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He shook his head and got out of the car. Ember got out too, and they walked to the porch. John nudged her as they went up the steps.
“I got myself a job.”
She turned to him at the top of the steps and hugged him. “Congratulations.”
He held her for a moment, and it felt really good. Then he let go and took a step back. “We should go fishing.”
“I’ve never really…”
“Ember. Go get ready to go on the lake. What else do you have planned for the day?”
“Nothing.”
“Then go. I don’t want to go by myself. I might forget where I live.”
“That’s not funny.”
He picked up the tennis shoes he’d taken off earlier and sat down in a chair on the porch. “We should bring a picnic.”
“And by we, you mean me?”
“I’ll be in to help. I need to change my shoes.”
She went inside and stood in the living room for a moment. At some point, it was all going to come back to him. He was going to rememberwho he was and where he belonged. When that happened. Would she still be his guardian angel?
John came into the kitchen while she was making sandwiches. “Oh, damn. I thought maybe I missed it.”
“You didn’t stall long enough.” She pushed a jar of peanut butter in front of him and he picked up the knife. “Wow. We’re going fancy today.”
She held up the jar. “Extra crunchy.”
“My favorite. Maybe.”
He put together the second sandwich, then Ember put the two of them into zip-lock bags. She looked at John. “Chips?”
“Definitely. And some of those chocolate chip cookies.”
She laughed. “You are obsessed with those cookies.”
“Just like Mother used to make.”
“Hopefully your mother’s cookies were a little better than…” She picked up the bag, “Gilroy’s Chocolaty Chipeties.”
“But did she have such a cool name for them?” He suddenly lost his smile and sat at the table.
Ember went to him. “What is it?”
“My parents. Maybe even grandparents. I never even thought about…” He shook his head. “I don’t know who this is harder on. Me or them? If I were a parent, and I guess maybe we established I probably am. If my kid just disappeared off the face of the earth. Even as agrown man. That’s got to be rough.”
Ember knelt in front of him and rested her hands on his knees. “They’re looking for you. And when they find you. Even if you don’t remember them, they’ll take care of you. And they’ll be there for you.”
He put his hands over hers. “I want you to know. I will continue to want and need you in my life.”
“I’ll be there too, John. If that’s what you want. I’ll be there.”
He looked at her for a moment, then patted her hands and smiled. “We’re burning daylight.”
Ember stood and returned to packing the lunch.
