Chapter Eight – Adam

“Sorry!” Frankie entered the diner, her cheeks flushed and a huge smile on her face. “I got caught up at the animal shelter.”

“I take it you like it there.” Adam could almost feel the excitement that emanated from Frankie as she sat down across from him. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please.” She caught the owner’s eye. “Cappuccino, Betsy, please.”

“Coming right up.” The diner filled with the sound of the coffee machine as Betsy prepared the cappuccino and brought it over, along with a refill for Adam. “I wondered why Adam was frequenting my establishment when he has that big fancy hotel to eat at. But now I see why he’s here.” Betsy smiled at them both indulgently and hovered over them as if waiting for more gossip.

“Thanks, Betsy. Yes, Adam and I are mates. And this is our first date,” Frankie said with a winning smile.

“Oh, first date. You’ll be wanting some privacy then.” Betsy winked at Adam and then walked across to another table and refilled their coffee cups.

“Do you think she can hear us?” Frankie asked conspiratorially as she sipped her coffee.

“I expect so.” Adam sat back in his chair. “So, the animal shelter?”

“It breaks my heart,” Frankie began. “All of these animals, family pets who need a home. So I’ve asked Ronni, she’s the person who runs it, if I can revamp their website and set up a blog. Then I can feature all the animals. Make videos of them, talk about their personalities.”

Adam sat in the radiant warmth of Frankie’s enthusiasm. “That sounds like a great idea.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” She carefully placed her cup down on her saucer. “I had another idea, too.” She looked at him through her long lashes, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“I get the feeling I might not like it, but go ahead.”

“What about a dog show?” Frankie asked triumphantly.

“A dog show?” Adam shrugged. “Sounds like a good idea.”

“It is, we could show off all the dogs from the shelter…” She paused. “The only problem is there isn’t enough room at the shelter.”

“But you have another idea.” He knew what she was going to ask, but let her ask anyway.

“Do you think Julius would let us host it on the grounds of the hotel? It would be a great day for everyone. You could showcase the wonderful afternoon teas…” She leaned back and studied him. “Do I need to sell it anymore?”

“No.” He chuckled. “We hosted something similar a couple of years ago. I’m certain Julius will agree.”

“Thank you.” Frankie popped up out of her seat and kissed him on the cheek.

“You are welcome.” Adam couldn’t keep his normally serious expression from being completely swept away and replaced by a huge grin.

“I amuse you.” She cocked her head to one side and crossed her eyes.

“You make me happy.” He frowned. “I didn’t realize how much that was missing from my life.”

“Being happy?” Frankie studied him for a moment. “You were really convinced your mate was dead, weren’t you?”

“I was.” He looked over Frankie’s shoulder to where Betsy was talking to another couple. He didn’t want the owner of the diner knowing his business. Adam was a private person, and discreet, which was why he excelled in the hotel business.

Frankie looked down at her coffee cup, which she held between both her hands as if warming her hands. “Do you think…” She looked up at Adam, her eyes piercing his. “What if we went and talked to her relatives? This woman who you thought was your mate. You had a photograph, you know her name. What if we go and find out if she is the person who gave me her heart?”

The air left Adam’s lungs. He had spent years trying to push her out of his mind, and finding Frankie should mean he was free of the pain he’d carried for so long. To go and track down her family, and dredge up the past for them all. Did it make sense?

“Sometimes… I was told that sometimes families like to meet the person who received a loved one’s organs. It gives them closure.” Frankie’s observation made sense.

“We don’t even know if the two are linked. We don’t know if Delia, the woman I saw that day in the store, is the same person whose heart you have.” Adam scratched his head, deep in thought. But there was no right or wrong answer. At least not for the relatives. But for Frankie, and for Adam, this may explain the past, and help give them the best chance of a happy future.

“What if we are linked?” Frankie asked. She reached across the table, her fingers gripping his. “Is there any way we can find out?”

“I suppose we could visit Delia’s family and try to find out if her organs were donated.” Adam lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Least of all you.”

Frankie nodded. “Do you know the date?”

“The accident was on September 18th, 2013.”

“I had my transplant on September 21st, 2013.” She looked perplexed, and Adam sat patiently, waiting for her to speak. “Perhaps she didn’t die right away.” Frankie closed her eyes as if shutting out the thought. “I try not to think of the pain of someone dying so that I could live.”

“It’s not your fault. The accident was not your fault,” Adam assured her.

“I wrote them a letter. The next of kin. The nurse helped me, because what do you say to someone who lost their loved one?”

“I can’t even begin to understand how difficult that must have been for you and for the family.”

“There was a nurse. Nurse Milliner. She was like a go-between. She told me the family was pleased that part of their loved one would live on. I don’t think I was the only person to receive a donated organ.” Her brow creased. “Does that mean more women will be chasing after you?”

“I doubt it.” Adam smiled reassuringly. “Why don’t we make Nurse Milliner our first contact? Perhaps she could help us.”

“I don’t have her address and I lost contact with her when she retired. I don’t think she would help anyway. Confidentiality is very important to the nurses.” Frankie mulled it over. “But there’s no harm in going and checking the records. If I sent a letter to her family, maybe they sent one back.”

“We’re going on a road trip?” Adam asked. He would have to organize time off work, but since he hadn’t taken a vacation in the last two years, he doubted Julius would mind.

“Yes.” Frankie placed her hand on her heart. “Strange, my heart feels different.”

“In a good way?” Adam asked, concerned.

“Yes, it’s been restless…I can’t explain it any other way. But since this morning, it’s more relaxed.” She smiled at Adam. “One day it might even feel like my heart.”

“It doesn’t?” Adam asked.

“No, not since the transplant.” Frankie raked her hand through her hair. “I sound unhinged.” She blew the air out of her cheeks. “Shall we eat?”

“Good idea. I’ll ask Julius when it’s convenient for me to leave. Is that okay?” Adam picked up the menu, skimming the dishes until he settled on fish and chips.

“Of course.” Frankie picked up her own menu and peered over the top of it as she said, “I’ve waited this long. I’m in no rush.”

“Really?” Adam asked, arching an eyebrow at her.

“Well, maybe a little bit of a rush.” She placed her menu down on the table. “I want us to move on. You know, figure out what we’re going to do now that we’ve met each other. And I need this answered before that happens.” Frankie paused, her frown returning. “It’s like I’m stuck in limbo since my operation.”

“Why? You went off and blogged your way around the world.” Adam didn’t hide the admiration in his voice.

“I had to force myself every step of the way. It was as if I was walking with lumps of clay stuck to my boots.” She placed her hand over her heart. “It was as if something was pulling me here.”

“But you only came to Bear Creek when Ruth took up her teaching job.” Adam wanted to understand how Frankie felt.

“It was me who sent Ruth the ad for the job at the school.” Her eyes drifted out of focus. “Someone I vaguely knew messaged me about it and asked if I thought Ruth might be interested.” Frankie looked up sharply. “Do you believe in ghosts?”

Adam set his menu down, but before he could answer, Betsy bustled over to the table. “You look as if you are ready to order.”

“Are you?” Adam asked Frankie.

“Yes. I’ll have the mushroom risotto please.”

“Fish and chips for me.” They added a couple of side orders and waited for Betsy to leave before carrying on their conversation.

“So, do you?” Frankie asked, her eyes wide.

“I don’t know if I believe in ghosts.” He made his fingers into a temple and rested his chin on them. “But I have something I’d like to show you.”

“Intriguing.” She looked at him darkly. “Do I get a hint?”

“Nope.” Adam grinned as she huffed at him. “It’s better if you see it.”

“You aren’t a pervert, are you?” A smile twitched on her lips as he nearly choked on his coffee.

“No, this has to do with my bear.” He shook his head. “If you’re trying to shock me into giving you a clue, it’s not going to work. As a hotel manager, there is little that can shock me anymore.”

“Ooooh, I sense a story or two.” Frankie sat forward, eagerly waiting for him to talk, when all he wanted to do was kiss her, and take away all her pain and insecurities.