Anita glanced at Jackson. “Your mom’s not going to be mad at you for skipping Sunday dinner, is she?”
It was no secret that Beth Hawthorne expected the whole family at her table every Sunday. If you were in town, you showed up.
“Dinner’s not until six these days,” Jackson said with a head shake. “Later in the spring, with all the farm work piling up.” His dad, Tom, hadn’t said a word when Jackson said he was heading into town to help Zoe. Jackson had gotten up early, fed Tinsel and Daisy, mucked their stalls, and gave them a brushing out. He’d work on the tractor later, seeing as it had been backfiring. It would need a tune-up as they began working the ground, getting the seeds planted for the fall harvest. But he had a bit of time today.
“Just as long as you save some room for her excellent cooking,” Anita said knowingly.
As she walked away, a knock on the front window caught Jackson by surprise.
Instinct took over before he could stop it. His hand clamped the table, heart hammering, blood pounding in his ears. The reaction lasted seconds, composure came back quick, but there was no hiding the truth—he’d just had a flashback in the middle of a diner in the friendliest town in the Midwest.
It was only Gertie, pressing her nose to the glass and waving wildly. She made a heart with her hands, then mouthed, “Adorable!”
Zoe shook her head with an exasperated laugh, mouthing back, “Go!” and shooing her away.
Gertie waved one more time before continuing down Oak Way.
Jackson drew a slow breath, unclenching his jaw. His pulse evened out again. He couldn’t help that he was always on alert even when there was no threat to find. It was just the way his mind was wired now.
Zoe reached across the table and set her hand over his. “Hey. You okay?”
“Yeah.” His voice came out low, steady again. “Just…surprised me.”
Her thumb brushed his knuckles before she pulled back as Anita delivered their drinks.
Zoe’s concerned expression lingered as she took a sip of her lemonade. A couple of good weeks and it was easy to believe things were back to normal. But they never were. He was a soldier, proud of his service, but that pride came with scars he couldn’t hide.
Maybe Zoe was already wondering what she’d gotten herself into. Why would anyone vote for them as Couple of the Year when half of it was a broken man?
“Heard you were looking for a Maple Falls long-lost flower?” Anita said when she returned with her notepad in hand to take their brunch order.
“You do hear everything, don’t you?” Zoe replied.
“Edith and Hank were in here earlier.”
“Ah, that explains it,” Zoe said.
“Anyway, I got to thinking,” continued Anita. “Margeret Alders, you know, Mr. Alders from the hardware store, his wife?”
“What about her?” Zoe asked.
“Well, she passed away last year. Sweet woman. She showed me a book once, an old pressed-flower album she kept. I’m pretty sure she had some of those blue-and-white blooms. Said they were her favorite.”
Zoe’s eyes widened. “She pressed them?”
“Sure did,” Anita said.
“That’s incredible,” Zoe said, sitting up straighter. “Do you think Mr. Alders still has them?” Her eyes glanced his way.
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Anita said. “I don’t see him getting rid of anything of hers. Ask him nicely and he’ll probably show you.”
Zoe beamed at Jackson, that spark of excitement lighting her face, and he couldn’t help the tug of warmth in his chest.
“I’ll be right back!” Zoe scooted out of her booth and walked directly over to the older gentleman, who was sneezing into his handkerchief, a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup beside him.
She came back moments later. “He said he’ll stop by the flower shop and drop off the book tomorrow. It makes me wonder what else I’m missing. Maybe we should check out the library before we go hiking looking for random ridges?”
“Guess we’ve got our next mission.”
