Part 2

"I cannot believe the whole town is booked. I didn't expect this many people to actually show for the wedding," Josiah continued. Tyler laughed at that, making Josiah grin along with him.

"You are Josiah Todd of the Austin Todds. You are the eldest son of the eldest son. Do you really think that people don't care if you get married?" Tyler teased his friend, blue eyes twinkling in the morning sun. "Besides, this town only has, what, six people living here? So where am I leaving the Harley?"

"The town has about six thousand, believe it or not. It's smaller than where we grew up," Josiah replied, laughter in his voice. "You will be staying with Lydia Adams of all people. Do you remember her? We went to school together. I still can't believe she woumd up here."

Josiah could have been speaking gibberish for all Tyler heard. As soon as Lydia's name had been mentioned, he was thrown back in time to nineteen and the month he had spent with Lydia, learning how to feel, learning he had emotions and he didn't like them. He hadn't even told his closest friend about the experience, it had made him too raw. And then he had left her. He was trying to refocus on Josiah's voice, trying to push back the emotions and the memories.

"So we're free for now. Let's take a tour of the town," Josiah finished.

"Yeah, sounds great," he replied with what he hoped was enthusiasm.

Harper's Bend, Texas was typical of every small town. It had the quaint Main Street, small park around downtown and lots of shops and old timers sitting around shooting the breeze. The clock tower at City Hall was a cool feature and Tyler appreciated the architecture and easiness of the town. The gazebo in the middle of the town square was a nice touch. He could feel his feet ready to travel already.

They approached a small cluster of stores and Josiah was reciting the history of each. He had learned as much about the small town as he could to impress Josie and now the information was coming in handy.

"You just fit right in, don't you?" Tyler quipped, a smile hovering around his lips.

"Crazy, isn' it? I sure didn't expect it," Josiah laughed with his friend. "Come on, let's go to the diner. Margie is crazy about me. Maybe we can mooch a piece of pecan pie." Tyler laughed at the thought of his friend, who was from one of the richest families in the state, mooching a piece of pie. But readily agreed as Josiah described the pie to him.


Lydia was trying to get her palms to quit sweating. She wasn't nervous about Tyler seeing where she lived, or about the apartment. She was nervous about seeing the man that had rejected her. She was nervous about facing the man that had ripped her heart out without a backward glance. She was worried she might throw up if her stomach didn't settle down. One more time she wiped her palms on her dish rag.

She had closed the store a little early, in order to prepare herself for tonight. And she knew she was in trouble when she comped herself the blue sun dress. She frequently wore the merchandise she sold. It was free advertising. But the blue sun dress was different. It had been a purely frivolous buy. She had fallen in love with it, and several customers had tried it on. But it hadn't worked for any of them. It worked for Lydia. The sapphire blue brought out the deep red of her hair and the paleness of her eyes. It was perfect for her. That made her nervous, too.

At six on the dot she heard Josiah's big truck pull in to the driveway. She also heard the loud rumble of a motorcycle. But not just the dirt bikes or sport bike that most people rode in this area. This was a serious machine, the deep rumble of the pipes announcing the arrival of its owner. She wiped her hands again as she headed for the door.

Josie was already on the porch, Josiah talking to Tyler as the two men trailed behind. "I knew that dress would be incredible on you. I still don't know how you can tan so well being a red head. I don't think it's fair," Josie told her as she embraced her friend.

"Hey, Lydia," Josiah said, stepping onto the porch, dropping a quick kiss on her cheek. "You remember Tyler, don't you?" Josiah stepped aside an she got a good look at Tyler, all grown up and no longer nineteen.

She took Tyler's hand, heard his soft "Hello, Lydia", and knew before the night was out, she was going to throw up.