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“She’s awake, and she’s asking for you.” Eddie didn’t sound happy about the fact. The man had his reasons, but Vic wasn’t letting that stop him.
“Good. Let’s go.”
“Before you go in, we have to talk,” came the calm cadence of the doc who appeared at Mary’s side. She extended an arm. “I’m Dr. Mitchell.”
He shook the older woman’s hand and listened while she explained Aubrey’s state. Memory loss, at least partial, was described in medical terminology that didn’t make Vic feel any better.
“Like brain damage?” he clarified, wondering if he might puke on the nice doctor’s shoes.
“Her scans don’t show any permanent damage, but the brain is tricky. Memories return in a trickle or a flood, but it’s best that Aubrey remembers at her own pace, without anyone overwhelming her with facts in an effort to jog her memory.”
“But she’s asking for me, so she must remember me.” Vic glanced at Mary.
“She remembers you.” Mary smiled. Aubrey’s mother had always liked him more than Eddie had. “And us. And that she’s a high school teacher. She doesn’t remember the fall...and a few other things.”
Like the night we slept together?
“Aubrey believes you are a couple,” the doctor interjected. “Her parents tell me you haven’t been together for a long while.”
“Ten years,” Eddie put in.
“That’s...not entirely true,” Vic mumbled. Eddie’s face hardened.
“Well, it’s important to do what’s best for Aubrey.” Dr. Mitchell made deliberate eye contact with Aubrey’s parents and then with Vic. “It’s my recommendation to let her come to her memories on her own, but in the meantime, you should go along with what she believes is true.”
“Seriously?” Vic asked, trying to wrap his head around this new twist.
“As long as it’s not harming her in any way.” Dr. Mitchell smiled.
“You don’t know him.” Aubrey’s father glared at Vic.
“Eddie!” Mary admonished her husband. Then to Vic explained, “Too many facts too fast could overwhelm her and cause a setback, or worse.”
“What could be worse?” Vic asked, his voice cracking.
“Right now she remembers quite a bit,” the doctor continued. “Her vocation, the people around her. She mentioned her lesson plans and how she needs to return to work. There’s no way I can clear her yet, but if she makes substantial progress, soon. Rest and consistency are the two most important aspects of her healing. She can take part in other activities, though I’d like her to avoid spending too much time with electronics—no binge-watching television shows or scrolling through social media on her cell phone.”
“She’s staying with us until she’s better,” Mary told Vic. He nearly laughed. Aubrey loved her parents, but when she left for college, she’d shared with him how she was glad to finally have her independence.
“I understand you have a ranch, Vic,” said Dr. Mitchell.
“Yes.”
“No horseback riding until I say.”
He opened his mouth to agree when Eddie growled, “She’s not going to be spending time with him.”
“She can do whatever she damn well pleases,” Vic growled back.
“Listen.” The doctor held up both hands. “I’ll reiterate, this is not about you or what you want for Aubrey. This is about what’s best for her. So while your manly show of territorialism is very impressive, you are going to have to take a step back and allow Aubrey to be in the lead. She’s a capable, intelligent woman who has suffered a hiccup in her memory. If you behave yourselves, she’ll have a better chance of fully recovering that memory. Which is what we all want, right?”
“Right.” Eddie answered first and spoke to Vic next. “And when her memory returns, she’ll recall the hell you put her through. Then she won’t want anything to do with you. The doc’s right. My daughter’s smart. She knows what’s best for her. She knew ten years ago, too, and it wasn’t you.”
Vic stepped into Aubrey’s hospital room alone, thank God. He hadn’t been sure what to expect, though he wasn’t surprised by her washed-out skin and limp hair, red-rimmed eyes and hospital gown. What did surprise him was her reaction when she saw him. She immediately started to cry.
He rushed to her side, and she grabbed his hand, kissing and nuzzling his knuckles. She told him how scared she was and asked why he hadn’t been here earlier. She mentioned she’d been afraid he’d forgotten about her.
“I was here. I was in the waiting room. They wouldn’t let me in.” He sat on the edge of her bed. Leaning over her came naturally, as did the temptation to kiss her. He resisted. Her gaze was locked on his, her eyes open and vulnerable. That was a recent development. Even after they’d slept together two nights ago, she hadn’t looked at him with this sort of raw trust in her eyes. She’d had her guard way up. Hell, they both had. The release and afterglow of sex had been worth any discomfort that followed, but they had each been careful not to reveal too many of their secrets that night.
