Remember Me

by Roxanne Tully

  Liz flushed and grinned at him. The morning was off to a good start.

  * * *

  Matt tossed the last piece of cheese into his mouth. Sitting up from his towel, he grabbed what was left of the wine from the cooler and held it up to Liz.

  “One more?”

  “No, no. Any more and you’d be carrying me back to the car.”

  Matt glanced around at their belongings. “I could manage it all,” he noted before cocking his head to study her upper body, “the swimsuit might be a bit too much though, we’ll have to leave it behind.”

  Liz threw her head back, laughing. “Is that how dirty things end up happening in your car?

  Matt couldn’t help his wide grin. The sound of her laughter continuing to fill him in all the right places. “Yes, I bring you to the middle of nowhere, get you nice and buzzed to the point where you can’t walk, and then trick you into taking your clothes off.”

  “Okay. Let’s clean up,” Liz insisted, sitting up and dusting the sand off her long legs.

  Once they were all packed and on their way back to the car, Matt stopped and turned to her. “Hey, why don’t we stay on the beach a while longer.” He pulled a bag off her shoulder. “I’ll drop these off at the car.”

  “That sounds great,” she smiled up at him. “Wait,” she took a step closer and pulled her pale pink skirt from the beach bag. “I’ll wait here.”

  Matt ran the towels and basket back to his SUV. He hadn’t brought his phone with him to the beach. He was avoiding any and all devices while spending time with Liz. She hadn’t been carrying her cell phone around, insisting she didn’t need it. Other than Marcus, Matt was her only connection and the only person who would call, so what would be the point? He took a peek at it from the window and decided to give it a quick check before heading back.

  Nothing other than a text from Ben. The last person he wanted to hear from.

  We need to talk. Please call me.

  Like hell they did.

  The only thing Matt would want to say to his brother at the moment, was that no thanks to him, he was beginning to trust Liz again. Matt threw the phone back in the car and looked up, sighing. Then again, it was easy to trust someone who is practically a brand new, innocent person with no memory of the way she’d hurt and betrayed him.

  He found Liz standing closer to shore than where he’d left her, raising her knee-high skirt even higher to see her feet touch the waves that were slowly flowing in and out.

  Making his way across the warm sand until he reached her, he placed both hands around her waist, making her jump. Matt grinned at her. “Sorry.”

  Liz shook her head playfully. “I don’t think you are.” She pulled his hand into hers and looked up at him. “Which way?”

  Matt glanced to his left. “This way.”

  They strolled for nearly an hour and talked about what Matt had subconsciously called “safe conversation.” Consisting primarily on funny stories from their past together and then a few non-past related items, like what his parents are like and how often they stay at their summer home. Liz seemed to be particularly interested in his family. Matt guessed it was probably because she didn’t have much of her own. He wished more than anything, that he had more to tell her about her parents, but he barely knew them before their accident. Which tragically would have been the same way he’d lost Liz if she weren’t so lucky.

  It was hard to feel sad at that moment when he was having such an amazing time with his wife. One he’d missed over the past few weeks. One he didn’t remember chatting this much with since before they were married.

  Lost in thought, he hardly noticed that Liz seemed pretty far in her own thoughts. He wondered what he could say to make her open up to him. To trust him. He didn’t blame her for being distant, not after he’d been giving her mixed signals. He stopped just as the sun was starting to set far off in the horizon.

  “Lizzy,” he grabbed both her hands in his, “thank you for spending today with me,” he whispered. “I know it’s been…difficult and confusing living with me, but…” he trailed off for a moment and swallowed, ensuring that this is something he wanted to promise her. “I promise, I’m going to make things right.”

  Before she could respond with anything, he bent down and kissed her lightly, holding her soft lips, savoring them. Why he thought he needed to, he couldn’t tell.

  She pulled away slowly and gazed off at the setting sun. “It’s so beautiful here. Did we come here a lot?” she asked after a moment.

  “We did, and still do.” Matt wasn’t exactly lying. They did pass by this beach quite often when in town and when the weather was nice for strolling through the nearby shops, but they hadn’t had picnics or strolled on any beach since their honeymoon. But if he’d told her that, she’d just ask why now, and “guilt” wasn’t exactly the answer he wanted to give her. “You’ll start getting memories back soon, Liz, I know it. I’m going to help you.”

  Who are you trying to convince with that last one? That annoying voice again.

  She looked down and he noticed what looked almost like a grimace on her face. He couldn’t imagine what could have upset her. Did she remember something? Was she doubting his sincerity?

  “Liz, is something wrong?”

  She glanced up at him tentatively and then focused on the sand beneath her. Then finally spoke in a quiet voice. “Not exactly, well, speaking of memories, there’s something I should tell you.”

  Matt’s heart skipped two beats as he braced himself. Had she had a memory? What if the first thing she remembered was the thing Matt feared most? Their fight the night before the accident? The night she’d spent with his brother? How would he explain that? “You had a memory?”

  There must have been twenty possible things that passed through his head before she finally looked him in the eye and spoke.

  “Something like that.” The light wind was pulling dark strands of her hair onto her face. Her long eyelashes blinking them away as she tried to focus on him.

  “Why didn’t you say something? What was it?” He knew he shouldn’t press, but he just had to know what it was. He couldn’t place a finger on the look on her face. Guilt? Confusion? Maybe both?

  She took a breath, her eyes scattering a two-foot radius that surrounded where they’d stood. “The other day, I went to see Dr. Tai…” Liz started, glancing up for his reaction. “It’s just, things changed so fast between us and I wanted to know if it was because of something I said while I was under the hypnosis.” She looked back at him, “You were so eager to call it off and then had done a complete three-sixty…it…it made me wonder…” she glanced away, “if there was something you didn’t want me to know…or remember.”

  Matt blinked. He tried to think of something to say, to explain and reassure, but the truth was, he couldn’t blame her for questioning it. In fact, it was definitely something his Liz would have done.

  He watched her waiting eyes for a moment, as if needing reassurance that it was okay to continue. He cleared his throat. “Is there more?”

  Chapter 24

  LIZ

  Though he tried to hide it, Liz immediately noticed her husband’s pupils dilate and his jaw tighten the second she mentioned that his brother showed up. She frowned. She would have sworn that telling him that Ben found her there would be a relief. That she wasn’t alone. But then remembered the thick tension between the brothers back in her hospital room. Surely what she was about to tell him would help.

  She held up her hands, instinctively. “I didn’t ask him to come, he was there to question Megan’s medical bill.”

  Matt waited. She quickly scanned for breathing patterns and facial expressions of anger, but only noted his broad chest kick and tighten. She was highly cognizant and weary of his strongly held-back emotions.

  She continued regardless, “I told him about our visit to Dr. Tai,” she paused, “and that I’d come back to see him…on my own…for answers.” She glanced up and swallowed hard, fo
rcing herself to continue when he spiked it up a notch with his hard glare.

  Why was he being like this?

  “Anyway, he convinced me that I should go home and talk to you about any of my doubts.” Which she was now doubting. “Even if they have to do with you, that we should talk them through.”

  Matt glanced around them, as if unsure what he should say or do.

  “Are you mad?”

  “You mentioned something about a memory?” her husband reminded, barely looking at her.

  “It wasn’t really a memory, it was just something that Ben said that…or warned rather.”

  Matt’s brow lifted slightly.

  “He said, ‘nothing good comes of keeping secrets’, and I…I know I’ve heard it before. From him. Only, it was important when he said it and…there was tension…” Liz turned her head down, the memory so unclear. It was just something she knew she’d heard him say before. And the first time he’d said it, it had made Liz terrified, or maybe angry? She couldn’t decide, but there were strong feelings behind it. She looked up at her very still and silent husband.

  “Matt?”

  “Your first memory…was of my brother?” His eyes narrowed.

  Liz held up her hands for the second time during that conversation, and placed them on his chest. “It’s nothing like that.” Liz wasn’t even sure why she had to say that, but it seemed appropriate judging by the hurt look on his face. “He just said something I may have heard him say before, I’m sure it was just déjà vu or something.” She shrugged, “Anyway, he didn’t remember, so it probably didn’t happen.” Liz didn’t understand her need to convince Matt that it was no big deal and that it was probably not a real memory. But she knew it was. And based on the response she got from both of them, she was determined to find out what was behind that piece of advice the older brother had given her. On more than one occasion.

  Matt seemed to snap out of his daze and took a breath. “Did he say anything else?” His tone more conversational now.

  She wasn’t convinced.

  And she wasn’t having any more of this. Not today. Not when things had been going so well and she’d started feeling more at home with him. She shook her head in response. “I’m sorry, I should have come to you with my doubts.”

  Matt blinked. “I…um…I can’t blame you.” He watched the ocean waves for a moment. He obviously found comfort there, because when he looked back at her, kindness and sincerity gleamed in his eyes. “You’re lost now. You have questions and I...haven’t been very good at answering them. I guess I just don’t know how to convince someone that they belong with me.” He smiled weakly.

  Liz blushed as he pushed away the strands of hair from her face and tucked them behind her ear.

  “Are you always this understanding?”

  Matt looked up from her and cocked his head to the side. “Not always.” He looked at her again and smiled, his eyes reflecting the orange rays from the sun that had nearly set behind her. “Let’s go home.”

  * * *

  “Morning,” she practically sang out as Matt walked into the kitchen the next morning. She moved around the spacious area between their island and the sink in her short white bathrobe. She’d typically get fully dressed before coming downstairs, but since she had no plans, what would be the point? That and she’d admittedly started to feel more at home since her breakthrough with Matt. She preferred honesty and wanted to keep it that way going forward. “You were up early.”

  He wore gray sweat shorts and a white fitted t-shirt. She immediately noticed the sweat stains and bare glossy features. His eyes were a shinier green and overall, he looked much more…toned.

  “I went for a run,” he said breathlessly. He wasn’t panting, but his chest still heaved slightly. He brushed past her and her cheeks flamed.

  “You should ask me to go with you next time.”

  He poured his coffee carefully and yet nearly spilled some as he choked a laugh. “Oh, Lizzy. You don’t run.”

  Her mouth dropped comically. “Last time I checked, I didn’t lose my legs in this accident,” she placed her arms at her sides with determination, “so tomorrow morning, I’ll be coming with you!”

  Matt pursed his lips.

  Annoyed, she waved an arm at him. “That’s okay, you can pretend you don’t know me if I turn out to be a hot mess out there.”

  “It is going to be hot, but you won’t be a mess, because you won’t get very far. You never exercise.” Matt pressed his lips together and crinkled his nose, no doubt imagining her fall from weakened knees three blocks into the run.

  “I’ll be fine!” she insisted, closing the cupboard after grabbing the teal and black striped mug.

  Chapter 25

  MATT

  Matt froze. She had grabbed her mug. Her favorite. He frowned as he turned back the wheels to five seconds ago to see if she sought it out or if it had been the easiest to grab. He couldn’t place the mug, but he remembered her scanning for a quick second.

  Matt shook his head lightly. The sub-conscious human mind.

  “What?” Liz questioned.

  “I was just thinking, you might wake up with your memory back, sore as hell the next morning, and you’ll kill me for letting you run two miles with me.”

  “So we’ll start slow,” she shrugged, her enthusiasm unfading, even at the mention of distance. She smiled at him as if to reassure that she wasn’t backing down.

  Her smile was infectious.

  Not once in the past two weeks had she lost her beauty, but she looked especially alluring today. He couldn’t place if it was the calm, content and trusting look she’d had since they’d left the beach last night, or if there was something different she’d done with her hair that morning. A complete transformation from woman he’d spent the last week with. Her soulless persona had been replaced with a joyful, humorous and magnificent individual that he remembered falling deeply for years ago. He made a mental note not to screw up before approaching to tuck her hair behind her ear.

  “Okay,” he said softly. A natural tone she brought out in him when she was this close. He started to head out. “Oh hey, just be sure to eat light today, you know, since I’m probably going to be carrying you back home tomorrow,” he winked at Liz’s unamused look before darting out.

  * * *

  Matt sat in his office between meetings with the school Board and his department. He needed a quiet hour, more than anything. And he was still annoyed from yet another voicemail from his mother asking for him and Liz to come for the weekend. A weekend at the beach house, which Ben and Megan had apparently already agreed to. All the more reason Matt wasn’t going to go—or take Liz to for that matter.

  He couldn’t risk losing it in front of Liz. No. He wouldn’t take her there. Not now. Not when things have been going great with them. Liz was trusting him more and more every day. He hated keeping some things from her, but saw no other way. He had to protect her.

  And give himself more time.

  A vision of Lizzy came into his mind as she pleaded with him back in that guest room about why she lied to him all these years.

  No. This was different. This was pure protection for someone he loved.

  The knock on his door snapped him out of his intense thoughts. He pulled it open and frowned. “Megan?”

  Megan nodded and gave him a small grin as she brushed past him to get through the door. “Sorry to bother you at work.”

  Matt didn’t try to cover his annoyance as he closed the door reluctantly, “What do you want Megan?”

  “Francis sent me. She said this is your last chance before they go to Liz about this weekend.”

  “Geez,” Matt threw his hands in the air and stormed across the room, to his window. “Would you all just give it a rest?” He turned to Megan. “Besides, I hear you don’t have to threaten me to pay a visit to your sister-in-law.” He raised his eyebrows.

  Megan cocked her head. “Don’t worry, I didn’t tell her any details of our car
ride.”

  He shrugged. “What’s there to hide? You said you two were laughing on the drive home,” There was more to the story. He knew it by the way Megan tensed and kicked him out that day in the hospital.

  “Yup,” Megan nodded slowly.

  “What else happened Megan? What are you leaving out? I know she didn’t crash from laughing to tears.”

  Megan glanced down and to her left before lifting her head proudly. “How would you know, maybe I’m that funny.”

  Matt shot her a hard look, “Wait, that’s it, isn’t it? Was she crying?” Of course, she was crying. That’s why the traffic lights and everything in front of her was blurry. That’s why it was “raining” in her dream.

  “It’s none of your business,” Megan said quietly.

  “Are you kidding? It’s no body’s business but mine,” he exploded.

  Megan glanced at her watch. Typical.

  “Let’s be honest Meg, you’ve never been the type to protect anyone. Whatever you’re not telling me, it’s something you did.”

  Megan glared at him with disbelief. “You said a crapload of things to upset her, no one’s attacking you,” she barked back.

  Matt took a deep breath. “I’m sorry Megan, I not trying to attack you. I just want to know what happened.”

  Megan’s expression turned dark and remorseful. But she was a businesswoman and never let her emotions out for too long. She lifted her head again. “Fine, I’ll tell you. But there’s a condition.”

  Matt leaned in as if he didn’t hear correctly. “A condition?” Then held his hands up, giving in. He knew how Megan worked. She’d never give in unless she felt like she’d won somehow. Even though this was no win or lose matter. “Fine.”

  “Ben’s been trying to reach you—”

  “Out of the question—”

  “Let me finish. I’m not asking you to call or even talk to Ben. But Francis is really upset that you’ve been ignoring her. I came here to ask you to come to the beach house this weekend, and bring Liz. We all want to see her.”