Chapter 20

Was she not anxious to sever all ties with Jason? His presence in her past had been nightmarish. Yet, just now… she'd actually considered him her savior.

"Why were you at the hospital?" Brian's voice cut through the car's quiet.

"My maternal grandmother is ill. I visited her," she replied. Even without saying so, he could easily verify her story.

"Your grandmother lives in this town?" he asked.

"Uh-huh."

"Then you… lived here before?" His voice held a hesitant note.

"I lived here for a while as a child, but moved back to Emerald City when I was older," she explained.

"Is that so? Did anything unusual happen while you were living here as a child?" His fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel.

"I don't understand what you mean by 'unusual'," Grace responded. "Besides, I was very young. Even if something unusual happened, I wouldn't remember it."

Brian fell silent. The car pulled up outside a restaurant.

Recognizing it instantly, Grace identified the well-known, unassuming local eatery. Most patrons were locals; outsiders rarely visited this town, which wasn't a tourist destination. Such establishments were naturally less developed than those catering to tourists.

She'd spent several years here as a child. Only those intimately familiar with the area would know about it; the restaurant had been open for many years, even when she lived with her grandmother. Her grandmother often brought her there.

Grace was surprised Brian knew this place.

"The food here is decent, though the place is a bit rustic," Brian commented after exiting the car. "Speaking of which, you lived here for a while. Did you eat here?"

"Yes," she replied.

"Did you like it?" he asked.

"It's fine. The quality is good for the price, and some dishes are unique." Actually, she enjoyed the food. But to someone like Brian, accustomed to fine dining, it might seem unremarkable.

Unexpectedly, the owner greeted Brian upon entering. "Master Hart, welcome back. I always know you'll be around this time of year. And this is?"

The owner's gaze turned to Grace. Though she'd frequented the restaurant as a child, her visits had been infrequent over the past decade, only occurring during her grandmother's visits. It was understandable he didn't recognize her.

"A friend," Brian said.

"Haha, rare for you to bring friends. The usual order, then?" the owner asked.

"A few extra dishes. Your choice," Brian replied, leading Grace to a table near the window.

As she sat, Grace reflected on Brian's earlier introduction. 'Friend' hardly described their relationship.

"Every year, around this time, I eat here," Brian said. "Just as I visit that hospital for a while on this day each year."