waved his hand to get the attention of the car beside them, gesturing to be let over. The driver allowed a space to open up in front of him and Liam moved into the next lane, waving thanks. “The airport car kiosk was inundated with passengers,” he said. “We can’t get upset that they overlooked the gas tank. They were trying to get to as many people as possible.”

  He attempted to wave down the car in the next lane but was unsuccessful, so they crept along, the exit sliding past them. It didn’t matter that they’d missed the exit anyway because that one didn’t have a gas sign. But visibility was so poor that they wouldn’t know a good exit until they were upon it.

  Hannah pulled out her phone and texted her mother to update her. She’d been so busy trying to get out of the airport that she hadn’t had a moment to tell her what was going on. She’d wanted to chat with Gran first because she knew she’d feel more at ease once she could determine for herself if Gran was able to communicate with her. Her mother responded right away.

  Get here as quickly as you can, honey, she texted. Did you give Gran a call?

  She told her mother she’d texted and promised Gran she’d call at the next stop, which, from the look of the gas gauge, wasn’t too long from now.

  Gran’s hospital room number floated onto her screen, along with the direct line to the room in case Gran’s cell phone charge ran out because, her mother said, “It sometimes does.” Hannah texted back that she’d call as soon as she could.

  Finally, a few Good Samaritans let them over into the other lanes, just in time to locate an exit with a gas station. Liam pulled off the highway and made the turn into the drive, to Hannah’s relief.

  “I’m gonna grab a coffee inside,” Georgia said, tightening her scarf around her neck before leashing up Jerry and holding him against her chest. “Anyone else want one?”

  “I’m okay, thank you, Georgia,�
� Hannah said gratefully.

  “Thank you, but I’m going to run in too, so I can grab a few things for the ride,” Liam replied. “And I need to fire off a couple of emails while we’re stopped.” He twisted toward Hannah. “You sure you don’t need anything at all?” he asked.

  “I guess if they have a hot chocolate, I’ll take one.” She rooted in her purse and held out a few bills to pay for it.

  “It’s fine,” he said. “I’ll get it.”

  “Thank you,” she replied, wadding the bills up and dropping them back into her handbag.

  Once she was alone, she called Gran, just to say hello and let her know that she’d chat more with her later.

  After a couple of rings, Gran picked up.

  “Hello?” Her fragile voice came through Hannah’s phone, and Hannah’s heart sank. It didn’t sound like her grandmother’s usual bubbly self.

  “Hi, it’s Hannah,” she said, trying to sound happy despite the alarm she felt at the idea that Gran was truly not well. She hadn’t been able to tell at all when texting, but Gran’s voice certainly revealed it.

  “Oh, my dear Hannah.” Gran perked up. “It’s wonderful to hear your voice. I’ve been so bored sitting in this bed all day.”

  The sound of her grandmother’s voice was reassuring, despite the raspiness to it.

  “I heard Ethan’s been to see you,” Hannah said.

  “Lord have mercy, that child.”

  Hannah laughed. Ethan and Gran had an unusual friendship. Growing up, Ethan would do anything for Gran, but he loved to tease her. His favorite was when she’d come into the room and he’d be stretched out on her sofa with his big man-feet in her slippers.

  “Get those things off your feet,” she’d snap.

  “I’m cold,” he’d whine. “You don’t want an innocent child to catch a cold, do you?”

  Gran would roll her eyes and snatch them off him, the whole time pouting to keep her amusement from showing.

  “I hadn’t seen that boy in years,” Gran said. “It was kind of him to drop by.”

  Hannah nodded, even though she knew there was no one to see it, emotion swelling in her gut.

  “How are you managing after the breakup with Miles? Are you all right?” Gran asked. “You’re quiet.”

  “I’m fine!” she lied, wanting to keep the focus on her grandmother, although it was already taking everything she had not to allow herself to get even more emotional about the frailty of Gran’s voice. She needed to stay strong for her.

  A pleased exhale sailed through the phone. “I’m so glad to hear that, Hannah, my lovely girl.”

  “Let’s talk about you,” Hannah said. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m all right, I suppose. But, Hannah, I need your help.” Her words suddenly sounded quietly desperate.

  “Anything. What is it?”

  “I’ll bet the shop hasn’t been opened in at least a week and no one is taking orders. Don’t let it flounder.”

  Hannah hated to think of The Memory Keeper failing. If the shop closed up, so would Gran. But the shop was deteriorating despite her grandmother’s best efforts, and Hannah knew Gran was entirely too old to run it. No amount of love could save it at this point.

  “Your mother’s there now,” Gran said, “but she said she isn’t staying because she’s coming to see me here at the hospital. What if someone stops by and the shop is dark?”

  “I’ll get there as quickly as I can,” Hannah assured her. “It’s taking me a little longer to get home because of the snow. Flights are grounded, which is why I’m driving. But as soon as I get there, I’ll go straight to the shop.”

  “Thank you,” Gran said with obvious relief.

  “Gran, how are you?” Hannah asked.

  “I’ve been better,” Gran said. But then, to Hannah’s dismay, she turned the conversation back to the shop. “Steven, my accountant, needs to get my profit and loss from last year so he has it for taxes. He likes to have it by the end of February. It’s saved in the system under P&L. Do you remember how to get into the system?”

  “No, but Dad can get into it for me,” she said as Liam opened his car door.

  He leaned in and passed her a cup of cocoa before shutting his door again and walking around to fill up the gas tank. Hannah offered a smile of thanks through the window. She kept her eyes on him for a minute, her hands wrapped around the cup to keep warm, as Gran started talking again.

  “And I’ll bet no one’s been taking in the geraniums at night,” Gran continued, “so they’re probably dead and a total eyesore. See if you can find anything at Nell’s nursery to replace them. Also, Speckles probably hasn’t had milk or food in days. I’m terribly worried about her.”

  Speckles was the jet-black feral cat that Gran had befriended. In the mornings, Gran always put out a bowl of fresh water for the dogs who came by with their owners, and milk for Speckles. Sometimes, Speckles would follow Gran home from the shop too.

  Georgia shuffled over to the car and got in with Jerry, giving Hannah a wave before she settled the dog back into his carrier and put her headphones on.

  “What about that guy you hired?” Hannah asked. “Doesn’t he still work for you? Can he come in for a few extra hours?” She popped the lid off her cup to inspect its contents, the rich aroma dancing into the air. Floating on the top was a solid mass of marshmallows, making her smile.

  “He left for college,” Gran said. “I’m the only one on the books right now, which is why I only open the shop a couple of days a week… I’m expecting inventory tomorrow. It usually comes by ten o’clock. When will you get into town? If no one’s there, the distributor will leave the boxes on the stoop, and the flowers will freeze in the cold.”

  “With this storm, I’m not sure when I can get home, Gran,” Hannah replied, knowing that she was only placating her grandmother. “We’ll get everything done for you. I’ll text Mom to be there for the delivery. You just rest.”

  “I don’t want to rest,” Gran snapped. “And my leasing agent is giving me fits again,” she said, sounding frustrated. “They’re threatening to close the shop and take on a new tenant if I don’t agree to the latest hike in rent, but it’s astronomical.” Her voice broke. “There’s no way I’m letting it go. I need to have a phone meeting with the company’s owner about it, and I’m stuck in this hospital. I keep calling, but no one’s answering,” Gran carried on. “I’ve left quite a few messages.”

  Gran didn’t talk much about her problems. She preferred to deal with them head on rather than having a lengthy conversation about them, she’d told Hannah once. But she had let Hannah know a bit about her disagreements with the leasing agent. The company was called Mercer Properties and they’d bought the building a few years ago from the original agents, and had kept hiking the rent up on Gran, making it nearly impossible for her to turn a profit.

  “Gran, we’ve got it. If you don’t rest, you won’t get better,” Hannah told her gently. That comment seemed to quiet Gran for the time being.

  Liam finished filling up the car and started the engine, sending a plume of heat through the vents; welcome warmth in the icy cold.

  “Hey, Gran, I’ll call you back in a bit, okay? We’re about to hit the road again.”

  “Okay,” Gran said. “But one more thing. Your mama and daddy are already staying at my house. When you get there, if they’re out, the spare key’s still under the mat where I usually keep it.”

  “Thanks, Gran,” she said with a smile. Gran lived her whole life taking care of people. It had to be difficult for her to be in the position she was in, but it was time she focused on herself. Hannah just hoped she could convince her. She couldn’t wait to see her. It was certainly going to be quite a visit when Hannah got home.

  Four

  They were a few hours into the trip now and making good time. Both the heavy traffic and the snow had tapered off, although the storm had left a thick gray cloud cover in its wake that seemed to want to explode with another downp
our of frozen precipitation at any moment. The roads weren’t much better either.

  Hannah had been quiet, sipping her hot chocolate, lost in thought while Georgia made small talk from the backseat occasionally.

  “So, did I hear you say you were from Charleston, Liam?” Georgia asked, piping up again.

  “I grew up just outside Franklin—in the same area as Hannah,” he replied, his gaze fluttering over to her, “but I’ve lived in Charleston for the last five years.”

  Hannah and her friend Morgan had both had a crush on Liam when they’d been younger. But he’d asked Morgan out instead of Hannah, and her friend had fallen head over heels for him. Hannah had consoled her friend when he’d broken her heart.

  “How about you, Hannah?” Georgia asked, leaning forward.

  “I live in New York City.”

  “Mm.” Georgia sat back, tipping her head against the seat in thought. “Funny,” she said. “You look very New York with your fancy clothes and your super shiny manicure.”

  Hannah smiled in response, but the comment made her self-conscious. Growing up, Ethan had always made her feel like there was something wrong with being glamorous, but once she’d gotten to New York, she’d fit right in.

  Georgia shook her head. “Isn’t it crazy that we’d probably never have met up were it not for this snowstorm?” She folded her arms with a content smile.

  “Are you traveling to Franklin for vacation, Georgia?” Hannah asked, still not fully committed to the conversation at hand, but needing to refocus to keep her mind from returning to that kiss at the airport.

  “Not really. I’m meeting my parents for the first time in my life.”

  Georgia’s answer caused Hannah to turn around to make sure she’d heard right. Georgia was beaming.

  “My birth parents,” she clarified. “I was adopted.”

  Liam gave her a quick glance in the rearview mirror, obviously interested. But Hannah couldn’t get her head around the enormity of the statement and the way Georgia was so nonchalant about it, as if it were something people did every day.