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“Um…Bob.”
He grinned. “Huh. That’s an interesting name for a fish.” He tapped the glass. “Welcometo your new home, Bob.” He looked at Ember. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave you to get settled in.”
“That’s it. Thank you.”
He headed for the front door. “You’re welcome to come to dinner tonight. There’s no food in the house.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. You can meet the rest of the family.”
“Okay. What time?”
“Six-thirty.”
“I’ll be there.”
Chapter twenty-five
"I hope you like Cowboy Stew."
Ember gently closed the front door as she hugged the stuffed cat to her chest. Then she leaned against it and slid to the floor. The tears started slow, then turned into uncontrollable sobbing. She didn’t know how long she sat there. But exhaustion finally won out, and she sat for several more minutes just trying to catch her breath and slow down her racing heart.
She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on her breathing. Inhale for four seconds, hold it for a count of seven, then exhale for eight seconds. She repeated it several times before she felt herself beginning to relax. She went through the cycle a few more times, then opened her eyes. She took one last deep breath, then wiped her face with her hands before slowly getting to her feet. She set the cat on the couch, then went to the car and retrieved her suitcase and brought it to the bedroom. She needed a long, hot shower if she was going to get through dinner with JakeO’Connell and his family.
She wasn’t sure what to expect. But she’d hoped when Jake saw her, he’d remember her and their five months together. But he didn’t, and she didn’t know what to do with that.
When Genny contacted her out of the blue. She’d been elated and heartbroken all at once. The truck and horse trailer left behind at the motel was register to Everett. Genny had tracked him down and he gave her Ember’s contact information. Ember had done her own research and gotten as far as the hospital. But since she wasn’t a family member, they’d refused to give her any information. Genny’s call came as Ember was distraught at the dead-end she’d hit in her search for Jake. They’d spent an hour on the phone, and by the time they’d ended the call, they’d set a plan in motion.
Ember wasn’t totally onboard at first. She wanted to go to Jake and tell him who she was and what they had. But Genny had consulted Dr. Curtis before she called. And his advice was that Jake didn’t need any more shocks. He strongly suggested they let Jake’s memories come back to him without any help. If her showing up didn’t do it. Then she needed to be patient.
Be patient? How am I supposed to do that? The man I love doesn’t remember me.
She took a long shower, then took twenty minutes trying to figure out what to wear. She decided on jeans and the shirt she’d worn on theFourth of July. Maybe he’d remember taking it off of her. She knew she was torturing herself, but she couldn’t help it.
It was almost time to go. But she needed to call Scott first. He didn’t like the plan at all. He thought if Jake didn’t recognize her, then she should tell him about his five missing months.
She dialed his phone.
“Em? How’d it go?”
She took a moment to fight back the tears threatening to overtake her again.
“Em. Talk to me.”
She took a breath. “He has no memory of me. It didn’t come back to him when he saw me.”
“I’m so sorry. What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to stay and take care of his father.”
“Are you sure that’s the best move?”
“Yes. I know he’ll remember. There’s no way that he won’t.”
“Alright. Not much I can do from here. But if you need anything, call me.”
“I will. Thank you.”
