More Than Memories by Kristen James Page A

lots of
great days from now on.”
    With the cold Pacific wind blowing against them,
she realized they were making promises to each other. How had she found him and
fallen so easily into this?
    They headed back to the park about an hour later
to cook lunch. Everyone carried something to a picnic table and fire place, and
Molly purposely walked alongside Bev. She decided the direct, honest approach
would be best. “I get the feeling you don’t like me.”
    “Why should I?”
    “You didn’t have to come.” Molly wished she could
bite her tongue just once. “I mean, if you feel that strongly, why did you
come?”
    “These are my friends now.” Bev faced her. “You
left, broke Trent’s heart, and you still can’t tell us why. I was here all this
time. I’ve been a friend to him.”
    Molly finally understood and felt a chill. “You
wanted more than friendship.”
    “Listen.” Bev’s lips twisted. “You were always a
spoiled, ditzy brat, and got everything handed to you. You floated through
school without a care. That’s not what Trent needs.”
    “How would you know?”
    “Coming from you? How would you know what he needs
when you don’t even remember him?”
    Molly’s mouth opened to respond, but she didn’t
have a response.
    “That’s what I thought. You’re the worst thing
that’s ever happened to him. You’re even ruining his career.”
    Confused fury, like a blinding white smoke, rose
up inside her. “What are you talking about?”
    Bev’s voice had been low so the others wouldn’t
hear, but it dropped even lower now. “Certain people want him off the force.
Want him investigated because of you.”
    Molly stood dumbstruck, and triumph gleamed in
Bev’s eyes. “They’re saying your parents must have been hiding you from Trent.
Didn’t you wonder why they didn’t go to the police? People think Trent killed
your parents, and it’s all your fault.”
    Bev turned to walk to the picnic table, waltzing
almost. Molly knew in her heart Trent didn’t do those awful things. She
realized the only reason people accused him was because she’d returned to Ridge
City.
    Maybe she didn’t have a place here after all.

Chapter Eight
     
     
    The clear morning felt more like a day in June to
Trent, not the normal stormy March weather. He wore blue jeans and a white
T-shirt and thought about changing into shorts, but he got lost in his
thoughts.
    Despite the day’s nice weather, he felt like he
was in the middle of a storm he couldn’t see. He felt something.
    Standing outside his back door, he realizedit wasn’t the weather that felt off. The ride home
from the coast had been a quiet one with Molly nestled under his arm. Everyone
had been quiet, looking out the windows, and their faces looked like each had
something on their minds.
    Trent thought Mark was making progress with Bev,
but they either had a fight or she’d given him the cold shoulder for some other
reason. Trent noticed Bev pulling away from Mark when they talked and she’d
ignored him. He’d given Mark a questioning look, to which his friend just shook
his head and sighed, muttering something about not understanding women. Trent
had never explicitly told Mark that Bev had been chasing him, but he had a
hunch most people had noticed. And everyone except Bev knew Trent only wanted
Molly. Mark had developed a thing for Bev about two years ago knowing all that.
He took her out all the time, but she saw other men here and there. As far as
Trent knew, she wouldn’t commit to a relationship. Mark
deserved a medal for everything he’d been through for that girl. Waiting,
taking her moods and harsh com ments. No, she wasn’t one to hold her
tongue.
    Was that what was bothering him? David and Alicia
had been in their own world in the front of the van while driving home
yesterday. Knowing they were trying to get pregnant, Trent had thought maybe
Alicia would make an announcement sometime. She had the quiet, thoughtful air
about her, something