Page 12 of Two Hearts Reunited

“It’s probably close enough,” Eric replied. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“Don’t try to blame yourself for having to leave Anya without letting her know why,” Brian said. “I have a feeling everything that happened would have happened anyway.”

“I know. But I knew things were bad at home, and I avoided discussing the situation with Anya just as much as she avoided telling me. Maybe I could have at least spread the word to my friends to keep an eye on her younger sister.”

“My guess is they had no clue about Shanna, so why would you need to watch her? Don’t be too hard on yourself. You were only sixteen.”

Sighing, Eric closed his eyes. “Goodnight, Brian. I can’t tell you how much it means for me to see how happy you are.”

Brian laughed softly. “Now it’s your turn, bro.”

After Brian hiked up the staircase, Eric dropped onto the sectional, propping his feet on the attached ottoman.

Staring sightlessly at the TV, he knew what he had to do.

Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, he punched in the number for Anya’s phone which he’d entered under speed dial while he’d been warming up his truck in the parking lot after leaving the flower shop. If he was right, the number she’d given him was for her personal cell phone. It wasn’t too late. Plus, she wouldn’t go into work tomorrow until two.

It rang a few times before she answered, “Hello?”

“Anya? This is Eric. I hope it’s not too late to talk?”

Chapter Five

“Aboutwhat?” Anya asked brusquely, still a little shocked by Eric’s unexpected call.

“About everything that happened to your family after our family left town,” he answered, sounding surprisingly troubled. “Brian just filled me in.”

“Why do you care?None of that has anything to do with you,” she answered, now on guard. What had he heard? Not that many people knew the whole story.

“I realize we haven’t had contact for over ten years Anya, but I still think I know you and what you’ve probably been doing when you’re not at work. I’m willing to bet that the reason you’re still here in town is because you’re going to take up where your mom left off, and keep searching for your sister,” he said. “If the weather weren’t so bad, I’d say let’s meet for lunch tomorrow, but since the snow is still coming down hard, the roads are probably going to be kind of a mess in the morning. Can I take you out after you get off work tomorrow night? We could havea late dinner at the Crystal Rock Tap. I’m sure the place is still going strong.”

Anya remained silent. Everything inside of her was telling her that she needed to say no. The last thing she wanted was Eric butting into her business, which would only be temporarily, since he was obviously here on leave.

“Come on, Anya,” he murmured. “I’ll bet you never go out at all anymore. I’d really like to catch up with you and make sure you’re doing alright.”

She huffed out a breath. Hopefully, she wouldn’t regret this.

“Alright,” she muttered. “I’m usually finished closing the shop by nine-fifteen, unless we’re really busy. I’ll meet you at the Tap at around nine-thirty.”

“I’ll get there a little early and save us a booth,” he answered.

She heaved a sigh. “Alright.”

Anya disconnected quickly, resting her phone back on the end table with an unsteady hand.

“Now, I’m probably not going to be able to sleep,” she muttered. After one single interaction and one simple phone call, she was already hating the way Eric was making her feel.

Hopeful. Like he hadn’t forgotten her.

She should know better by now.

But strangely, Anya was sound asleep fifteen minutes later.

* * *

After waking and feeling more positive than she had in a very long time, Anya was mad at herself the following morning because she should have known better.

If she didn’t get too close, Eric wouldn’t have the chance to let her down again.

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