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I didn’t feel like myself, if I was being honest.
Accustomed to focusing on work, and nothing else, to have my attention split was weird. But worse than that, it wasn’t an even split.
Every moment I spent with Justin, working on marketing his new product and doing it justice, I hated wasting on work.
I wanted her back, and my brain was on a go slow as it tried to work while figuring out the best way to achieve that.
If Ellen and Joseph were as true to form as they’d always been, they’d be at the Mom and Pop restaurant in town. They’d have the same dishes they’d had for the last twenty-odd years, and she would be reading the local newspaper whilst he would be doing a crossword puzzle.
I really hoped that hadn’t changed because speaking to them was key to my plan.
If I could get them onside, perhaps make them understand why I’d done what I’d done, they’d speak favorably of me to Lauren.
It was sneaky and underhand but I figured I’d need every trick I had.
Truth was, Lauren’s inability to go off and live her dreams, her staying in town… I was taking it as a sign from whoever was watching over me.
She was still here for me. For us to get back together again.
I’d never believed in soulmates until I’d met Lauren. Had thought it was all bullshit. I’d seen friends get saddled down with girlfriends in their second or third years of college, and had wondered at their lunacy…
Over half of them had gotten married just after college, and half of those were divorced.
Those statistics weren’t new. I’d gotten into my studies telling myself that I’d be a fool to try to be with someone, and had avoided anything other than hook ups throughout my time at college.
Then, I’d opened the door to a house party and had seen Lauren on the top step.
My entire life had changed afterward.
As I climbed into my Lexus, I peered up at the sky, grateful for a respite from the rain.
I hadn’t missed that, although New York was just as bad. At least Maine had the breath of fresh air that came from being close to the ocean. Especially this part of the state.
With the house I was renting beachside, I had to admit, I was loving being close to the water.
I wasn’t from Willow Hearth but I was from a similar town in Maine. Jessop’s Creek and Willow Hearth could have been identical, that was why I’d found a home for myself here. I’d settled right into the similar locale.
Only difference had been that Willow Hearth had a major college campus twenty minutes away and Jessop’s Creek was lucky to have a train station that far out, period.
The drive into town was brisk and with little traffic. I found a parking space right outside the restaurant where I hoped Ellen and Joseph would be eating, and considered the space a sign from above.
Another sign came from the fact it started to rain the minute I shut the door to the diner behind me.
Momma Luisa’s was busy enough that my entrance didn’t cause much of a hubbub, but the few who did notice the door opening, scanned me over then turned their attention back to whatever they’d been doing.
The locals were too used to new faces to really care, but the gust of cold wind I’d brought in with me had drifted their focus my way.
I ignored it, ignored them, intent on my prize.
When I saw them in the same corner booth as always, a Mexican burrito in front of Joseph and a fruit salad and egg white omelet in front of Ellen, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes.
Seven years had passed since the last time I’d seen them this way, and it was like a day hadn’t gone by.
Granted, we all looked older. Ellen… I could tell she’d been ill. There was a frailty to her that spoke of someone who had been in a war and won, but Joseph looked as hale and hearty as always.
The restaurant contained two dozen tables, and almost all of them were full. Oak paneled the walls as well as the countertop where a team of plump waitresses doled out coffee and cakes from the glass fridge on the counter.
Red check tablecloths covered the scarred Formica I remembered, but that was the only difference.
