Keep reading for a sneak peek of the next book in Sharon Sala’s Blessings, Georgia series
Aidan tossed a couple of boxes of cereal into his cart, and moved from the cereal aisle to canned goods, picking out soup and cans of tuna before moving on to condiments and pickles.
He passed shoppers up and down the aisles of the Piggy Wiggly, aware he was being watched. Either it was because he was a stranger in a small town—or because they recognized him from all those years ago. He wasn’t in the mood to strike up a conversation with anyone, so he chose not to make eye contact, and apparently no one felt the need to speak to him.
He was halfway down the bread aisle when he saw an older woman coming toward him, pushing a cart filled with bananas and stacks of juice boxes. He recognized her instantly and was surprised at how little she had changed. She glanced at him almost absently, then did a double take and broke into a huge smile.
“Oh my word! Aidan Payne! What a surprise! My stars, you sure take after your grandfather. My sympathies on his passing.”
“Thank you, Miss Jane. I see by the juice boxes and fruit that you still have the day care.”
Jane Farris rolled her eyes. “The Before and After is still in business, although some days I think I’m getting too old for it. Did you come to wind up Preston’s affairs?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m staying at his house for the time being. I’ll likely be putting all of his rental properties up for sale. I live too far away to be an absentee landlord.”
“Where do you live now?” Jane asked.
“New Orleans. I own a four-star restaurant called Mimosa. If you’re ever in the city, stop in and let me treat you to a meal.”
Jane beamed. “That’s so sweet of you,” she said. “I’ll be sure to do that if I ever get up that way. It’s wonderful to see you.”
Aidan smiled. “Thank you. I’m sure we’ll see each other again before I leave.”
“Absolutely,” Jane said, and gave his arm a pat as she moved on.
Aidan grabbed a loaf of bread and made his way to the checkout stand. He got in the shortest line, and then took the time to recheck his list, making sure he hadn’t missed anything. He glanced up just as a tall kid in his late teens walked into the store.
The boy moved toward the registers in a long, lanky stride. When he stopped at register three, Aidan watched him suddenly step behind the checker and put his hands over her eyes.
“Guess who?” he said.
The woman’s squeal of delight made Aidan and everyone around them smile. He was still grinning when the woman turned around. At that point, everything faded into the background as he watched an older version of his Phoebe Ritter throw her arms around the boy’s neck.
Well hell. That had to be her son.
* * *
“Lee, you tease! I didn’t know you were coming home!” Phoebe was saying.
“Aw, Mom, you know how it is. I ran out of clean clothes,” he said, which made everyone around them laugh.
Everyone except Aidan.
When the woman at his register called out “next” and waved him forward, he began unloading his purchases onto the conveyor belt. He could still hear Phoebe and her son talking, but he couldn’t bring himself to look up. Less than two hours back in town, and already his head was spinning. Not only was Phoebe still here, but she was a parent. She’d definitely done a better job moving on than he had. He didn’t want to know who she’d married. All he wanted was to get out of the store before she saw him.
He loaded up the sacks of groceries into his cart, paid, and walked out while Phoebe and her son were still talking.
* * *
Phoebe cupped Lee’s cheek, feeling the burr of a day’s growth of whiskers, and thought wistfully that his little boy years were already behind him.
“I have to close tonight, honey. There are leftover ribs in the fridge, and some coleslaw.”
“I got this, Mom,” Lee said. “I can take care of myself. See you at home, okay?”
“Okay,” Phoebe said. “I’m off for the next two days. Perfect timing.”
“Great,” he said, and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before he left.
He jogged out of the store and was crossing the parking lot to his car when he noticed a stranger unloading groceries into his vehicle. There weren’t many strangers in Blessings, and none of them drove a truck that sharp.
“Nice ride, man,” Lee said.
Aidan looked up, startled to find himself face-to-face with Phoebe’s boy.
“Uh…yeah, thanks,” Aidan said, and shut the door. He walked a couple of cars up to return the shopping cart, then headed back to his truck. The boy was loping across the parking lot, cell phone in hand.
Ignoring a painful twinge of regret, Aidan got in the truck and drove back to his grandfather’s house, parked by the U-Haul, and took the groceries in.
Although it had been a long time since he’d been here, he felt at home as he put everything away. It was hard for Aidan to believe his grandfather was gone. He had visited Aidan often in New Orleans, staying active and in fairly good health. Aidan swallowed past the lump in his throat. It seemed like granddad should come striding into the kitchen to greet him.
He was about to go upstairs to unpack when the doorbell rang. He hurried into the foyer and opened the door to a caller he didn’t recognize.
The old man smiling at him sported a mane of white hair and was wearing white slacks and a flamboyant blue shirt with puffed sleeves. Aidan’s first thought was that all he needed was a Mexican sombrero and a guitar. And then the old man actually bowed.
“Pardon my rude intrusion into your day without calling ahead, but I am Elliot Graham, your neighbor across the street. I came to welcome you to Blessings, and to extend my sympathies for your loss.”
Aidan liked him immediately. “Thank you, Mr. Graham. Come in.”
“Elliot…please,” he said as he stepped over the threshold, then followed Aidan into the living room and sat down. “Preston and I were good friends. I don’t mind admitting how much I miss him.”
“I’m going to miss him, too,” Aidan said. “He came to see me often.”
“Oh, I know. He talked about you all the time, so of course I asked why you never came here to visit. When he explained, I apologized, but he assured me none of it was a secret.”
“That’s true,” Aidan said bitterly. “The whole town had a hand in the decision Dad made to leave.”
Elliot nodded sagely. “The truth will come out, and soon. You’ll see.”
Aidan was still struggling with what the old man had just said, when Elliot suddenly stood and headed for the door. “Well, I’ve intruded too much already on your privacy. I’ll be going now, but my door is open to you anytime.”
Aidan hastily followed. “Uh, sir…Elliot?”
“Yes?” Elliot said as he stepped out onto the porch.
“What did you mean, the truth would come out soon? It’s been nearly twenty years with no suspects for who started that fire.”
Elliot waved his hand, as if moving the question out of his space. “Oh…that’s just me being me. Sorry. It popped out before I thought.”
Aidan frowned. “I don’t understand.”
Elliot took a neat white square of handkerchief from his pocket, grabbed it by one corner, and popped it open before mopping the sweat from his brow. “I do not appreciate this heat,” Elliot said, then smiled. “About what I said…it’s nothing, really. Sometimes I just know stuff.” He bolted off the porch and down the steps before Aidan could push for more answers.
Aidan watched him as he darted across the street, walking in a little march-step, his snow-white hair gleaming under the late-afternoon sun, past the shade trees lining the sidewalk, and back into his house.
“Odd little fellow,” Aidan muttered, closing the door.
* * *
Lee pulled into the driveway, parked beneath a shade tree, and sat for a few moments, looking at their little frame, two-bedroom house. He was full of admiration for the way his mother had taken care of them on her own, never complaining, and making what little they had seem special.
He’d known since he was old enough to understand why his grandmother had moved away, why his father was missing. It hadn’t made it easier to grow up without a father, but he hadn’t held any resentment. He sighed, then picked up his duffel bag from the back seat and went inside.
He took his things to his room, then went across the hall to his mother’s bedroom. The worn hardwood floors were clean, her bed was neatly made, and the wall facing the headboard was lined with framed school pictures—from his kindergarten picture to a snapshot of him in his cap and gown at graduation.
Lee had just finished his first year of college and knew his mom would be proud of his grades, but she was going to be surprised that he’d given up his apartment and job to spend the summer in Blessings. His plan was to get a part-time job here and save all the money he made, instead of spending it on rent back in Savannah.
He sat down on the bed and picked up a framed picture from the nightstand. He took out his phone, pulled up the photo he’d just snapped in the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly, and compared them.
His heart began pounding, his eyes welling with tears. He’d waited nineteen years for this moment, and now that it was facing him, he was scared. What if the story Lee had told himself turned out not to be true? What if Aidan Payne had found out he had a son and didn’t want him, after all?
* * *
Phoebe was tired when she clocked out and headed home, but the knowledge that Lee was waiting for her lifted her heart. Seeing the porch light on as she pulled up to the house was just like old times. Lee had done that since he’d been old enough to stay home alone, and she’d missed it. She grabbed her things, ran up the steps, and let herself into the house.
“I’m home,” she yelled.
“Me too,” he yelled back.
She laughed. Just like old times. She hurried into the kitchen and found Lee at the stove, heating up supper. He gave her a big hug.
“I waited for you,” he said. “Go change and get comfy. I’ll set the table while you’re gone.”
“Wonderful!” Phoebe said, and hurried down the hall to her room. She changed out of work clothes into a pair of shorts, an old T-shirt, and sandals, washed up, and hurried back to the kitchen.
“You cooked,” she said, eyeing the inviting food.
“I just added some baked beans and fries to the ribs and slaw. Sit, Mom. Let me wait on you tonight.”
“I won’t argue,” Phoebe said, smiling at him as he brought glasses of sweet iced tea to the table. After filling their plates, they talked as they ate.
“My grade point average for the year is 4.0, and I was accepted into an accelerated physics program next semester,” Lee said.
Phoebe beamed. “Oh, Lee, congratulations. I’m so proud of you. I know you didn’t get that from me.”
Lee took a deep breath. “Did I get it from my father?”
Phoebe’s smile slipped a little. The sorrow she lived with was once again evident on her face. “Yes. He was very smart.”
Lee ate a few more bites, then took his phone from his pocket, pulled up the picture, and pushed it toward her.
Phoebe’s smile brightened. “A new girlfriend?”
He shook his head, then waited as she looked down.
Her fork clattered onto the table. She pressed a hand over her mouth, but it didn’t muffle the moan.
He grabbed her arm. “Mom? Are you okay?”
“Where did you…oh my God. That’s the store parking lot.” She looked up. “You took this today.”
He nodded. “I saw him by accident. Wasn’t sure, so I took a picture, then came home and compared it to yours. He’s older, but it’s him, isn’t it, Mom? That’s my father.”
She nodded, starting to cry.
“Don’t cry, Mom. This is a good thing, right? You stayed in Blessings all this time waiting for him to come back.”
“Yes, I did. But he didn’t come back for me.”
Lee frowned. “How do you know?”
She swiped angrily at the tears on her face. “Twenty years. I waited twenty years for him.”
“But he’s here now,” Lee said.
Phoebe’s eyes narrowed angrily. “But he’s not here, is he?”
Lee was beginning to panic. “Maybe he just doesn’t know where you are yet.”
Phoebe wasn’t having any excuses. “I’ve been here a long time. All he’d have to do is ask, but I can guess why he’s here.”
Lee needed answers, even if they would make him sad. “Why, Mom? Why is he here?”