Sully got up and left the dining room, unaware that Rachel was staring at him.

The newlyweds had already gone back to their room, and Bud was bussing tables.

“So what’s the big deal?” he asked as Rachel began helping him clear up.

Rachel spoke quietly. “Something about Sully struck a chord this morning. For a few seconds, I saw a resemblance between him and someone I know. I just can’t put my finger on who it is.”

Bud’s eyes widened. “You mean, the mother he’s looking for?”

She nodded. “I think so. Wouldn’t it be amazing if I figured it out?”

Bud grinned. “Yes, it would be amazing.”

When he started into the kitchen with the cart full of dirty dishes, Rachel called out to remind him.

“Remember not to put the Blue Willow plates into the dishwasher.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Bud said, and rolled his eyes. Like she hadn’t told him that every time they’d used them for the past however many years.

Upstairs, Sully was gathering up what he wanted to take with him this morning, and as soon as he had it all together, he sat down in the overstuffed chair by the window to call Melissa.

* * *

Hope was on her phone in the kitchen, speaking with Dr. Quick, and Melissa was sitting in the living room finishing her last cup of coffee and reading the morning paper. She knew most people these days read everything on some kind of technology, and she’d tried it all out, but she liked the leisure and feel of a real newspaper best.

There’s something to be said for familiarity, Melissa thought as she leafed through the pages, looking for the ad she ran daily. And there it was. Mathis Cleaning and Laundry, and the address, phone number, and hours.

Once she was satisfied it was okay, she went back to the first page and began reading the stories. She had just turned to the second page when her cell phone rang. She put down the paper to answer it.

“Hello.”

And just like that, Sully’s voice was in her ear.

“Good morning, Melissa. How are you feeling today?”

Melissa felt her face flush and rolled her eyes that it was happening.

“Not too bad. I hope you rested well,” she said.

“Yes, I did, thanks.”

“Listen, Sully, if you still want to have coffee, why don’t you just pick a time and come here? Just give me a call beforehand. I make decent coffee, and I have most of a pecan pie from Granny’s left from the food she sent over here last night.”

Sully was grinning and glad no one could see him, because he felt like he was thirteen again, trying to make small talk with a pretty girl.

“That sounds perfect. I have some research to do this morning at the courthouse and also at the library. How about I give you a call later and see if you’re still up to a visitor?”