She glanced at the paperback in her hand. "I don't know."
"You've never read one?" Ronan asked.
"I don't remember,” she admitted. His smile faded because Keller hadn't only stolen three years. He'd stolen pieces of the woman who'd lived them.
"I used to read constantly,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. Ronan looked at her. "I think." She laughed quietly. "See—I can't even be sure of that anymore."
"You don't have to remember today.” She looked surprised at what he just said to her.
"What?" she asked.
"My grandmother used to say memories are stubborn." He leaned against the bookshelf. "The harder you chase them, the faster they run."
A tiny smile touched her lips. "So what do you do then?"
"You stop chasing them,” he said. Ronan picked up a dog-eared thriller. "And eventually they come looking for you."
She smiled at him. "I hope you're right."
"So do I,” he breathed.
The front door opened, and Avery walked inside carrying two grocery bags. "I come bearing snacks."
Ronan immediately perked up. "Finally."
"You ate an hour ago,” Jasper mumbled.
"I've had a difficult afternoon,” Ronan said.
"You've done nothing,” Jasper said.
"I've emotionally supported people." Avery rolled her eyes.
"By annoying them?" she asked.
"It's a gift,” he insisted. Sophia laughed, actually laughed, and the sound filled the room.
She immediately clapped a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry."
Ronan frowned. "You've got to stop apologizing every time you're happy."
Her smile faltered. "I don't know how." He wished she hadn't said that, not because it hurt him, but because she meant it.
Later that evening, rain began falling against the windows—heavy and steady. It was the kind that made the whole world feel smaller. Sophia stood on the covered back porch watching the storm roll across the lake.
Ronan joined her. "No jokes?" she asked.
"I've been informed I only get twelve a day,” he teased.
She looked sideways at him. "By who?"
"Myself,” he admitted.
She shook her head. "Good policy." For a while, they simply listened to the rain. It was the quietest that he’d been in a damn long time.
"Can I ask you something?" she asked.
"Depends,” he said.
