AllFreeNovel
Share Us
SIX MONTHS LATER
There's a knock at the door, and Alison is standing there. She's crying and wet, and I grab her to bring her inside.
“Lily,” I call into the house, “Alison's here, but there's something wrong with her.” I put my hand on her back and move her into the living room. I grab one of the blankets and wrap it around her. “What's going on, Alison? Are you okay?” She doesn't answer me; she just looks at the wall.
Lily comes down, sees the state of Alison, and rushes over to hug her. Since she's been pregnant, her emotions are all over the place, so when I see tears rolling down her face, I'm not surprised. I walk into the kitchen to make coffee while listening to them talk. I need to know what's happened so that I can help Alison. If she needs someone beaten up, I'll gladly do it. If she wants someone dead, then I know someone who will gladly do that for her.
I bring them both coffee and sit on the couch next to Lily. “Alison, do you want me to go so that you can talk to Lily in private? I just need to know whose life I need to make hell when you're ready to tell us.”
“Stay, Ryan. Please.” Her voice is quiet and meek. Nothing like the Alison that I have come to know over the last few months. Hell, it's not even the woman whose office I stormed into six months ago.
“I went for a walk along the surf at the beach, and someone grabbed me and threw me into the sea. I know it sounds stupid, but my husband used to do that to me years ago.”
“Your husband? I didn't know you were married. What about Philip?”
“Philip was just a short fling. About five years ago, my husband and I went out on our boat. We used to love sailing; the feel of the wind blowing on us and the warmth of the sun was the best thing ever. But this particular night, Jeff fell overboard, and I couldn't find him. I couldn't save him. I lost the love of my life that night.” Alison cries, and Lily hands her tissues.
“Hey, Alison, it's okay. I know you still have nightmares, but what about what happened today? Did it bring back some memories of your time together?” Lily holds her hand.
“No, when I got out of the sea to give him a piece of my mind, he took my hand and walked me back up to the sidewalk. 'I'm sorry,' he said. 'I just had the urge to do that, and I'm not sure why.' But when I looked at him, I realized it was Jeff. My Jeff. My husband. And he didn't know who I was.
I couldn't stop staring at him. He looked at me and apologized again. He asked me if I wanted to go for a drink, but I said no as I was wet. He gave me his number, kissed me on the cheek, and I left in a stupor. I came straight here.”
“I'm glad you did, Alison. You can stay here tonight.”
“Thanks, Jeff is alive, Lily. All these years I thought he was dead, and all that time, he was living another life without me.”
“I'm assuming he lost his memory. You need to get in touch with him and find out what he's doing now. He could be in a relationship or something.”
