Page 21 of Two Hearts Reunited

“They’re still as great as they used to be. Maybe even better,” Anya admitted, finally looking relaxed.

It might have had something to do with the fact that she was drinking her second wine spritzer.

She removed the dark red jacket that matched her skirt, revealing the pretty cream blouse she was wearing beneath.

He couldn’t seem to help it when he reached over to touch her face, laying his fingers gently against her cheek.

“You’re still the girl I remember, but then again, you’re not. You’re dressed so stylishly, but you seem so distant,” he said.

She closed her eyes, heaving a sigh. “It wasn’t just the fact that you left two days after the scariest decision of my life. You might have already heard but my dad died, driving drunk, only six months later.”

Eric stilled. She was finally having a real conversation with him. If he’d only known what had happened at the time. Maybe he would have tried to reach out somehow.

“Oh, Anya. I’m so sorry. I know that you didn’t get along with him, but he was your dad, so you loved him.” His hand moved down from her face to cover hers, squeezing it with reassurance.

“I have a lot of good memories of when I was young. Dad was so different back then.” Her eyes filled with tears. “And then six months later, Shanna disappeared. Mom was a mess during my last few years of high school. I didn’t even think I was going to college. She was on a mission, and I was determined to help any way that I could to find Shanna. But then I was offered the collegiate scholarship, and Mom insisted I should go.”

“Is that the one that’s offered by an anonymous donor in the community?”

“Yes. I thought maybe I’d find out who it was when I was going to school, but I never did,” she admitted. “I worked two jobs to pay for books, food and housing, but that scholarship seemed to cover an awful lot of my expenses.”

Just then, their salads arrived, and at that point, they both decided to switch their drinks to coffee.

Since their conversation up until that moment had been rather emotional, Eric decided to change the subject, and asked about what was new around town.

They were more comfortable with each other now, and if Eric closed his eyes, he had a feeling that he’d be able to recall a moment in time in the past that had been exactly like this. They’d been close, even back in grade school, sharing their first kiss in seventh grade. They hadn’t monopolized each other’s time. Eric had played ball and hockey, and when she hadn’t been taking care of her sister, Anya had babysat and then held a part-time job at Sanders’ Floral.

Subconsciously, he supposed it was the reason he’d gone in to buy flowers yesterday, not really expecting to see her there. He’d done an internet search for her a couple years earlier, to see if she was still living in town and had gotten no results, probably because her mom had still been alive, and Anya had been living and working in Madison at the time.

At first glance, he hadn’t even known it was her when he’d walked into Sanders’ Floral last night. Mainly because she was taller and slimmer than she’d been that last time he’d seen her.

“Dinner was delicious,” he muttered as they sat drinking coffee after finishing dinner.

“Yes, it was,” Anya agreed. “I can honestly say that there hasn’t been anything on the menu that I’ve tried that I haven’t liked.”

“I’ve missed this town. There was always something special about it. Of course,youwere here,” he said gently.

“I never told anyone about how far we’d gone,” she blurted suddenly. “I was so worried that I was going to get pregnant.”

Eric swallowed, covering her hand with his once again. “I never told either. I’m so sorry you had to go through that alone.”

“I was so relieved that I wasn’t, because I was so scared that I would get in trouble if someone found out,” she said, her eyes now filled with tears. “But then again, I wouldn’t have gotten rid of the baby, no matter what anyone said.”

And then he just couldn’t help it when he slid closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders while she composed herself, which surprisingly happened rather quickly.

“If I would have known about your dad and then Shanna disappearing, I would have found a way to contact you, even though I was told it could put our family in danger. I should have tried harder to at least reach out,” Eric growled, closing his eyes and resting her head on his shoulder. “Like it or not, Anya, I’m not letting you go again. Of course, we don’t really know much about each other anymore, but we still have a deep connection. I can feel it. Can you?”

There was a long silence where Eric waited with bated breath.

Finally, she answered softly,“Yes.”

“I was only supposed to stay through Christmas, but I’ve got more leave time coming. Ashley and Brian have offered me their basement apartment and said that I can stay as long as I want,” Brian said. “I think we should take the time to get to know each other again. We can talk about what you’re doing to try and find your sister after you hear some of the details of what Ashley and Brian went through last year. Hopefully, you’ll let me help.”

Much to his surprise, she answered, “I’ve hired an investigator to check out some of the names my mother came up with. Chief Danielson was the one who recommended him to me, so I’m pretty sure he knows what I’m up to. He looked relieved when I asked him for a name of someone he trusted.”

Eric grinned. “To tell you the truth, I’m happy to hear that you’re not doing all of this alone.”

“I’m hardly the type who could get away with following someone around with binoculars and watching them twenty-four-seven. I vowed that when I paid off Mom’s debts, I’d get some help with the investigation.”

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