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“I know it’s hard to understand.”She straightened up and looked at Declan, who was watching her with understanding.
“I had no idea, Mom.”
“There was no way you could.”
There was still so much her family didn’t know about Adam and how different her life could have been.They might not ever know, and that would be okay, too.Some memories were best to keep to yourself.
“But I’m happy to be here now,” she said brightly.“Jonah, what’s your favorite part of the summer solstice festival?”
The boy immediately started to chatter about cotton candy, ice cream, and mini donuts.
“Your mother would not be happy if I let you eat all that junk,” Declan said.“But maybe we can have one thing,” he added with a conspirator’s whisper and a wink.“Can you go grab that other box by the counter inside first?”
Jonah didn’t have to be asked twice.He took off at a sprint, Eager to help…but even more eager for the promised treat.
“He’s a good boy.”She laughed as he ran off.
“He is.”Declan turned his attention back to his mother.“I really do think it’s great that you’re here today, Mom.I had no idea that the solstice festival brought up bad memories for you.I just always thought it was a father-son thing.”
“They weren’t bad memories, Dec.”She let her gaze drift down the busy street to where the tents for the band and the dance that would happen later that night were set up.“Those memories were far from bad.”
“Maybe it’s time for some new memories.”
“It absolutely is.”She spent another second looking toward the tent before she looked again at Declan and grinned.
“I like seeing you so happy, Mom.It wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain pen pal you have, would it?”
She laughed.“You don’t think it’s silly and old-fashioned that we’re only writing letters and haven’t met in person yet?”
“Not at all.”Declan didn’t hesitate.“Like Evie says, the letters are romantic.”He shot a glance over his shoulder to where his fiancée was busy with a customer.“Maybe I should write some letters of my own?”He shook his head and focused on his mother once more.“Besides, you’ve met before.”
“We have.”
“And I’m sure you will again.When the time is right.”
The idea warmed her through.
“But I trust that when you do meet up, if he asks you to go with him to Africa again, your answer will still be no, right?”
Momentarily confused, Maureen took a step back.She nodded vaguely, recalling the version of the story she’d told Declan that wasn’t entirely the truth.Time and distance had a way of changing your memories, and her children never needed to know the way things had really played out.
Maureen remembered.She remembered exactly how the rest of that summerreallywent.
Thirty-Seven Years Ago
“Isn’t it amazing, Maureen?I didn’t think it was even a possibility, but now…” Adam’s eyes took on a faraway look while her own head spun with the information he’d just given her.
Less than an hour earlier, she’d been in her room in her father’s lake house, taking care to curl her hair and apply just the slightest amount of Linda’s lip gloss that she’d snuck out of her purse.Her heart raced with the idea of seeing Adam Lancaster, just the way it had all summer every time he picked her up for a date or—more recently—when they snuck away to the dock hidden in the trees.
They’d exchanged dozens of kisses since that magical first one.As far as Maureen was concerned, there would never be enough kisses to make her happy.
Every time his lips pressed to hers, it was as if she flung out of control.Her body went numb, but at the same time felt as if it were on fire.The world spun around them as if they were the only two people in the world.
They’d even had a few times in the back seat of Adam’s uncle’s car, where he’d been brave enough to slip his hands under her blouse.The first time it happened, Maureen dared not breathe, but it felt so good to have his hands on her body.Together, they’d grown bolder and explored more and more of each other.
When she confessed the details to Sue Ann, her friend never failed to tell her to slow down and be careful.After all, Adam was an older boy, who only wanted one thing from her.But Maureen knew that wasn’t true.They didn’t spend all their time making out.Mostly, they talked and talked.In only a few short weeks, Adam knew everything about Maureen.Her hopes and dreams, even the silly ones.And she, in turn, knew about Adam.There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that they were meant to be together.Forever.
There had never been a love like theirs.It was so perfect.
