Burning in a Memory Read Online Free PDF Page B

aren’t here yet. I don’t see their cars,” he pointed out.
                  Her head spun to take in the surroundings when she stepped out of the Jeep. There weren’t many cars in the parking lot, period.
                  “Are they running late?” she asked as casually as possible. She thought they’d cruised in at the last possible minute.
                  “I wish I could tell you. They’re the more unpredictable half of the coven. Angie is probably coming separately though. She’s getting off of work to be here.”
                  “Okay, I know Angie at least.”
                  The redhead hadn’t been happy, but at least she wasn’t threatening.
    Adam led the way to the building. When they walked inside, they were struck with the intense smell of garlic. The place had a deep purple hue and warm yellow lighting, a complete contrast to the blandness of the outer walls. Like the parking lot, the place was mostly empty. It took a full minute for a hostess to appear from the back to seat them. When she came, she came running.
    “Oh Adam! I thought I heard that ol’ Jeep!” the woman hollered.
    Her short legs made the dash across the restaurant seem like a long one, but she bounded the whole way. While she didn’t spare a glance Adelaide’s way, she dragged Adam into a hug that Adam returned half-heartedly. The difference in height had never been more noticeable. When she finally released him, Adam brushed Adelaide’s arm with his fingertips. Adelaide wasn’t sure if it was comforting gesture or a plea for help.
    “I take it you two know each other,” Adelaide commented. She guessed that the woman, with graying hair just visible beneath her dye job, wasn’t an ex-girlfriend. Her question made the hostess twitch, as if she just realized Adelaide stood there for the first time. The woman maneuvered back ward and then sized her up.
    “Oh, but I haven’t met you. My name is Charlotte … and you are?” the woman cooed.
    “Charlotte, this is Adelaide. She’s my friend,” Adam answered on her behalf.
                  Charlotte’s blue eyes fogged with calculation. Her voice hushed and she spoke in whispers.
                  “Rockslide girl, I’ve heard about you.”
                  Adam’s cheeks flushed, and he interrupted quickly.
                  “I don’t know if your son mentioned, but they’re all coming by. I was hoping we could get a big booth.”
                  Charlotte didn’t react at first, rolling back on her heels and stealing another shameless look at Adelaide. Finally the woman moved, leading them to a massive triangular booth in the back. Adam slid in first and Adelaide followed. Back there, the place was quieter and isolated by arches that improved the building’s acoustics. Charlotte offered them a smile and a question that took them both off guard.
                  “You know this booth will always be open for my favorite people. And their friends,” she said at first, and then pointedly added, “You are just friends, right Adam?” The emphasis of the word just was painful to hear.
                  “Yes, Charlotte. But that doesn’t mean you need to play my mother, either. Or embarrass me with rude questions,” Adam interjected.
                  The woman stiffened visibly, but a smile still crossed her lips.
                  “When you have your own kids, you’ll do the same to them,” she said, sounding surprisingly genuine. The woman then took their drink order and left.
                  Adam returned his attention to Adelaide.
                  “I’m sorry about Charlotte. She’s basically family and much too old fashioned. She gets every girl I come in here like that.”
                  “Come in here with a lot of girls?” Adelaide couldn’t help but ask