Never Forgotten (Never Forgotten Series) by Kelly Risser Read Free Book Online Page A

boy meets girl, boy asks girl out, boy and girl fall in love story, but it was heading in a new direction. I waited for her to say more, not wanting to break the spell.
    “When he was around, we were inseparable. His passion about the sea, about history, about art, about so many things, was contagious. We talked late into the night, and I often felt like I knew him better than I knew myself. But there was something there; something that I couldn’t put my finger on. I knew he was hiding it from me. He was mature beyond his years, had too many experiences for someone in his early twenties, and had a wilder, more primitive side than any boy I had known before.”
    She stopped and gave my shoulder a squeeze. I smiled at her in a way that I hoped was encouraging. It worked. She continued her story. “The logical side of me knew I should be careful, but my heart wouldn’t let me. I was recklessly, wildly in love. By the end of summer, I realized I was pregnant with you.”
    “What did you do? Did you tell him?”
    “Of course. He was surprised. Happy, I think, but reminded me that he couldn’t make any promises.”
    “And then he left you?”
    “Not right away. He stayed as long as he could.”
    “Why couldn’t he stay?” I asked.
    She looked at me, tears shining in her eyes. “I don’t know.”
    I wanted her to say more. I knew the story was incomplete. She knew why my father left and chose not to tell me. I wasn’t sure how I knew that. I just did. I couldn’t push her. Not tonight, when I could see the migraine pained her and she looked so frail, so worn. Instead, I kissed her.
    She touched my check and gave me a faltering smile. “I wouldn’t change it, Meara. I want you to know that. If I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t change a thing.”
    “I love you, Mom.”
    At that moment, my grandmother came in the front door. “Movers are all done and on their way. I’m amazed we—” She paused when she saw us. “Everything okay in here?”
    “Fine,” Mom and I said at the same time. Grandma Mary looked at us a moment, and then sighed. “Well, if you girls are okay, then I’m going to head back to my room do a bit of sewing.”
    “We’re good, Mom,” my mom said.
    Mom and I continued to cuddle on the couch, eventually finding an old horror movie to watch. We loved the classics. This one was with Vincent Price. When the movie ended, I went to bed. I thought for sure I would dream of David that night, but I slept in peace.

 
    It was Friday, July 1. I powered up my laptop to work while the house was quiet. I promised Rebecca I’d maintain the Sew Beautiful website until she could find someone else. Sure, there were companies that would do it for her, but none as cheap as I was. Plus, after helping at the shop, I knew the business pretty well. The site looked good; I changed the main page to feature three fall projects and updated a broken link in the resource section. I e-mailed Rebecca a summary of my work and asked if anyone reported problems. Since online sales were far surpassing those at the store, I knew it was important to keep things easy to find and updated for her customers.
    Once I finished work, I e-mailed Kim, attaching the picture of the lighthouse. She hadn’t replied to my first one yet, but I wasn’t surprised. She told me the internet connection was terrible at her uncle’s ranch.
    It was time to tackle the stack of boxes the movers left in the corner of my room. I could arrange the room to my liking. Not that I minded my grandmother’s decorating, but it was always nice to be surrounded by your own things. Opening a box, I got started unpacking and decorating.
    “Meara?” Mom popped her head in my room. “Did you want some lunch? It’s just you and me, kiddo.”
    “Where are Grandma Mary and Grandpa Jamie?”
    “At a barbecue.”
    “You didn’t want to go?”
    Mom made a face. “Head hurts.”
    Now that she said it, I noticed her pale face and bruised eyelids.
    “I can