“What are the ages of the kids?” she asked.

“Oh, both teenagers for sure.”

“Then the menu on the sideboard should suit them all.”

* * *

After texting Sully, Melissa still had a few calls to make, and this one she dreaded. She had yet to call her insurance company to let them know what had happened, because after she did, they would have to contact the responsible party, which in this case would be Barb Holland. She hated to add to what Barb must be going through and felt sorry that she was left to clean up her husband’s mess.

But the good that came out of Melissa finally making the call was finding out a rental car would be furnished as part of the perks of her policy.

With that checked off her to-do list, she gathered the garbage to take out before Sully arrived and headed out the kitchen door.

* * *

After Sully finished breakfast, he ran upstairs to get his notebook.

“Still on the search?” Bud asked as Sully came down with his keys in his hand.

“Yes. I’m going to the library today.”

“I wish you good luck,” Bud said.

“Thanks. Maybe today will be the day,” Sully said, and was out the door to go pick up Melissa.

His heart skipped a beat as he pulled up in the driveway. The anticipation of seeing her again made him feel like a teenager on a date. He was halfway to the door when she came out of the house with a purse on her arm and a smile on her face. She waved, and he waved back.

He thought as she walked toward him what an elegant woman she’d turned out to be. Classic features. A calm demeanor. And her clothing choices were timeless. Dark pants, a pale-pink long-sleeved shirt, and black flats. The smile on her face overwhelmed the bruises.

“Morning, sunshine,” Sully said as they met on the brick-paved path.

“Buenos días,” she said. “Remember Spanish class?”

He laughed. “I do now! Lord, I hadn’t thought of that in years. The teacher wouldn’t let us speak anything but Spanish in the class.”

Melissa grinned. “I remember you told the teacher you were infernó…when you meant enfermo.”

Sully grinned. “Yeah. Something I’d eaten in the lunchroom. If I remember right, I wasn’t the only one to get sick that day. You have a wicked memory.”

“Oh, girls always remember stuff about their first love.”

“And boys are so hormone-driven at that age with the girl they are crushing on that the only thoughts in their heads are when they might get a chance to kiss her.”

“As I remember, we had quite a few of those chances,” she said.

“Not nearly enough,” Sully said as he slipped a hand beneath her elbow and walked her to the car.

As soon as she was inside, he got in. Now they were together within a confined space, and the easy conversation had stalled. He glanced at her. She was looking at him.