Remember Me

By Harlee Mills

Is there anything you wouldn’t do to protect the person you love? After eight years away from the place he calls home Jordan Anderson returns to find the girl he fell in love with as a teenager has returned as well. Even though it seems that this is their chance for happily ever after to happen, they are suddenly faced with the fact that monsters from their past haven’t vanished from their fairytale.

Faced with the ultimate sacrifice what will it take for Jordan to free the woman he loves from a past that seems to not want to let go of her; and in the end will it be enough to keep her by his side ?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harlee Mills
• Release date: Jun 29, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476445588

Harlee Mills

Biography Harlee Mills was born in 1975 in the small town of Niles Michigan, the youngest of 4 kids. At the age of 1 her family moved to Texas where she still resides. Growing up with dyslexia made writing very difficult, but thanks to her highschool English teacher she caught the writing bug. After being inspired by a poem to write a love story the short work blossomed into a transatlantic love story spanning two books, Remember Me and the follow up Forget me Not (due out later) When not writing she is busy being a mother of 4.

Book preview

Chapter One

It has been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, a clear portal to view the other side. Exposing the owners wants, needs, wishes, desires, and if allowed whatever secrets held within, a gateway to a person’s innermost thoughts and feelings. He stood watching the storm blow over outside his window; in his heart he understood this window for just as it was storming outside, Jordan’s own storm raged within. Jordan put his hand against the window and felt the rain beat against his fingertips. The sound soon echoed in his head like a heartbeat. Slowly he began to trace a name in the window, he found himself gazing at the name, remembering its owner, and smiling. A glimmer of light that had broken through the clouds caught his attention.

You always were my sunshine. He said out loud to himself. He stood back and watched the name for a minute, he saw the condensation gather at the end and roll down the window. Jordan tightened his eyes Don’t cry, He said to himself. It only makes it harder. Jordan put his hand to the window again ready to wipe the name away; he hesitated only a moment then pushed his hand over the name removing it forever. If only it were that easy. Jordan said pushing away a tear that had escaped his grasp. You are so pathetic, He said turning to the mirror behind him. There was a man standing there reflected in the glass, a man he never really wanted to know. The anger came back to his face again as he growled Go away, towards the image. He looked up again and the man hadn’t gone away. If Jordan hadn’t seen that face reflected for the last eight years, he would have never recognized himself. No amount of saying ‘go away’ was going to change what he had become in those eight years. He wondered if the people at home would recognize him. His dark brown hair that he usually kept long and unruly was now short and slicked back. His eyes now much older were framed by his glasses which he found much more comfortable than his contact lenses. Everything in his life was in the right place, he had the knowledge and the look, in three months he would start his new job; and only one thing was wrong. Deep down inside, Jordan hated all of it. Some part of himself that he had buried long ago mourned his old self. Maybe going home would somehow change him back to the person he used to be. That place had to hold that magic. It was the place he had learned to call home, that’s where she was from. She was the one who made him believed in fate; she made him believe anything was possible. His dreams had been manipulated by the real world creeping in, and the States had reclaimed him and turned him into the person he now was. He longed for that magic in his life again. The smile came back again, why did he always smile when he thought of her?

For as long as I have known you, you have been spellbound by the rain Jordan. She slid her hands around his waist. Jordan stopped her hands and removed them. He stepped away from her smiling an indifferent sort of smile, one that he would use when he really didn’t want to say the words but wanted her to get the message by the look on his face and then walked back towards the bookshelf he had been packing.

Can’t help it Becca, where I am from the rain becomes a part of you. He grabbed another stack of books and threw it into a large box. He paused again, and again flashed her that smile, the one that almost broke her heart when she would see it. Becca found that recently it didn’t break as easily, she was letting go. You came to say goodbye then? He said in a sigh, leaning on the shelf.

How could I not, although I wish it wasn’t goodbye. Becca took a long, slow deep breath. She knew he would never return her feelings. He was a guarded person. Becca had always like to imagine that it was some great love story that had made him the way he was, but in the end she chalked it up to him being a man. There was something about the man that intrigued her, he intrigued every woman he met; but never let anyone in.

It’s just for a few months Becca. I have to go home, there’s something I have to do. There had been a point only two months before where Jordan had decided he wouldn’t go back to Scotland. The very thought of it made him angry, but two weeks prior he changed his mind, and was now preparing to leave. She walked to the bookshelf to grab the few of the remaining books that sat there behind the others; all of them were covered in dust. Becca blew the layers of dust of and shook them carefully. A few scraps of paper flew out of the top one and to the ground she knelt down to pick them up and found an old picture. Jordan must have tucked it inside and forgotten it was there, by the amount of dust on the book itself, it had to have been there for years.

What’s this? She asked as she handed the picture to him. Jordan walked over to look at it. The smile reemerged on his face, but this was the smile you see when you see an old friend that you hadn’t seen in several years. Someone you had never dreamed you would see again, and suddenly there they were in front of you.

I thought I had lost this. He said as he looked down at the smiling face looking back at him. This is Hayden. Jordan walked slowly and sat down on the bed. The smile departed from his face as he brushed the picture softly as if it were fragile and would break at his touch. Becca thought she could hear him whispering to it, but she couldn’t make out the words. His fingers traced the edges of her face gently; he swallowed hard like there was a lump in his throat that was taking all of his effort to push down.

Hayden, you’ve never mentioned her before, she an old girlfriend? She could see that Jordan was in no mood for her teasing; but the fact that he was showing more emotion to this picture than he ever had to a living person made her want to know more.

You’ve actually met her before. His voice lifted slightly as if her memory made him happier. Jordan closed his eyes and swallowed again, like he had to force himself to speak of her. When his eyes opened she was sure she saw pain in them.

Have I? Becca said indifferently as she thought a moment. She was trying to remember a time that she had seen him with a girl, especially one that made him act this way. She thought back and could only remember one time. Ohh, you mean that this was the girl that was here a few years ago. She looked at the picture in his hand again. The red hair was right, but there was something different about the girl she had seen a few years before, something that this picture couldn’t communicate.

Yes, that’s her. The sound in his voice was almost one of choking as Jordan wiped the tears away from his eyes; he clenched them tightly in a vain attempt to make them stop. His breathing had labored as if he was holding back sobs of emotion. Becca knew he was like a volcano ready to explode, she wondered if she dared to push this anymore. Jordan at points was like a time bomb, calm and put together in one second and the next he was off on a mad tangent. If this girl meant that much to him, he shouldn’t mind answering a few questions, but then again were these emotions he was feeling good ones. Curiosity got the better of Becca and she pressed a bit more.

‘Say something,’ she thought to herself as her mind scrambled for words. Jordan sat there silently as tears flowed from his eyes. This man of steel she had always known was crumbling before her. I¡K she stuttered as she stepped closer. Do you want to tell me about it?

It’s nothing Bec, I have to pack. He took another long drawn in breath and finally looked at her. Jordan reached over and tossed the picture on top of the books and went back to the half empty shelf. She saw him wipe fiercely at the tears that still lay on his cheeks. Okay, he whispered to himself. It’s all okay. Becca was shaking her head in a cross between incomprehension and disgust. This was the first time she had ever seen him act so human, and there was no way she was going to let him stop now and revert back to the iron man she knew. There was a look on his face like there was an old movie playing inside his head, and now Becca wanted to see the show.

Jordan, in the last four years that I have known you, you have never once cried in front of me. There is obviously something wrong and I think, She said as she picked up the picture and walked over to Jordan putting it in front of his face. I think that it has something to do with her.

She is gone now Becca, He snarled as he snatched the picture from her and went back to the bed, slamming the books into the box. She had hit a nerve, it was do or die time now. This night would either end with him opening up or shutting down, she was hoping for the first.

If you didn’t want to talk about her, all you had to say was that she was dead Jordan. I am not a heartless person. I would have respected your pain. Becca crossed her arms and looked at him obstinately. He surprised her with what he did next, he laughed. Jordan looked at her in shock and laughed, then shook it off and immediately seemed angry again.

She didn’t die. He brooded. Dyeing would be easy for me to accept. Dyeing would make sense. She just disappeared, gone without a trace. No explanation, no goodbye, just stopped being. Becca looked at her friend dumbfounded at his words. You don’t get it do you? He asked throwing his hands into the air in frustration.

Obviously not, she responded softly.

Do you think that I have always been this way Bec? You have known me for years, and haven’t bothered to realize that I used to be a fairly warm person. I act like this because I am in pain, in pain because of her. Becca was still looking at him speechless. It took a few moments for him to say the words, but when he did her eyes grew wide in shock. I was in love with her Becca; she was the only girl I have ever loved. Becca regained her composure but remained silent, Jordan returned to slamming books into the box when she dared to speak again.

Do you still love her? She asked quietly. His head snapped around to her as if she had insulted him, the noise that left his mouth was incoherent like he forgot how to talk for a minute. I know that it’s been several years, but love knows no time, it is possible isn’t it? He was shaking his head as if his brain and his heart were in a struggle to answer the question.

Becca you sound like a psychology major again. You graduated with a major in English lit remember? He managed to say, a typical answer he would give when he wasn’t sure what answer to give or what the reaction to that answer would be.

I’m not trying to pick it apart Jordan, I am just trying to understand. I just want you to tell me about her, it would be nice to hear a good story come from you once and a while, instead of all those gruesome crime stories.

Becca I don’t have time. My plane leaves at eight tomorrow morning. He said as he had taped up the box in front of him and set another empty one on the bed when she took the stack of papers out of his hands. I still have a whole room to pack.

You aren’t going to feel better until you get this out, so talk to me. Jordan looked at his friend and knew it was no use to fight her. He sat down on the bed and smiled.

My father had reached that point in life were he felt early retirement might do him some good. He and mom had taken a trip a few years before and fell in love with this little village in Scotland. Seeing that I was the only child left at home, and they thought my world view could use a little broadening, they decided to move to Scotland¡K As he told his story he thought back to his first few days in Scotland.

Chapter Two.

The day was rather rainy in Scotland when the Anderson family moved into the old house; and moving was a process that Jordan wanted no part of. He sat on the porch and sulked as he watched the rainfall. He had never seen rain like this before, it seemed to settle on the land like a blanket, and hung in the air rather than hit the ground. But most of all it showed no signs of stopping. Jordan jumped off the porch and walked into the middle of the lawn. He looked up into the sky and yelled loudly.

Does it ever stop raining here? He closed his eyes and let the rain hit his face, the sound was almost deafening to him, there was a shuffling noise behind him and he opened his eyes again.

Actually, yes it does. Jordan spun around and saw a rather large figure in a raincoat approaching him. When he got closer, Jordan noticed that his mass was more round than up and down, and could have possibly been the coat he was wearing.

I didn’t know anyone was there. He said nervously as he walked back to the porch. The young man hurried to catch up with him, his feet sliding on the slope of the lawn; he regained his balance and came to Jordan’s side. He smiled as he kept up with his stride all the way back to the porch. Jordan sighed as he stopped next to him seeming to be in no hurry to do his job.

Figured that much out already. Jordan scowled at the stranger’s sarcasm.

What are you the welcoming committee? He muttered angrily under his breath as he sat back down on the steps.

Delivery from the general store in town. My mum asked me to deliver it for her and seeing that you are new here I thought I would come introduce myself. My name is Michael, Michael McPherson. He sat the bag down and stuck out his hand.

Jordan, Anderson. He half-heartedly shook the strangers’ hand. Michael pushed his hood off, his murky brown hair flattened to his head; he pushed it back then wiped his hand off again.

Know that too. He took a deep breath and looked around. Fine day isn’t it? Jordan looked him over again, he could just tell him to go away, leave him be, he thought to himself, but there was something interesting about the guy. Not to mention the fact he seemed to want something from Jordan as well and Jordan was curious to find out what it was.

If you’re a duck maybe, The realization of what he had said hit Jordan. Wait a second, how do you know my name? Michael stammered and fidgeted nervously, he shrugged slightly.

We saw the moving truck here yesterday, and word gets around in a small town, which by the way if people saw you screaming at the sky like that, they will think you’re a nutter. Michael chuckled.

A nutter? Jordan thought to himself. ‘Okay, here is this weird guy using weird words, and he is calling me names?’

You know, crazy, a loon. Jordan went quiet again. Michael took another deep breath. So I was wondering if you feel up to a bit of adventure then.

What? First, the guy insults him, and then invites him out; Jordan thought he must have stumbled onto some weird culture where insults are the norm for people. You want me to come with you¡K were exactly?

In town, c’mon I will show you around. You are going to need to know where everything is eventually right. Michael grinned sheepishly. I can show you the school, the hang outs, even where I work; we are always looking for help there.

Did my mother set you up for this? Michael looked at him with a perplexed look on his face. Is she paying you or something?

Do you think that she would? Michael laughed. I could always stand to make a few pounds here and there.

Seriously, Jordan scowled. If my mother had anything to do with this then the answer is no."

This is of my own doing. I haven’t even met your mother yet. If she is half the charmer that you are then I am sure we will get along brilliantly. Michael laughed a big boisterous laugh then stopped when he realized Jordan wasn't laughing. Take a chance, you may find something that you like about this place. Its small, it’s lost in some weird time warp, but it’s a good place to call home. Jordan sighed. We even have girls here. Michael joked.

Let me tell my mother, Jordan got up and went in the door. Michael was right behind him with bags in hand again. I am sure I already know the answer though.

Really? I didn’t know you had the ability to tell the future. Michael again started to laugh, and stopped when he saw the scowl had returned to Jordan's face.

Mother, my play date is here, He yelled walking into the kitchen.

What are you talking about sweetheart? Patsy was up on a chair storing the important dishes high. Jordan looked at Michael again. Patsy climbed down when she saw someone else was there.

I told you, it was of my own doing. Michael shrugged as he placed the bags on the counter. He offered his hand to Patsy and shook hers.

This is Michael from the store in town. Jordan looked through the bags curiously, and then started to put a few things away as his mother entered the conversation.

My mum asked me to deliver these too you this morning. She also included an invitation to dinner. He pulled out a piece of paper with a hand written note on it and handed it to Patsy.

That would be lovely, tell her we would love too.

Good then six o’clock, the address is on the back of paper. We aren’t hard to find, it’s just around the corner. Patsy looked at the paper.

Yes, I know where that is. He lives nearby Jordan, and you were worried that no one would be around. Jordan cleared his throat in embarrassment.

Hey mom, Michael wants to show me around town. Is that okay with you? Jordan interrupted.

Sounds like a great idea. She went for her purse on the counter. What do I owe you for these?

No charge mam, just borrowing your son for a bit.

Alright then, just be home in time to clean up for dinner. Patsy put her wallet back in her purse and pushed her son’s hair out if his face.

I will be mom, Jordan grabbed his coat, when he was out the door he pushed the hair right back so it covered a good portion of his face.

It won’t take long you know, come look at the strange American. Jordan scowled again as Michael snickered softly.

I'm just pulling your leg. He laughed as he walked out the door.

What were the words he used¡K lost in a time warp. The town truly did seem to be trapped in some time, not one Jordan was from. People were staring at him though like he was the oddity.

Ignore them, Michael grunted.

Do I look that weird? Jordan muttered under his breath.

Nah, he assured him. People are just stranger shy here, they will get used to seeing you soon enough. They turned onto the main street of town, all of the sights unfolding in front of him. That’s the school over there, and that is the church right down the road there. That’s the chemists place over on that side.

The chemist? He asked unsure if he heard him correctly.

Oh sorry, think you call them pharmacies? Were you pick up the medications that the doctor prescribes you? Ah here we are, McPherson’s. Jordan stopped for a moment and looked up, sure enough the place had the name McPherson’s on it in big red letters.

You¡K own this place? Jordan starred at the dimly lit brick building.

My parents do. Come on in. Michael pushed at the door. Hmmm¡K. It sometimes has a tendency to get¡K Michael struggled with the door. Stuck, Michael put his shoulder against the door and pushed hard on it, he stumbled as the door gave way. Like I said, come on in.

Okay then, Jordan muttered under his breath following Michael into the store. He immediately staggered backwards overcome by the smell in the store. What is that? Jordan gasped for breath. There was a mix of cinnamon and vanilla, along with several strong floral scents.

Hmmm? Michael looked unaffected. Ohh, that, my mum makes candles, I’m used to it. The back room was filled with a loud clang then what sounded like a small explosion followed by two women’s screams. Michael looked worried; he tilted his head slightly and tried to peer around the corner. Hold here a sec for me will ya? I will be right back. Michael went back into the back room as smoke started to plume out. The store was empty and quiet.

Well this is a fun place, Jordan muttered to himself. A shuffling noise above him caught his attention.

If you are looking for fun you are definitely in the wrong place, responded the girl. Jordan immediately felt awkward. He stepped back a few more paces to get a better look at her. She sat, legs crossed at the edge of loft area at the top of the store. Behind her boxes were stacked two to three high. Wrong place and most definitely wrong company. She grinned.

How is the entertainment up there? Jordan smiled at her.

Actually, it’s pretty interesting up here.

Mind if I come up? Jordan looked around at the smoke filling the store.

Oh please, be my guest. She stood and walked towards the ladder in the corner and dragged it to where Jordan was standing.

Careful, She cautioned as Jordan climbed up next to her. There was another loud boom that emanated from the backroom.

What are you trying to do, blow up the store? She yelled towards the back. Jordan was frozen for a second. He looked towards the back and then back at the girl. I’m sorry, She said shaking her head as he finally sat next to her.

It’s alright, He settled hanging his legs over the edge. What are they doing back there? He motioned towards the door.

They are supposed to be making candles, it isn’t going very well. She giggled as she faced him for the first time. A mess of auburn curls came loose from the braid holding her hair and bounced down in her face. She made a disgusted noise blowing them out of the path of her eyes; revealing a piercing green and gold eye that sparkled as she laughed. A slight blush crossed her cheeks as she noticed Jordan staring. I’m Hayden, she finally introduced herself.

I’m Jordan, He said turning away, it didn’t last long his attention was drawn back to her. Hayden turned at the waist towards him, resting her head on her knee that she had raised.

Nice to meet you Jordan, she said with a slight smile crossing her lips.

So umm, these candles, they supposed to explode? Hayden laughed louder at his remark.

No, she shook her head. Well¡K I guess that depends on who is doing the making. The ones I make don’t explode; neither do my mother’s¡K but Shelby. Hayden shook her head. Most everything she makes explodes.

Hmm, well that’s good to know for future references¡K buy Hayden’s candles. She started to blush deeper; hiding her eyes from him.

I somehow can’t see you having an interest in candles, She smiled.

Well, probably not candles, but their maker definitely has my attention right now. Hayden blushed even deeper, her head raising lightly as a woman’s voice resonated from the back.

Hayden, be a dear and open that front door please. We have to get this smoke out of the store before someone chokes to death, especially if it’s one of us.

And make sure Jordan is okay, he hasn’t run out of here scared has he? Michael added. Poor bugger must think we are all mad. Michael laughed.

Thought had crossed my mind, Jordan yelled back to him.

Alright mum, and he is fine Michael, he hasn’t run scared yet. Hayden yelled back, and then turned to see Jordan wink at her.

You think they are okay in there? Should I go and help or¡K Jordan shrugged.

Jordan wants to know if you need any help back there. She had yet to move from his side, there was another loud crash followed by Michael cursing.

I will take that as a no. She smiled at Jordan again. Hayden straightened her legs and slid down off of the loft. She landed with a light thump then looked back at him.

Are you coming or staying? She called up to him.

Umm, He looked down judging the distance.

Use the ladder Hayden smiled. I’m a pro at that. She met him at the bottom and walked together to the door. A cold wet wind pulled the door out of Hayden’s hands and she jumped to catch it. She grunted looking down at the small line of blood forming on her finger.

You okay? Jordan asked taking her hand at his so he could inspect her finger.

I umm, she said softly. Jordan wiped at the blood again, looking at the small slice.