More Than Memories by Kristen James Page B

in the laugh lines around her eyes. “I heard rumors, but
they never pan out. So you really are back?”
    “Back, yes. I’m re-meeting everyone.”
    “You’re staying?”
    After a quick glance at Trent, Molly replied,
“Yes, I am. I’m running back down tomorrow for a few days, then I think I’ll be
back.”
    Birdie shook Molly’s hand, told her she was happy
to see her again, and wished her luck in getting her memory back. When Birdie
left, Molly noticed other people watching them, and she had to wonder if any of
them had known her before. Trent caught her eye and said, “You worked here for
a while in high school.”
    “I did?” Molly looked back toward the aisles. “We
just walked all through here and—” She stopped when it was their turn to check
out. Trent paid and bagged despite her attempts to help. They escaped outside
without anyone else stopping them.
    After opening her truck door, Trent put the bags
in back and started to walk toward the driver side door.
    A huge pop caused Molly to about hit the ground.
    “Trent?” she called and saw him straighten up on
the other side of the truck and open his door.
    “Backfire.” He got in, dismissing it, but saw
Molly’s bewildered face. “Did that scare you?”
    “I didn’t see you at first.” She smoothed her
hair, still feeling rattled. “Do you ever get shot at? In your job?”
    “Some people are bound to get violent.”
    “You have?”
    “I’ve been shot at twice. Never hit,” he said.
“Actually, the first time it was some drunk guy firing up through his roof. I
just wasn’t sure what happened at first.” Molly stayed quiet for a while, and
he wondered what she thought of his job. He was trying to keep the conversation
light today, take some of the pressure of her, and let her enjoy herself.
    She asked him, “Have I told you thank you for
helping me, and offering to drive down to Redding with me?”
    “Hmm, not sure, but you don’t need to.” He turned
into his driveway and led the way to the kitchen where he stuffed the bags into
the refrigerator.
    “Come on out back, we’ll start the grill.” Trent
had a decent sized landscaped yard with a grill, a covered patio table, and other
lawn chairs, and then the yard turned to forest. Alicia had said there were
five acres out here. She wondered what he planned on doing with all that space.
Maybe it was for kids to play in and build forts in the trees.
    She reclined in a chaise and watched him pour
lighter fluid on the charcoal. “So you like to play with fire?”
    He moved his eyes toward her without moving his
head and she caught the gleam in them. They smiled at the heated question and
let it go. “I can grill. Not too good in the kitchen, but I can make a mean
steak or hamburger out here.”
    David called out a “hello” as he came in the side
fence with Alicia, toting drinks.
    “Hey,” Alicia greeted Molly, cheerful, beaming
even, and Molly knew today must be like old times for the rest of them. Seeing
Alicia’s devotion and concern for her made Molly want to be the same kind of
friend back, do her part of the relationship.
    “We need to celebrate!” David set an ice chest
down and dumped ice into it before setting the drinks in to chill. “My wife’s
best friend is back.”
    Molly could swear David’s smile didn’t reach his
eyes as he spoke, and something told her he wasn’t being sincere. Didn’t he
seem overly enthusiastic? She covered her thoughts with a forced smile and
decided to ignore it.
    Mark entered through the fence as David spoke, and
Molly noticed how he checked for Bev, who wasn’t there yet. He joined Trent,
who was putting the hamburgers on, and started a conversation about work. It
turned to the trip to California, and what Trent hoped to find there.
    That’s when Beverly slipped through the gate and
took a seat. Alicia murmured a “hello” to Bev while Mark talked. He gave Bev a
big smile that Molly couldn’t miss and raised his beer her