Chapter 1

Granny’s Diner

April 15, 1952

4:00 p.m.

You!

Terri’s heart flipped. She tightened her hold on the tray she was carrying and waited.

Just listen.

Go away.

Come on, Terri.

The diner door opened, their eyes clashed, and her heart flipped.

“You should have listened,” Terri retorted, tossing the milkshake she was holding in Dean’s face.

Then before she could say something she might regret Terri shoved the tray into Granny’s hands and stormed toward the back of the diner.

The urge to run out the side door was strong. But she was no shrinking violet. She ducked into the ladies’ room instead and locked herself in the stall.

Dean Patterson, the man her heart had decided was meant to be hers when she was fifteen, was back in town. Except every time she’d thought they were ready to take the next step, he’d left her confused and hurting.

“TTTTerri!”

The ladies’ room door banged against the wall, and the space around her seemed to shrink.

“TTTTerri!” Dean forced out. “We need to talk.”

She took a deep breath and tried to ignore him. Tried to ignore the fact her heart felt as if it were literally reaching for his. He’d been home for a week, and she’d been expecting his call.

“Go away!” Terri repeated. “I’m trying to work.”

“I know.” He was quiet for several minutes, then she heard him sigh. How to interpret the sound though, she wasn’t sure. Especially, since she couldn’t see his face.

“Then you know, I’m working,” she reiterated. “Granny’s is not the place to air our grievances.”

“I ccccalled you,” Dean told her. “You refused to answer.”

He was right, she internally grumbled. There had been several times when she’d heard the phone ringing but hadn’t answered. Somehow, she’d known it was him.

“Why are you still here?” she finally asked.

“I’ve …” but then he hesitated as if he’d changed his mind about what he wanted to say, “It’s not time.”

Not time? What did that mean?

“You mean your leave isn’t over?” she tried to get him to clarify.

The first time Dean had broken her heart was when he was twenty, and she was getting ready to graduate. They’d talked about getting married so often she’d started to plan their wedding. Then the night she’d thought he was going to propose, he’d told her he was enlisting in the Navy.

Two years later, he’d returned home to Swan Harbor, and she’d hoped for another chance. However, he’d found out what she’d done, and instead of putting a ring on her finger, he’d gone back to Virginia and the Navy.

Then the war started, and she’d worried.

Yet, with the war still being fought, he was home. Why?

“It’s not time,” Dean repeated.

Which was typical. He wasn’t one to elaborate, and while initially, she’d thought it was because of his stutter, she’d learned … that was just him. When Dean had something to say, he said it.

“Why are you here?” she asked again.

“To tttalk to you.”

It was quiet for several moments, and then she heard footsteps. He didn’t leave though, as she could see the toes of his black shoes under the stall door.

They were covered with spots she assumed were from the milkshake, and while she felt a tiny bit of remorse, she shoved it away.

“CCCome out, please.” His voice cracked on the last word, which was the only reason she considered his request.

“If I come out,” Terri shot back. “You have to stay across the room.”

“Okay.”

Her heart raced while she waited for him to do as she’d asked. One beat – two – and then, his shoes disappeared from her view. Slowly, she unlocked the door but couldn’t quite make herself open it.

To be continued ….