Page 71 of Finding Yesterday
“Because why would I?” He grabs my free hand and squeezes it. “I had no idea Millie even cooked until your dad told me. I never imagined they’d be anyone’s but Maw’s.”
I nod, taking a moment to even my breath. “But where did you find this?”
He closes his eyes. “I found it on Pops’s shelf. In the library. I’m almost certain I put it there, although I don’t know why, or how I got it in the first place,” he says, his voice hoarse. “I’d do anything to remember, believe me, but I can’t, I’m sorry.” He looks like he’s going to be sick. “But you have to trust me when I never thought for one second that these belonged to your mother.”
“I do trust you, Jack,” I say, meaning it. “Does Pops know about this?”
“I told him I found Maw’s recipes, but I never showed him this book.” Jack stares at the book. “He told me he’d be too sad to look at it. So, I just printed up a new one to use at The Fine Bone. He doesn’t think they belong to Millie, either, I swear.”
“You’re sure he thinks these are Maw’s new recipes?”
“Yes.”
“But they are my mother’s old ones.” I shake my head. “Which means, where are Maw’s new ones?”
His eyes widen. “That’s a good question. I don’t know.”
I rub my head. “So, we have restaurant plans, a cabinet knob made from local rubies, and missing recipes.”
“I wish any of those things made sense or jarred any memories. Or seemed linked in any way.” He groans.
I stand, resting my hands on his back. “I wish all those things too. And I’m so sorry.”
“You should take that book.” His face is ghostly. “Everything in it belongs to you. And we can give Millie all the credit on the menus, whatever you want to do.”
My mind’s hazy, but I know that’s not what I want. “No. Pops thinks these are Maw’s. It makes him so happy.” I hold up the book. “I have what I want, the many recipes from my childhood. Let Pops believe those at the restaurant were Ms. Hannah’s, okay?”
Jack’s eyes go glossy, and he strokes a finger over my cheek. “There isn’t an unkind bone in your body.”
“I’m pretty sure my brother would disagree with you there.” The corners of my mouth tick up. “And Hudson.”
“They wouldn’t. Not in a serious way.”
I ponder his words, and I think he might be right about that.
At a realization, my eyes mist. “I cannot believe what just happened between us, Jack. We’re both confused, shocked, and torn to pieces, yet we trust each other enough not to turn on one another.”
“Of course we do.” He pulls me into a hug, and the only thing in the world that exists in this moment is Jack’s comfort, his arms around me, his body against mine.
It’s so different than anything I ever experienced. And suddenly, I know without a question of a doubt what this is.
It’s the forever kind of love.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
JACK THINKS TONIGHTis a dinner with those of us that work at The Fine Bone. Boy, is he wrong. He’s about to find out how Blue Vine sends off one of our own. The whole town is coming, Nate’s band is playing, and there will be more food and gifts than Jack will be comfortable with, that I’m sure of.
We’ve closed the restaurant and told Jack that we’d be making the food, which is partly true. We’ve prepared a few items, but mostly, everyone will bring their signature dishes for one big potluck.
When Daisy and her husband, Jessie Mac, come through the door, I approach them. “Hey, Daisy, I have something of yours.” I pull out Winston’s knitted cap and hold it out for her to take.
“Aw, darlin’, I know you kept the pig. You can keep the hat too.” She flashes me a wink and a smile.
“Well, I was actually going to buy it from you…” I shrug. “But it doesn’t fit Winston anymore. He’s turning into a big boy.”
She chuckles. “How about this, you give me this back, and I’ll make him another one that fits.”
“That sounds amazing.” My smile reaches my ears. “I’ve tried knitting things for Winston and they fall apart.”
