His Return

Chapter 2

He knew he’d run into her at some point, it was inevitable, but he didn’t think it would be in the parking lot the moment he got home. The only way he could have been more surprised is if she had been the one to pick him up.

Her beautiful auburn hair was swept back into a ponytail and she was wearing blue jeans and a plain t-shirt. It wasn’t anything fancy, definitely different from when he’d seen her last.

It was her eyes that drew him in, though, as they always had. Her green eyes were things a man dreamed of, the kind a man lost his soul to, and he supposed he had, several years ago.

“Mallory,” he said her name as she walked closer.

“Shane,” she sighed when she said it like she hadn’t expected him to acknowledge her, almost irritated.

“How are you?” he shook his head at himself the moment the words were out. How lame was that?

“I’m okay,” she answered, and then looked at the car next to him. “Sorry, I was just on my way out.”

“You aren’t staying?” He asked, knowing that she had already said she wasn’t, according to his aunt.

“Umm…” she hesitated, “no, I’ve gotta run.”

“Oh, well, I guess we can catch up another time?” He needed to end the conversation now. Apparently, he’d lost the ability to sound anything other than lame.

“Maybe,” she shrugged and opened the door to the silver car.

It was only as she pulled away that he noticed it was the same car she was driving before everything, and he couldn’t help but wonder why. The Mallory he knew was always dressed the best and had the nicest things. Seems more changed than he thought.

“Get on in here before your aunt badgers me some more,” Mark yelled from the open door to the hardware store.

“I’m coming,” he called back and made his way inside.

What hadn’t changed a bit was this store. It was every bit the way he remembered it, except there was a new register. He could close his eyes and probably still find every single thing he was looking for.

“Shane.” Lorraine was on him in a flash, her slight frame wrapping him into a hug.

“Aunt Lorraine,” he hugged her back.

“I’m so glad you’re home.”

“I’m glad to be back,” even as he said it, he wondered if it would be true.

A small town didn’t forgive offenses often and if he could only manage not to be the talk of the town, he might be okay. Once people started bringing up old things again, nothing good would ever come of it.

“I’ve made all your favorite things for dinner,” Lorraine took his hand and led him through the small backroom and out the backdoor. “Mallory and I fixed up the upstairs for you to give you a private place to stay. She even made it all legal, and it’s a real apartment now.”

The thought that Mallory had been a part of where he was going to be sleeping brought thoughts to his head that he tried to push away. He had no business thinking of her like that. He’d never asked if she’d gotten married, but he assumed she would be by now.

She led him up the stairs to what used to be storage and spiderwebs and was now a furnished apartment. It looked like heaven, if he were being honest. They decorated everything in a sea of blue and brown with pops of yellow. No doubt the fancy throw pillows were Mallory’s idea.

“Do you like it?” Lorraine asked.

“It’s great. I’m going to love it.” He reached down to properly hug her. “Thank you for this.”

“Make sure you thank Mallory, too. Most of this was her,” Lorraine gently scolded him with that, as though he wouldn’t do it.

“I promise I will, if I see her again,” he answered.

“Oh, you’ll see her tomorrow. She works the shop on Saturdays so Mark can stay home.” Lorraine smiled, clearly proud of keeping that information from him.

“You never told me that,” he wondered why.

“You didn’t ask,” Lorraine simply smiled and let herself out of the apartment. “Dinner in an hour. Come on down and we can head out when you’re ready.”

He chuckled as the door closed. His hold life she’d done that, told him his expectations and then to do it when he was ready. There was a deadline, but she always led with it.

Looking around, he noted how much open space there was. Watching TV was going to be interesting. It had been a while. Briefly, he wondered what shows were even on. No matter, he didn’t plan to spend his time in the room more than needed.

There was a small note next to the TV remote, and he reached down to pick it up. Mallory may have given him the cold shoulder in the parking lot, but he had hope that she didn’t hate him when he read the instructions to using the TV streaming, what they had signed up for and then a list of shows she recommended. She’d taken time, and she’d thought about him.

He smiled as he left his room and headed back for the shop. With no more worries, he was ready to eat.

“Come with us to dinner,” he heard Lorraine as he walked through the backroom.

“You know I don’t want to intrude,” Mallory answered.

It was wrong of him, but he held back to see where this conversation was going and why she had come back.

“I know that’s not why,” Lorraine told her.

“He doesn’t want me there. You enjoy your dinner.” Mallory sounded frustrated.

Who was she talking about? Surely not him? Then again, he hadn’t spoken to her in far too long. Maybe she was.

He let himself out of the room, “stay, we’d all love you have you at dinner.” He stressed that it was all of them, hoping she’d get the hint.

The hint was received and plan as day if the look she threw him meant anything.

“See?” Lorraine smiled at him.

“I guess I was wrong then,” Mallory sighed. “When are we leaving?”

“Now, if y’all would quit chit chatting and come on,” Mark told her from the door.

“Yes, sir,” Mallory answered Mark with a warm smile.

Lorraine looked over at him with a grin. “Mallory, can Shane ride with you so he doesn’t have to cram himself into the backseat of Mark’s truck?”

Stunned was an understatement of Mallory’s reaction. She stopped, turned, and opened her mouth a few times before anything came out.

“Sure, come on,” she told him.

He didn’t know why Lorraine was trying to get them to ride together, but he wasn’t about to turn down a few minutes with her. He followed everyone out the store and waited as Mark locked it up before letting the screen door close and opening the door to Mallory’s car.