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I turned back to Monica for one last look and pulled the covers over her already-still form.
“Good night, sweetheart.”
I pulled the door shut, leaving just a crack. Then I made my way to the living room.
I loved Bryce’s parents, but I’d never really expected to have to face them like this. Alone. Even when Monica and I had talked about revealing everything, I’d always pictured being by her side explaining our relationship to her parents.
But now they sat on the couch. I wasn’t even sure where Phil had been when I arrived. Perhaps sleeping, because he didn’t look fully alert.
“Is she asleep?” her mom asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, I expect so.” I sent a wordless prayer heavenward for the right words. “Look, I’m sure you have questions…”
“You could say that,” her mom replied. I expected a sarcastic tone, but hers held a smile and a hint of concern.
“What don’t we know?” came Phil’s less friendly question.
I took a deep breath, gathering courage. “I’m in love with your daughter. I have been for about four months… She loves me too. Or at least, she did. Before the accident.”
“How did we not know about this?” Her mom’s voice was full of confusion. “I’m afraid I don’t understand, Jake.”
“I know it’s a lot to explain. Monica and I were seeing each other before the accident. When I realized she’d forgotten everything about us, I didn’t really know what to do. I didn’t want to freak her out, you know?”
Nancy Storm glanced back at the hallway. “But what about now? What about tonight?”
I let myself smile. “She still doesn’t remember. At least not very much. She said she’s starting to get a few glimpses.” The revelation made her mom gasp in excitement. I smiled but continued my thought. “But this combined with the time we’ve spent together this week has her convinced that maybe I wasn’t actually making the whole thing up.”
“Well, of course, you weren’t. I mean, I don’t know why you two kept it a secret, but I don’t doubt that it’s true.” Monica’s mom was smiling now. “You’ve certainly been extra sweet since she came home. We suspected, but now I guess we know why.”
I chuckled. “Well, the cat’s out of the bag. The whole small group found out tonight, and now you guys. At least Bryce already knew, so I don’t have to have that conversation again.”
“Bryce knew?” Phil seemed perturbed at the fact.
I nodded. “Just since the accident, not before that. When I tried to see her at the hospital and she didn’t remember, Bryce was there with us. I was pretty upset, obviously, but he talked me down.”
“So now what?”
I glanced back toward the hallway where Monica was sleeping soundly. “I don’t know. I keep praying she’ll remember everything. Even if she doesn’t, I’ve at least got another chance. We’ll start from scratch, and if it is God’s plan, then we’ll find our happy ending, right?”
“That sounds like the right attitude,” Phil said, making me swell with pride.
A few moments later, Mrs. Storm gave me a teary-eyed hug and saw me out.
I walked to my truck, feeling lightness in my chest for perhaps the first time in the month since the accident.
I was feeling more confident in my future with Monica than I had been, but there was still so much up in the air. I was just going to keep trusting God and praying I wouldn’t screw it up somehow.
MONICA
The next morning, I woke up with a mouth as dry as the creek in July and a hazy memory of how exactly I made it to my bed last night. I remembered feeling safe and the feeling of my cheek against Jake’s broad chest. Had that been a dream? Princess rescued from a burning tower by an impossibly handsome firefighter sounded like good fodder for sweet dreams.
When I shuffled out to the kitchen in search of water and coffee, Mom greeted me with an especially bright smile.
“Good morning, sweetie!”
I narrowed my eyes at her in suspicion. “Hi…”
“How are you feeling? Is your headache gone?”
