CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Rick’s bed smelled of him – his spicy aftershave and woodsy cologne. I found it relaxed me and, although my mind was still thinking of the people from Memory Makers whom I’d described to him, I found myself drowsing off. Right before I fell asleep, I had another flashback. This one was more pleasant than the last.
I was a little girl again in the house where I grew up. A young woman with long red hair and a bright smile was giving me a cookie.
“There you go, Lauren. Your mother will be home soon with Patty. I don’t want her to see me giving you sugary treats, but you’re such a good girl. You deserve it.”
“dank you, Maree.”
The woman smiled and patted my curly head. “You’re welcome, Lauren.”
I bit into the cookie, tasting the gooey chocolate chips, some of it smeared
