Rocky Mountain Memories. Lois Richer

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СКАЧАТЬ Jake groaned. How was he supposed to tell Gem that Kurt, the man she’d loved and married less than a year ago, was gone?

      “Mostly I believe you should do it because you’re her friend, her very good friend. Aren’t you?” Celia seemed pleased by his nod. “Excellent. To regain her memories, Gemma’s going to need someone she can lean on, depend on and talk to without worrying about offending them. I think that’s you, Jake. Perhaps during the journey home, you can work it in that she’s now a widow. I—” She stopped. “Here she comes.”

      Work it in? Like, “By the way, Gem, nobody told you but you’re now a widow?” Jake’s brain scoffed.

      He stood by Celia, watching Gemma stride toward them. She moved easily across the space, making her appear confident and assured. Though appreciative heads turned to admire her beauty, Gemma appeared unaware of the attention. Her intense gaze rested on them.

      “I’m ready to go,” she announced, though there was the faintest wobble in the words and her eyes were red. “Thank you for everything, Celia. I appreciate your assistance so much.”

      “It was my absolute pleasure, Gemma.” Celia hugged her, a trace of her own tears showing. “I put my card in your pack so that we can keep in touch. I want to know how you’re doing. If you need anything,” she added as she drew away, “anything at all, you let me know and I’ll try to help. Maybe one day you’ll return to Peru and we’ll have lunch together. Adiós o hasta pronto, mi querido amigo.”

      “Hasta que nos encontremos de nuevo,” Gemma responded in a very quiet tone.

      Jake blinked at her automatic Spanish rejoinder before remembering Gemma was fluent in several languages. Another reason why becoming a tour guide had seemed so perfect for her.

      Celia waved, picked up her duffel and hurried away. Gemma watched her leave as though she was losing her best friend.

      “Things will get better, Gem,” he reassured her, trying to sound cheerful.

      “Promise?” She gave him a half-hearted smile and then slung her pack over one shoulder. “I have a hunch they’re going to get much worse first. I’m ready. I guess.”

      Jake had never heard Gemma sound so uncertain. She’d always been full of confidence and assurance.

       Had been.

      “I could take that—” He immediately choked back his offer to carry her backpack when her chin lifted and she glared at him. “Right. Let’s go.” He pulled his keys out of his pocket as they walked toward the exit. Outside in the clear sunlight he hesitated, concerns rising at her fragile appearance. “It’s quite a hike to the car.”

      “Do you know me well, Jake?” Gemma’s green eyes challenged him.

      “Pretty well,” he said. Not that well, his brain rebuked. You never thought she’d elope. “You’ve been away for a while, but I used to,” he clarified.

      “If you know me at all, then you know that I can quite easily manage a little walk across a parking lot. Right?” One auburn eyebrow arched imperiously.

      “But you’ve been—right.” He stifled his objection and pointed. “I’m parked over that way.”

      Gemma walked beside him, her head swiveling from right to left, taking in the sights of fully leafed trees scattered here and there, and the sound of chirping birds. “It’s summertime.” She sounded surprised.

      “Late May. Springtime in North America and not quite summer in the Rockies,” he explained. “The days are much longer but remember our nights are still chilly.”

      “That’s the thing—I don’t remember.” She sighed. “So many things I’ve forgotten.”

      “So many things to rediscover now that you’re home.” As they reached her foster aunts’ big, roomy SUV, Jake hit the unlock button and opened her door.

      His phone dinged with a text which he ignored. Someone needing his help, no doubt. The community had gotten in the habit of calling on him for aid with lots of things, but he was busy helping Gemma right now and she came first. He waited until she was comfortably seated with her backpack on the floor, before he closed her door and took his own seat.

      “It’s not going to be a fast trip out of the city,” he warned.

      “Rush hour in Edmonton is never fast.” Gemma blinked. “I have no idea how I know that,” she muttered. “Actually, I’m not sure about a whole lot of things. I know what they told me, but I can’t recall any personal details, like my birthday or when I started leading tour groups or—anything.”

      “I can tell you a little,” Jake offered. “After you graduated from high school, you studied languages. You were always good at French in school.”

      “Le printemps à Paris est le meilleur moment pour visiter,” Gemma murmured. Her eyes flared with surprise. “Uh—”

      “See? Your memory is there, Gem. It just needs to wake up.” He grinned at her as they sat at a red light.

      “But why do I remember that when I can’t remember my own name or where I live?” She sounded irritated. “Or these aunts you mentioned. Or the sisters. Or this haven place.”

      “You’ll love The Haven. It’s a big old stone manor house perched on the top of a hill with the most wonderful view of the valley and in the distance, the Rockies. It’s surrounded by untouched forest.” He felt the intensity of her focus on him. “That’s what makes it such a perfect place for your aunts’ ministries.”

      “Ministries?” She blinked. “Like they lead a church there or something?”

      “No.” Jake chuckled. “The ladies have faith—very strong faith—in God. They spent years as missionaries in Africa. Now they’re using their home and land as a place for troubled foster kids to come for respite. Your sisters run the programs for them.”

      “How old are these aunts?” Gemma asked.

      “Seventy-six, but you’d never know it. They are very active and extremely involved in their community. I doubt Tillie and Margaret Spenser will ever truly retire because they love helping people.” Jake paused before adding, “I should know. They saved my life.”

      “I’d like to hear that story.” Gemma pressed back against the seat, as if she was finally comfortable with him.

      “Maybe some other time,” he said, trying to gird himself for adding to her pain. “First there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

      * * *

      The serious note in Jake’s voice warned Gemma that whatever he wanted to talk about would not be pleasant. Internal warning signs flared. She was so weary of bracing herself for the unknown. Yet what alternative did she have?

      Just then Jake’s phone rang. She waited while he answered it.

      “Hey, Marv,” he said after pressing a button on the dashboard.

      “Hate to bother you, Jake, but I’m at Gerda Brown’s place, trying to fix her water СКАЧАТЬ