More Than Memories by Kristen James Page B

he’d noticed in a few of his female friends before when
they were wondering. One friend shared that she kept thinking she felt
different, and once she thought she could be pregnant, she couldn’t think about
anything else. But Alicia hadn’t said a word.
    Molly, too, hadn’t said much on the way home while
she’d laid her head on him, sleepy. Maybe she remembered something. If that was
the case, though, he felt certain she’d tell him. He knew he’d never guess but
he’d worry about it, over analyze it.
    The phone rang and he reached inside the sliding
glass door and grabbed the cordless.
    “Have you talked to her?” Alicia asked right off.
    “Yeah, we’ve done a lot of talking.”
    “Trent.”
    “Alright.” He didn’t like admitting it. “I
haven’t. Why rush anything when this is going well? She’s starting to remember
events from her childhood now.”
    “I kept my end of the bargain and stayed quiet,
but I expected you to tell her. You said you wanted her to hear it from you.”
    “I know. I’m getting there.”
    “Why are you so afraid of telling her the truth?”
    “Afraid?”
    “ What do you do for a
living? Yet you go spineless when she’s around.”
    “You’re sure in a mean mood,” he said. “What’s
bothering you?”
    She paused, then said, “You are. I’m worried about
you and Molly since you won’t tell her the truth.”
    Trent knew his sister wasn’t being honest with
him, but he guessed she had good reasons. He didn’t want to ask about David and
stir up more problems. He sighed. “I’m planning to tell her today.”
    He heard a car pulling up and told Alicia he had
to go, then headed through the house and to the front door where his bag
waited. Trent emerged before Molly was halfway up the walk and met her, bag in
hand.
    “Travel light, I see,” she said, returning to the
car and unlocking the trunk.
    He grinned. “Good morning to you, too.”
    “I can’t believe how the weather changed.” She
stretched while speaking. “It’s like spring came overnight.”
    “The flowers think so.” Everything was blooming.
Including Molly. She wore a white, wool tank top that made her skinlook darker and black slacks. Casual, but sleek. Her
hair was curled again, swept half way up from her face. Trent thought it gave
her a fresh look, like the spring time around them. He’d call the overall
effect sophisticated, but her toenails peered out of the end of her black
sandals. Bright red toenails. The carefree, fun-loving Molly showing through.
He was about to tell her how good she smelled when she tossed him the keys.
    “I’m sleepy still. How about a coffee stop before
hitting the freeway?”
    He threw his hat in the backseat before getting
in. “Alright, we can get gas while we’re at it.”
    At the mini mart, Molly took her time picking out
just what flavor she wanted in her coffee while Trent smiled behind her and
listened to the music playing over the store
speakers.
    “Hey.” She glanced at him over her shoulder.
    “Hey what?”
    She started singing along with John Michael
Montgomery’s “Life’s A Dance,” playing over the mini mart’s speakers, and she
slid up to him, throwing her arms around his neck and swaying with the music.
    “Mol, we’re in a mini mart.” He laughed, resisting.
    She looked up at him, her eyelashes curling around
her big, teasing eyes. Sweet eyes. “You don’t want to dance with me?”
    People stared, smiling at them, and he couldn’t do
anything but put his hands on her small waist and turn with the song.
    “This was our song,” he said next to her ear.
    “It still can be.”
     
     
    Twenty minutes later, with coffee and fruit
Danishes, Trent steered the car onto the freeway entrance ramp while Molly gave
Ridge City a farewell look.
    “You’re sure you want to make this trip now?”
There he went again, second guessing himself. It made for a good detective, but
sure got in the way in his personal life.
    “I am.” She faced