Does She Remember Me?

Tyson

 “Who and where is this place? Do they have a storefront?” I asked Alec.

“Not that I’m aware of,” he answered.

I smiled. “I really like the sound of that.”

He chuckled. “I thought you might.”

“Then why would you suggest a merger? Why not just jump to the buyout?”

He shrugged. “Because the deal was proposed as a merger. I didn’t want to jump to conclusions.”

“Will he go for it?”

“I think he will. He proposed a merger, but I get the feeling he is more interested in just getting out of the business in general.”

“Can you send me the information? I’d like to do some homework.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card. He slid it across the table. “That’s him.”

I reached for it. “Have you met with him?”

“Briefly. It was a quick coffee. I wasn’t interested in getting into a big thing with him if it wasn’t worth my time. I’ve had plenty of other little mom and pop shops reach out. They are always a huge waste of time. They parade their knockoffs and want me to pay them a million dollars. I wanted to look into this one a bit more. On the surface, I’m impressed.”

I picked up the card with one hand, my soda in the other hand as I took a drink. I glanced at the card, a brief moment of confusion as my brain processed the name. I stared at it for several long seconds, the straw from my soda resting on my lips.

“Who did you talk to?” I asked in a harsh voice.

He looked thoughtful. “Paul. Peter. No, Patrick.”

“You spoke with Patrick Kendell?”

“Yes. Why? Do you know him?”

I put the card down. “No. Not anymore.”

Memories flooded me. So many memories. Good, bad, and everything in between. I stuffed the card inside my back pocket before taking a last drink of the soda.

“I need to get back to the office,” Alec announced. “I’ve got some calls to make. Will you be heading back?”

I shook my head. “No. I need to do a few things first.”

“Do you want me to look into that place? Put together a proposal?”

“Yes, please,” I said. “Find out everything you can.”

“I will. I’ll have something put together by the end of the week.”

He paused, not getting up. I waited to see what else he needed to say. He was looking at me funny. “What’s up? What else?”

He opened his mouth and then closed it again. “Nothing. I’ll see you sometime at the office.”

He left and I followed shortly after. I got into the waiting car and gave my driver the address of Kendell’s offices. I had to see it. I had never forgotten the Kendells, but I had moved on. I had tried to forget but that was impossible. That was like trying to forget how to breathe.

It had been a long time, but it was like yesterday in many ways. The car pulled to a stop next to the curb. I stared out the window. The faded decal on the window was the same one that had been there forever. I had a lot of questions. I wondered what had happened to the elder Kendell. The building was old, and the businesses dotting the street were just as old. Sadly, there were plenty of shuttered businesses as well. Time marched on. Family businesses went under or sold out to the corporate world.

I was a little surprised to know they were thinking about selling. Did they know it was me they were selling to? I kept my name out of the public, choosing to hide behind the company name and Alec. Most people thought he was the owner. I didn’t mind. I liked the anonymity. I liked being able to be a guest, visiting museums and shops with most people never knowing who I was.

There was a knock on the window. I looked up through the tinted glass and sucked in a breath. Holy shit. Mae Kendell. She was standing inches from me. I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know what to do. She knocked on the window again. I pushed the button to roll it down, staring into the gorgeous green eyes that had haunted my dreams for years.

She was looking at me, staring directly at me. I was trying to think of what I would say. It had been so long. Was she mad at me?

“Why is your big-ass car blocking my office?” she asked.

I blinked. She was acting like she didn’t recognize me. Didn’t she? Did she really not know who I was? The thought was saddening and sobering. Here I thought I was an important part of the Kendell-family history. She didn’t even remember me. That was a kick to the gut.