Even after all this time, her chest still tightened at the memory of how she抎 felt when she got the news that they were gone, and tears hung on her eyelashes. The feeling of being so alone梕xcept for an alcoholic uncle梩hat had hit her as she realized the finality of a memorial service five years before wrapped itself around her again as she stared at the white clapboard church that was now hers. The building seemed to be trying to tell her something, but she couldn抰 grab hold of whatever it was.
Her plan had been that someday she would retire from the military and live on Orcas Island, close to her folks. She would be there for them as they got older and needed her help. Then, like a puff of smoke, they and a place to put down roots were gone. The money they抎 left for her brought little comfort, and she抎 never touched a dime of it. Then her Uncle Elijah passed away and left her his estate, which included more money and that church she had to deal with.
Her father had told her that money was just dirty paper with dead presidents?pictures on it, and that pennies didn抰 buy happiness. A song she抎 heard that day got stuck in her mind as she continued to stare at the building in front of her. The lyrics said that money couldn抰 buy happiness, but it could buy the singer a boat. She smiled as she hummed the snappy little tune. Was the church trying to tell her that it could bring her happiness?
The damn thing didn抰 make me happy. Elijah抯 voice popped into her head. I don抰 care what you do with it, but be happy no matter what you choose to do.
With a sigh, she fished her phone from the hip pocket of her pants and sent a message to her three friends: I抦 here. Beer is cold, but in this heat, it won抰 be very long.
In just seconds she had three dings on her phone. They were all on the way and would be there in a few minutes. She抎 barely sent a smiley face to the group when she heard the rumble of a truck coming down Preacher Road. Which one would it be? Risa, Mary Nell, or Haley? Jessica would put her money on Risa, since she抎 do about anything to get away from her mother, Stella, who held the crown for being the biggest gossip in all of Burnet County, and who had been about to drive Risa crazy since she抎 come back home from Kentucky with her sixteen-year-old twin daughters.
Jessica抯 eyes widened when the truck came to a stop not far from her RV and a tall guy wearing faded camouflage pants and a black T-shirt crawled out of the vehicle. His boots matched hers. A dead giveaway that he抎 spent some time deployed overseas. His squared-off shoulders and posture were further proof that he was a product of the military. The sun behind him put him in silhouette so she couldn抰 see his features, but he looked familiar.
揧ou lost??she called out.
揘o, are you??His slow Texas drawl sounded like someone she抎 known in the past.
揘ope.?She squinted, trying to make out his facial features. 揑抦 the proud owner of this place, and I came home to do something with it. Who are you, and what are you doing on my property??
The man took a few steps toward her and frowned as she paused while trying to put a name with his face. His dark hair was a little longer than it would have been in the military and curled below the back of a camouflage cap bearing an army insignia. His square jaw and high cheekbones reminded her of someone she抎 gone to school with.
揑 come here to think,?he finally answered. 揂nd to remember the good ol?days, Jessica. I don抰 expect you to棓
揥ade Granger!?she butted in and finished his introduction. 揑 remember you now. Your brother, Danny, graduated with me at good old Riverbend High School.?She stopped herself from saying that she抎 had a major crush on Wade back in high school. But as a lanky, brainy guy, he抎 always hung back in the shadows, and there was no way she抎 ever admitted liking him to her friends.
Danny had been very proud of his older brother when he had joined the army right after he graduated, but Jessica hadn抰 heard anything about him for the past twenty years. Danny had been more outgoing, had played football for the Riverbend Gators, and had gone to college somewhere in Arkansas . . . or was it in Alabama?
揧es, he did.?Wade nodded. 揥elcome back to Riverbend, Jessica. You home to stay??
揥ho knows??She shrugged. 揑 don抰 know where I belong after being shifted around from one place to the other for twenty years. How about you??
揑抦 here to stay,?he answered.
揥here抯 Danny these days??she asked.
揗y brother was killed a year ago in a freak accident, just a few months before he was to finish his last enlistment.?Wade抯 voice cracked.
揑抦 so sorry. He enlisted, too??Jessica could sympathize and could tell him that he抎 still have that catch in his voice five years down the road. Folks told her that it took time to get over the loss of a close relative, but time sure hadn抰 done much in the way of helping her find closure for her parents.