He shook his head. ‘I dunno. I was thinking of just having a day to myself, you know? Hiking up the mountains. Or going to the Falls. I don’t think I’d want to be around people—’
‘But your mom did, didn’t she? And so many folks around here still talk about her. I know Dad does …’ Greg paused, perhaps sensing he was pushing too hard. ‘Anyway, you’ve got a few weeks to think about it, haven’t you?’
‘Yeah, I guess I have … Janice wants us to do something special here, some kind of celebration of life for Mom, but I’m not so sure …’
Lucas was about to say more. He was about to tell Greg how hard he was finding it back in the Springs. His short time away in New York with Mia had helped clear his mind a little, but ultimately after eight months he had been drawn back to the town, not least because of his promise to hismom to keep The Diner going. Despite the promise, he was struggling to be in a place that had ghosts of his mom everywhere he looked.
It would never be the same.
He would never be the same.
But maybe he needed to try to make things better.
Janice, his mom’s friend who worked alongside Lucas at The Diner part time, had also been on him to do something special for the anniversary. Her suggestion was to cook many of Mel’s special dishes that the town loved, including her notable blueberry cheesecake. He had the recipe upstairs in his apartment but hadn’t had the emotional strength yet to try and replicate it. Maybe now was the time.
He turned to Greg. ‘I guess I could do something—’
However, Lucas never got the chance to get his words out as suddenly, they heard the distinctive sound of wheels squealing on the asphalt outside.
‘She’s back!’ Greg yelled, jumping up and running towards the door. ‘I swear if there is one scratch on that car, I will actually kill her. I will …’
Lucas sighed and followed him out, wondering what surprises would hit him next.
As he followed Greg out to the parking lot, the first thing he saw was Jenn jump out of the car – hands held up, ready to defend her actions immediately.
‘Hey Greg. I looked after him, I promise. There isn’t a mark on him – look! And it was an emergency.’
‘I don’t care!’ Greg shouted back. ‘Emergency or not, you should have asked first.’
‘You would have said no.’
‘That’snotthe point.’
‘Of course that’s the point. You always say no. You are agrumpy, mean ass that never agrees to anything. I was just trying to do something good.’
‘Mean ass! How can you accuse me of that when you have stolen! You are a stealer!’
Lucas was trying not to laugh. It was hard not to see the humor in all this. Greg was getting even more red faced and toddler like. Lucas wouldn’t be surprised to see him stamp his feet at any moment.
And what was all the fuss about anyway? What was this so-called emergency?
With perfect timing, the passenger-side door opened and out hopped another person. Lucas saw the cloud of light brown, wavy hair and then he saw the bright, excitable eyes and wide smile.
A smile that was still as magnetic and dangerous as it had always been.
And eyes that had always reminded him of purest honey.
An icy blast hit him right in the gut.
It was Willow. Willow Davis. She was back in town.
How? What? Why on earth was she here? Last thing Lucas remembered, she and Jake had left this place for the city, swearing never to come back.
This wasn’t an emergency; it was an absolute nightmare.
He closed his eyes briefly and sucked in a deep breath, trying to ignore the thundering of his heart in his chest.
Suddenly, this day had just gone from quiet to worryingly complicated.
