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I sigh, my relief palpable. “Thank you. Now that you know, what should I do? My husband hates me, I have an agent breathing down my neck, and I can’t even remember my own flesh and blood.”
Putting a finger to his lips, he thinks for a moment before gazing down at the photo albums. He pivots, grabbing one edge to look closer before smiling. “I remember that day so well. My big sis getting married. At first you refused to eat cake because you were worried about putting on a millimeter of weight. Eventually we managed to all pile on the pressure, stating that this one photo would catch the memory of a lifetime.”
I chuckle, sarcastically. “I wish I could remember that, but I don’t.”
“That’s why you have these out here… to jog your memory?”
I nod my head. “I want to connect with my husband again, find out what he likes, what he doesn’t like. I had hoped going through photo albums would help jog something, but so far… nothing.”
“It’s a good start as any.”
“Do you know Eli?” I ask eagerly as I sit back next to him.
“Well, he is my brother-in-law. We kinda do try and get to know people that want to marry our siblings.”
I elbow his arm, causing him to laugh. “Hey, making fun of me won’t help matters.”
“I know, I’m sorry,” he chuckles.
“So, tell me… please. I need to know what he likes. What does he enjoy doing? Where does he enjoy going?”
He frowns for a moment like he’s thinking about it but shakes his head with a smile. “This is really weird.” When he catches my deep, unamused frown he clears his throat. “Well, for someone who’s supposed to be a rich Hollywood hotshot, he certainly prefers a simpler way of life. Like hiking, for instance. He used to get animated talking about the hikes he used to do with his sister when he was younger, how he’d sometimes go back to basics and sleep in a tent because it gave him peace away from his father.”
The thought saddens me. Poor Eli hasn’t had much of a life if all he was doing was trying to get away from his dad.
Seeing my expression, he brightens up. “He loves the fair.”
My eyes widen slightly. “The fair?”
“Yes, merry-go-rounds, rollercoasters… the fair.”
I bite my lip. “Okay, this is good stuff. Anything else?”
“He likes card games, board games… usual homey stuff. He once admitted that he wanted to try skydiving once, but never got round to it. Quite an eclectic mixture there, I know.”
Skydiving sounds dangerous. I’m not sure I could do it, but could I try in order to somehow fix our marriage?
“You look a little bummed,” Jack prompts, causing me to fix my eyes on his.
“No… just trying to figure out how I can deal with this information.”
“Call his assistant. Have him tell you Eli’s schedule, and pick a day when he’s free to arrange a date using all the information I gave you. Just the two of you.”
Suddenly, the day has gotten a lot brighter, thanks to my little brother. “You’re amazing,” I eventually say with a smile, realizing just how relaxed I feel around him. Maybe my subconscious remembers that he’s my brother and that’s why. It’s a tiny thing, but a start. It at least gives me a sliver of hope that this could be a start to the return of all my memories.
The laughter coming out of him startles me. “Okay. Where’s my sister, and what have you done with her? Now I know you’re telling me the truth as you have never, ever once complimented me like that.”
The notion saddens me. “I never did?”
“Not once. Don’t be sad—everyone who knows you is used to it.”
I pout. “That sounds even worse. Everyone I speak with has absolutely nothing redeeming to say about me. If someone told me I was the Wicked Witch of the West, I’d believe them.”
He taps my arm. “Hey, stop feeling sorry for yourself. The only person who can change that now is you.”
I suck in a breath. “You’re right. I need to be proactive, starting with Eli.”
“At least I can tell everyone you’re not dead.”
