“That’s okay. I don’t think I can sleep right now,” I said, staring at Mitch’s face.
“I understand. I’ll be back later.”
Dr. Grayson departed and I pulled the chair closer to Mitch. I picked up the rugged hand of the man I loved. “Baby,” I said, kissing his hand. “Oh, I need you to wake up, Mitch. I need to look into your big blue eyes and see your sexy smile.” I leaned toward him and gave him a kiss on the lips, hoping he was like Sleeping Beauty and would awaken once my lips caressed his. But he didn’t. I was relieved he was alive, but the not knowing if he’d be okay until he woke up was going to be hell. All I could do was talk to him.
“Mitch, I love you so much. Watching you fall today was possibly one of the worst moments of my life. I can’t imagine my life without you, baby, so I need you to wake up. I need you to come back to me.” I scooted the chair closer and rested my head on his broad shoulder. A tear streamed down my face and landed on his hospital gown. I didn’t know what else to do but stay as close to him as I possibly could, hoping my presence would beckon to him, bring him out of his dormant state. He was the only man I’d ever loved and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. He was sustenance to my heart and I’d be ripped to shreds if he didn’t wake up.
I closed my eyes, and our first date began playing out in my mind. Mitch looked so handsome that night and from the moment he picked me up, I wanted to kiss him. I needed to kiss him…
“You look so beautiful, Charlie,” he said, extending his hand to take mine.
“Thank you,” I replied, beaming. It was a warm September night and I was wearing my favorite sundress and strappy sandals. Mitch was taking me for Thai food in Pacific Beach. I was looking forward to holding his hand as we walked along the boardwalk. I had to admit to myself I was a little scared to go out with him after my experience with Eric. Dating Eric at first had been wonderful, but then everything changed. Hoping that didn’t happen with Mitch, I took a leap of faith. Kate and David had assured me Mitch was a good guy and I had no reason not to believe them.
“So, tell me something about yourself. Anything,” Mitch said.
I thought for a second. “When I was a little girl, my parents took me to Sea World. We had passes, so we went all the time. The day I got to help during Shamu’s show was probably the best day ever. For a long time after that, I wanted to be a marine biologist and I seriously read every book I could get my hands on about the ocean. I have all kinds of facts stored away about all kinds of sea animals.”
“So, are you gonna become a marine biologist?”
“No, by the time I got to high school, I’d outgrown the idea. I wanna work for a company in HR.”
Mitch had my hand in his by now. My heart was accelerating just being so close to him, and…
My body jolted and I thought for a split second Mitch had woken up. It was three in the morning, but Mitch wasn’t awake. I could see his chest rising and falling, reassuring me he was okay. I readjusted myself to be more comfortable, hoping to resume my dream of our first date. As I drifted off, my mind brought me to our third Christmas together.
“What’s this for?” I asked as Mitch handed me a small, beautifully wrapped package.
“It’s the first day of Christmas and your true love has a gift for you,” he said with his mischievous grin.
“What?”
“It’s twelve days before Christmas and I have something for you for each day.”
“Oh, Mitch. You’re the sweetest guy ever,” I said, hugging him. “This isn’t a partridge in a pear tree, is it?”
Mitch chuckled. “No, baby. I used the idea of the song, but not the presents from the song.”
I beamed up at Mitch. “How did I get so lucky to have such an amazing boyfriend?”
“I’m the lucky one, baby. Don’t ever forget that. Now open your gift.”
I tore the paper off and opened the box. Inside was a lace, heart-shaped potpourri. I brought it to my nose and inhaled deeply.
“I thought you could put that in your panty drawer,” he said, whispering in my ear.
“I love it so much. And I love you for being so romantic.”
“You make it easy to be romantic.”
I wrapped my arms around Mitch’s neck and began kissing him.
Mitch’s hand slightly moved in mine as I woke up. It was six in the morning and I’d slept next to him, holding his hand, dreams dancing through my mind. Mitch moaned slightly. Elation coursed through my body with the hope he’d be waking up. Yesterday had been the worst day of my life, but today there was hope. Mitch was going to wake up any second. “Mitch, you’re the strongest person I know and because of you, I’m strong too. Open your eyes, baby.”
As if he were following my commands, his eyes opened.
Chapter Eight
Mitch
I opened my eyes, but nothing was familiar as I strained to look around. My head felt like someone was jackhammering it, making my vision slightly blurry. It took a couple of seconds for me to adapt to my surroundings. Slowly glancing around the room, I quickly realized I was in the hospital. Someone, who I presumed to be a nurse, was holding my hand and talking to me. I wasn’t sure why she was giving me so much attention, but hopefully when Heather arrived this nurse would be gone. Heather had always been the jealous type, and this nurse was way too gorgeous for Heather not to notice.
“Oh Mitch, you’re awake. Thank God,” she said, as she tried her best to hug me. Did I know this woman? I couldn’t place her at all, and since she was so beautiful, I was surprised at myself for not remembering meeting her before. No guy on the planet would forget this woman.
“Mitch, can you hear me? Can you talk?” she asked, with great concern in her eyes.
“Yes, and yes.”
She laughed. “You’re so cute, even in a hospital bed,” she said, lifting up my hand to kiss it.
Okay, this woman had my attention, and if I were single, I’d be interested even though she was older than me. She sure seemed to like me.
“Did I get hurt playing football?” I asked her.
Her brow creased and she looked at me like she didn’t comprehend what I was asking.
“Do you know how I got hurt?” I asked.
“Oh, baby. You don’t remember,” she said, softly rubbing the back of her hand against my face. “You fell off a ladder, taking down Christmas lights for my dad. You scared me to death. You had swelling on your brain and they had to perform surgery to relieve the pressure.”
“That explains my headache,” I said. “Can I ask another question?”
“Anything.”
“Do we know each other?”
Her eyes grew wide and her smile faded away. “You don’t recognize me?”
“No, I don’t,” I said, slightly shaking my head. That was a mistake. The pain. I needed pain meds ASAP.
“I’m your fiancée, Charlie. We’ve been together for the last seven years.”
“How’s that possible? I’m a senior in high school. My girlfriend’s name is Heather.”
Charlie’s eyes filled with tears and she covered her mouth with her hand. I wanted to comfort her, but figured it wouldn’t be cool.
“I better get a nurse or doctor. I’ll be right back.”
I felt lost, waiting there for some woman who claimed to be my fiancée. Maybe she was a patient in the hospital too and was just confused. I had no way of knowing until I could see Heather or my mom. Maybe I was hallucinating the whole thing.
Where was my family? My girlfriend? Didn’t they know I was in the hospital? Why weren’t they here right now? Nothing made any sense, but I was hoping the doctor could straighten things out.
I saw a pitcher of water and a cup on the nightstand next to me. I poured myself a cup of water and then another. I was so parched, my insides felt shriveled up like a prune.
Charlie returned with a doctor. “Mitch, I’m Dr. Grayson. You were admitted yesterday after you fell off a ladder. How are you feeling?”
“Honestly, I feel like a truck ran over my head. I’m not sure what’s going on.”
I looked over at Charlie. “Would it be possible for me to speak with the doctor alone?”
“Oh, of course. I’ll wait outside,” she said with a shaky voice. She was visibly upset and it seemed to be because she thought she should be here. But she had said she was my fiancée, so that’d make sense.
“Let me ask you a few questions,” Dr. Grayson stated.
“Okay.”
“When is your birthday?”
“November 14, 1989.”
“How old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
“What year is it now?”
“2007. Doctor, what’s going on? Who’s that woman and why does she think she knows me?”
“Mitch, this is very common in brain injuries. You’re having some memory loss. You and Charlie are engaged and it’s 2014.”
Holy shit. I rubbed my hands over my face. “That can’t be right, can it? I don’t remember the last seven years? I need to see my parents.”
“I’ll have the nurse get ahold of them. I’m going to need to do some testing, but it can wait until after you see your parents. I’ll also have the nurse give you some pain meds.”
“Okay, thanks Dr. Grayson. Do you have any idea how long it’ll take to get my memory back?”
“Unfortunately, I really don’t. The brain is very complicated, and there’s so much we don’t know about it,” the doctor said. “We’ll get ahold of your parents and I’ll check back with you.”
The doctor left and I lay there in bed, wondering how any of this was possible. I needed to see my best friend. Where the hell is he? David would be able to fill in all the missing pieces. We’d been best friends forever and he knew everything about me. I just needed someone I recognized. Heather, Garrett, my mom. Anyone.
Chapter Nine
Charlie
My heart was in my throat waiting for the doctor to come out of Mitch’s room. Mitch not remembering me was quite a shock.
“Dr. Grayson, what’s going on? Why doesn’t Mitch remember me?”
“Mitch has short-term memory loss. He thinks it’s 2007.”
Hearing that news caused me to lose my balance and I began falling toward the wall. Dr. Grayson reached out and grabbed me.
“You better sit down. Nurse, can we get some water over here?”
“Right away, Dr. Grayson.”
Dr. Grayson sat beside me with his hand on my wrist. “Charlie, you need to relax.”
“Is he going to remember?”
Dr. Grayson didn’t say anything. He just looked at me with his empathetic eyes.
“Will he?” I asked again with more urgency.
“There’s no way to know if he’ll remember or not.”
I couldn’t stop the tears, even though I didn’t want to cry in front of the doctor. The nurse brought me water and Dr. Grayson asked her to get ahold of Mitch’s parents. All of this was happening right in front of me, but nothing seemed real. I kept expecting to wake up from one of those dreams that can’t be explained because it’s too weird.
“You look like you could use some food. I was planning on getting some coffee. Why don’t you come with me to the cafeteria? It may help.”
I nodded. “Thank you. Coffee sounds really good.”
Walking through the cafeteria line, I looked at the food options, but nothing was appetizing. I got a yogurt, thinking at least it’d be a little something. What I really needed was the coffee. It was going to be a long day.
Dr. Grayson and I sat at a table. “So, how did you and Mitch meet?” he inquired.
“We met in college. We’ve been together ever since. We’re getting married next month,” I said, the whole time fighting the urge to put my head on the table and cry until there was no more water left in my body.
“Well, sometimes memory loss is just temporary…a few days, and then the patient regains their memories. I’ll run some tests on Mitch and see if I can come up with anything more conclusive.”
While the doctor was finishing his statement, his phone lit up. “I have to go. I’m sure I’ll see you later,” he said with a nod. He was more compassionate than I’d expected, and knowing he was Mitch’s doctor reassured me everything was going to be all right.
I drank my coffee, but it didn’t help. I felt exhausted all the way in my bones and every movement was heavy and awkward. Sleeping for a week didn’t seem like enough time to alleviate my tiredness. What if he never remembers? That thought made me want to curl up in the fetal position, but I knew now was the time to fight…fight for the man I love. Lillian would be taking full advantage of this situation and doing everything in her power to turn Mitch against me.
One day. One day was possibly changing the course of my life. Yesterday morning, we lounged together in bed, wrapped in each other’s arms. Not a care in the world. Fast forward twenty-four hours and all I had were cares. I needed Mitch to remember me. He needed to remember me. My coffee became lukewarm and I knew it was time to get back to him. I wanted to be there before his mother had too much time alone with him. Making my way back to his room, I realized I was too late. She was already there, sitting beside him on his bed. He was explaining to her that he was confused about waking up to a woman he didn’t know. So, he remembered his mother, but not me. Where are my best friends when I need them? But I had no intentions of interrupting their getaways with their husbands. Both Kate and Natalie would be home soon enough, but I desperately wished they were here.
Entering the hospital room, I felt a chill in the air. Lillian glared back at me, but I didn’t let her faze me.
“Charlie, I’d like to speak with you outside for a moment,” Lillian commanded. I followed her into the hall, preparing myself for a nasty exchange.
“The nurse called us to let us know Mitch was awake. When I arrived, I found out he’s having some memory issues. I think it’d be best if you gave him some space. He doesn’t need you here confusing him.”
“Confusing him? Lillian, I’m his fiancée. We’re getting married and he needs to see me in order to remember. Your son loves me and I love him. Please don’t do this.”
“That may be, but he doesn’t remember. Your presence is only going to trouble him. I’ll have you barred from his room if I have to. You’re not family. But I’d prefer if you could just follow my wishes. I am his mother.”
There were a thousand different things I wanted to say to her—no, actually scream at her—but I knew none of them would do any good. “Okay, Lillian. I’ll give Mitch some space. He needs to rest anyway after all the trauma he’s been through.”
“Yes, he does need his rest, and I’m going to make sure he gets it.”
I couldn’t say another word to her. I simply nodded and began walking away. She returned to Mitch’s room.
I didn’t know why, but shed disliked me from the moment we met. She was always civil in front of Mitch, but her disdain emanated from her body language. It wasn’t as bad when we were dating, but as soon as our relationship became serious, her resentment toward me grew. The only thing I could surmise was Mitch had been an emotional husband to her and she viewed me as someone who was taking him away. At least, that’s what I thought. But if I were right about that, why would she love Heather so much? She brought up Heather every chance she got, telling me what a great girlfriend she’d been. Of course, this was never in front of Mitch. Surely she wouldn’t try and bring Heather into Mitch’s life like this now? Hasn’t she moved on? It’s been seven years. This is awful. How am I going to stay away? Can she really bar me from his room? I am his family. I’m his fiancée.
I called my dad to come pick me up, since I came in the ambulance and didn’t have a way home.
Glancing over at the nurses’ station, I recognized the nurse. “Michelle?”
“Yes. We’ve met before, right?” she replied, extending her hand to shake mine.
“Yeah, I’m Charlie.
We met through Kate. It was a couple of months ago.”
“Oh, that’s right. You were all at the hospital when that young woman died.”
“Yes, Natalie’s sister.”
“I just started my shift, but I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation just now. Are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?”
I told Michelle what had transpired since last night and what I discovered when Mitch woke up.
“Well, his memory loss could just be temporary. Once his brain’s had a chance to do some healing and process everything, it’ll most likely be okay.”
“Thank you, Michelle. Since Mitch’s mother has asked me to leave, would you call me if there are any changes or if something important happens?”
“Sure. Give me your number,” she said, as she took out her cell phone.
I gave her my number and she saved it in her phone. We said our goodbyes, and I left. I waited out front for my dad, who’d be arriving momentarily. Leaving Mitch at the hospital felt so foreign, like I’d entered an alternate universe where nothing made sense. Staying at our townhouse right now was more than I could handle, so I was going to stay with my parents.
Both my parents were in the car coming to pick me up. “Sweetheart, you look exhausted. Why don’t you lie down in the backseat and we can talk when we get to the house?” my mother suggested. I was more than happy to follow her instructions; my eyelids felt like bricks were weighing them down.
We arrived home, went inside, and then my mother asked, “How’s Mitch doing?”
“Mitch is…Mitch is all right. He woke up, but has lost his memory,” I said, my eyes filling with tears. Tears I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“He has amnesia?” my dad asked, concern creasing his brow.
The words were stuck in my throat and I couldn’t get them out, so I just nodded. My head throbbed and all the air was sucked out of my lungs. I took in several deep breaths.
Forgotten By You (Redeeming Love #2) Page 3
