One

2015 Present ~ Annabelle 24

They say the past always finds a way back to you, creeping in through forgotten corners as a reminder of what once was.

Sometimes it bursts in, uninvited, leaving a mess behind. I’ve learned to accept the peace of not knowing everything. I tell myself I prefer it this way.

But the undeniable always returns. The past demands to be faced.

It was a slow Wednesday afternoon at the bookstore. The bell above my door, a tiny owl chime, pulled me from arranging new books. I glanced at the clock. It was 2:40. Shit. I had to pick up Henry.

Maybe if I left now, I’d make it. But just then, the bell chimed and I heard tiny footsteps rushing toward me.

"Mama!" Henry's voice rang out. He dashed in, Mickey Mouse backpack bouncing, nearly knocking me over as he hugged and kissed my cheek. It was his last day of school. He was happy. I wasn’t. I love my son, but peace is a gift.

His messy hair reminded me of the haircut battle we’d been waging for weeks. Every time I came near him with scissors, he screamed like I was stealing his soul. “God, it’s sweltering,” Natasha, my only friend, muttered as she followed him in, fanning herself. She held Henry’s lunch bag, looking exasperated.

Her skin shone from the heat. “I need a vacation,” she groaned.

I smirked, kissing Henry’s forehead. “Thanks for picking him up. You could always quit your job and work for me, great vacation time.” She rolled her eyes. “Tempting,” she deadpanned, flopping onto a chair.

I laughed. “Are you hungry, Henry?”

“Yes, Mama,” he replied, grinning. His mannerisms reminded me of someone else.

I pushed the thought away. “Go eat lunch, and we’ll head home later,” I said, watching him trot off to the back.

Natasha handed me a stack of mail. “More of your mail at my office. You should update your address.” She started adjusting books. “Not a chance,” I replied, flipping through the pile. Most was junk, but one letter stopped me cold.

The envelope was white and crumpled. The return address: Pittstown. My chest tightened with dread. Cold sweat broke out as panic surged through me.

What was this? 

Who knew where I was? 

The only person who knew was my mother, and she had promised never to tell anyone where I was when I left our small town. And she was currently gallivanting through Europe with her much younger boyfriend. Eugene. “Everything okay?” Natasha asked, glancing over her shoulder. I shoved the envelope under the stack, trying to keep my voice steady even though I felt panicked and unsure. “Yeah, just junk mail,” I answered, peeking at her and smiling. She then returned to her task. I slipped behind the counter, pulled the letter from the pile, and stared at it. The postmark date was two years ago. My heart sank. Quietly, I slipped the letter into my bag. Whatever it was could wait. It had waited this long.

For now, my priority was my son. The doorbell chimed, signaling the arrival of another customer. “Hi, Jonah,” Natasha greeted, her face lighting up as she looked at him.

“Hey, Nat,” he replied with a small smile. Jonah was a widower who often came in around this time to pick up a book to read at his wife’s grave. It was heartbreaking. They’d been high school sweethearts, and she’d passed away during childbirth. “Hi, Carly!” Natasha said warmly.

“Hi, Miss Natasha,” Jonah’s young daughter said, her small hand tugging at her father’s arm as she turned toward me.

“Where’s Henry?” she asked, her eager eyes scanning the room.

“He’s in the back having lunch,” I spoke out, pointing toward the backroom. Without hesitation, she broke free of her father’s hand and darted off toward the back.

“Thank you,” Jonah said with an exhausted smile. “She’s been begging to come here since I picked her up from school.” I chuckled, adjusting my hair. He picked up the book he had ordered the night before. “Well, if you need a quiet night, I can take her in. She can stay the night, and you can pick her up the next day. Does that work for you?”

He moaned in relief. “Yes, please. That would be great.” 

“Alright, then. See you tomorrow!”

“Bye, guys,” he said, giving a small wave before heading out the door.

“He’s never going to be mine, is he?” Nat asked, placing the last of the new books on the shelves.

“Nat, baby, you’re gonna have to give him time,” I sighed.“They were together for almost half their lives, and she’s been gone for five years now,” I whispered to her.

Then she turned to look at me. “I know,” she said, her shoulders slumping. “I just… really like him. You know”

She walked over, placing both hands under her cheeks, her beautiful dark eyes tired. She had been in love with him for about a year now. I could comprehend, I really could.

“Yeah, I know,” I said softly, glancing at her. “But isn’t he, like, way older than you?” I smirked, the corner of my lips lifting as I typed away some information into the system.

“Ten years older isn’t old; it just means he’s more...furnished, that’s all. Back home, my grandma used to say, ‘Age can sharpen your knife, not make it dull.’ Besides, have you seen that body? He’s so hot.”

She fanned herself dramatically, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Well, he is hot,” I agreed, grinning with her.

Nat’s tears faded into a playful smile as she perched on the edge of the counter, swinging her legs. “You know, if he just looked at me the way he used to look at her…” She trailed off, her gaze distant for a moment. “Maybe then I’d have a chance.”

I paused, looking up from the computer. “Nat, you’re amazing. Any man with half a brain would be lucky to have you.”

She chuckled, but it was a dry laugh. “Yeah, but Jonah’s not just any man, is he? He’s still holding onto her, Anna. And it’s painful to watch”

I got up and crossed over to her, resting a hand on her shoulder. “Nat, People heal at their own pace. You can’t rush it.”

“I know,” she said, shrugging. “But it’s hard when every time he talks about her, it’s like she’s still here, still alive. And I’m just… I’m a bitch aren’t I?” She sighed heavily, unable to finish the sentence.

“You’re just being patient, yes,” I said gently. “If it’s meant to be, it will be. Don’t lose yourself waiting for someone who might not be ready.”

She looked at me, her eyes filled with gratitude and a determination that seemed to be something like a resolve. “You’re right. I’m not gonna push it. But I’m not giving up either. He’ll see me one day. He has to.”

I smiled, squeezing her shoulder before returning to the counter. Just as I sat down, the doorbell rang again, signaling the arrival of another customer.

“Well, as much as I’d love to stay, I’ve got about three minutes before my boss gets back, and then it’s game over. I’ll see you at dinner,” Natasha said before hurrying out.

“Hi, welcome to Anna's books, and what are you looking for today?” I smiled brightly at the customer.