Page 46 of Shattered Melodies

She shrugged, a sad little smile tugging at her lips. “Where else would I be? This is home, Liam. Always has been, always will be.”

“Listen, Sarah,” I said softly, leaning in close and lowering my voice. “I need you to do me a favor, okay? I need you to keep it quiet that I’m back in town. No one knows I’m here, and I’m not ready for them to know. Not yet.”

She frowned, her brow furrowing with concern. “But why, Liam? Why the secrecy? I mean, it’s been twenty years. Surely by now…”

“Please, Sarah,” I cut her off, my voice urgent and pleading. “Just do this for me, okay? As a friend?”

She sighed, but I could see the understanding in her eyes, the compassion. “Okay, Liam. Okay. Your secret’s safe with me.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding, feeling some of the tension drain out of my shoulders. “Thank you, Sarah. Really. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

She reached out, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “I think I might have some idea. But listen, we need to catch up soon, okay? Like, really catch up. I want to hear all about your life, about what you’ve been up to and where you’ve been and everything.”

I nodded, feeling a sudden, overwhelming rush of affection for this woman who had once been my closest confidante, my dearest friend. “Absolutely. We will, I promise.” I trailed off, glancing down at the menu in front of me. “For now, I think I’d like to order some pancakes.”

Sarah grinned, the tension of the moment breaking like a fever. “Coming right up. One stack of pancakes, extra syrup, just the way you like ‘em.”

She stood up, grabbing the coffee pot and heading back towards the kitchen. But before she disappeared through the swinging doors, she paused, glancing back at me over her shoulder.

“It’s good to see you, Liam,” she said softly, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Really good.”

And then she was gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts and my memories and the endless, aching weight of all the years that had passed.

I sat there for a long time, staring out the window at the familiar streets and buildings of Oakwood Grove. At the place that had once been my whole world, the place that held so many of my happiest memories and my darkest fears.

I was so lost in my thoughts, so caught up in the whirlwind of emotions that was swirling through my mind, that I almost didn’t notice when Sarah came back with my pancakes. The steam rising off the fluffy stack in enticing curls, and I felt my stomach rumble with sudden, ravenous hunger.

“Thanks, Sarah,” I murmured, picking up my fork and knife and digging in with gusto. “These look amazing.”

She slid into the booth across from me, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Well, I should hope so. I made them myself, you know.”

I looked up at her, my mouth full of pancake and my eyebrows raised in surprise. “You did?”

She nodded, a proud little smile tugging at her lips. “Yup. Been working in this kitchen for years now, learning all the tricks of the trade. I’m practically a master chef at this point.”

I swallowed, taking a sip of coffee to wash it down. “Well, color me impressed. These are the best pancakes I’ve had in well, in a really long time.”

Her smile widened, her eyes sparkling with pleasure. “I’m glad. It’s nice to know I haven’t lost my touch.”

We fell into a comfortable silence then, me eating and her watching me with a thoughtful expression on her face. I could tell there was something on her mind, something she wanted to ask me but wasn’t quite sure how to bring up.

Finally, after a few minutes of loaded silence, she took a deep breath and leaned forward, her voice low and serious.

“Liam,” she said softly, her eyes searching mine. “Does Caleb know you’re back?”

I felt my heart skip a beat, my breath catching in my throat. It was the question I had been dreading, the one I had been hoping to avoid for as long as possible. But of course Sarah would ask. Of course she would want to know about Caleb.

I set down my fork, my appetite suddenly gone. “No,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “He doesn’t know. And I don’t even know if he’s still here, if he’s still in Oakwood.”

Sarah sighed, her expression softening with sympathy. “He’s still here, Liam. He never left, not after everything that happened.”

I closed my eyes, feeling a wave of guilt and pain wash over me. Because I knew what she was talking about, knew all too well the “everything” that had torn us apart, that had shattered our lives and our dreams into a million jagged pieces.

“I’m not ready to talk about it,” I said softly, my voice cracking with emotion. “I’m not ready to face him yet.”

Sarah reached out, her hand warm and comforting on mine. “I know, Liam. I know. And I’m not going to push you, not going to force you to do anything you’re not ready for.” Sarah glanced over her shoulder, her expression turning rueful. “Listen, I’ve got to get back to work before the boss has my head. But before I go…”

She reached into her apron pocket and pulled out a small slip of paper, pressing it into my hand with a meaningful look. “If you’re looking for something to do while you are here, call this number. It’s a friend of mine. He’s always looking for good people, and I think you’d be perfect for it.”

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