Once Found: The Pocket Watch Chronicles

by Ceci Giltenan

  He rose up on one elbow, brushed the hair from her face, and gave her a gentle kiss.

  She blinked her eyes, looking confused for a moment before her face split into a wide grin. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning, sweetheart. It’s time to get up.”

  She glanced toward the window. “The sun’s barely up, and you don’t have to work today. Let’s go back to sleep.” She closed her eyes and snuggled into her pillow.

  He kissed her again. “Ah, but we have things to do.”

  “If those things include more kisses, we can do that right here.”

  The comment followed by a suggestive smile ignited his desire. How he would love to spend the day in bed kissing her…making love to her. “As hard as it is to turn down that delightful offer—and I assure you, it’s hard,” he grinned at his rude pun, “your ribs are still healing. We should give it a little more time.”

  She smiled up at him. “Do you have any idea how attractive it is when you become the protective doctor?

  His brows drew together. “What?”

  “When you do little things to take care of me, when you think about my wellbeing before my wants or even your own, I feel cherished. I like it. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that.”

  “Really?”

  She blushed and nodded. Then her face split into a salacious grin. “Of course, when I feel cherished, I want to stay in bed with you even more.”

  “Well, you can’t.” He gave her a quick kiss. “But someday, we will.” He kissed her again a bit more languidly.

  When he pulled away from her lips, the sweet smile on her face delighted him. “Now you do have to get up. I promise you’ll enjoy what I have planned.”

  When they were dressed, she started into the kitchen. “I’ll make coffee.”

  He stopped her. “Not this morning. Grab your coat.”

  “Gabe, surely you don’t mean to leave the house before I’ve had a cup of coffee. I love coffee.”

  “I know you do, but we’re going to have breakfast at a great diner where there will be lots of coffee. Then I have something to show you.”

  “A diner?”

  “It is a kind of restaurant that serves all kinds of food, and they usually have particularly good breakfasts.”

  “Okay.”

  It wasn’t far, so they walked to the diner. It was still early enough that the restaurant wasn’t too busy.

  Elizabeth smiled when she saw the menu.

  “Do you see something you like?”

  “Yes. Pictures.”

  He laughed. “Pictures are good, but you’re reading improves every day.”

  She beamed at his praise.

  “So do you see something you’d like?”

  “I like eggs.” She pointed to another picture. “But these look like strawberries.”

  “They are strawberries. That’s a waffle.”

  “How can there be strawberries on it? It’s the middle of winter.”

  He wasn’t sure he would ever get used to the odd holes in her memory. “They are grown in warmer places and brought here.”

  When the time came to order, she was still having trouble deciding, so he said, “Bring us the big breakfast platter.” It came with three eggs, bacon, sausage, home fries, and biscuits. “And we’ll also have a Belgian waffle with strawberries and a side of scrapple.” He smiled at Elizabeth. “We’ll split it, and you can try a bit of everything.”

  “What is scrapple?”

  “It’s a little hard to explain. It doesn’t sound very appetizing, but it is really good and I know you used to like it.”

  “But what is it?”

  “It’s a mixture of cooked pork scraps and organ meat that have been ground up and mixed with cornmeal and spices.”

  She smiled. “That sounds like…well, I don’t know what it is called, but I think I do like it.”

  She did like it. She liked it all. The strawberries, in particular, delighted her. Note to self, buy some.

  Once fortified with breakfast and several cups of coffee, they headed toward the destination he had planned over a week ago: the wholesale flower markets.

  There were literally thousands of flowers from all over the world. It was an impressive sight, and Elizabeth stared in awe. “They’re beautiful—but it’s winter. Is this like the strawberries?”

  “Yes, exactly like the strawberries. Flowers are brought here from all around the world.”

  As they wandered through the markets, she appeared enraptured. At one point, she stopped in front of buckets of blue irises. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful before.” She reached a hand toward them, touching one tentatively.

  “What do they mean?”

  Gabe’s brows drew together. “I’m not sure what you’re asking. They don’t mean anything.”

  “You’re wrong there, young man,” said an older woman who appeared to be working there.

  “Pardon me?”

  “The young lady is right. Flowers speak a language of their own. They all mean something.”

  Elizabeth turned toward her. “What are these? What do they mean?”

  “They’re blue irises, and they represent faith and hope.”

  “They’re beautiful,” she said, her eyes shining.

  “I think that’s your cue, young man.”

  Gabe laughed. “Yes. We’ll take some.”

  “Be sure to pick stems that have some unopened buds. They will bloom over the next few days.”

  This seemed to thrill Elizabeth. He selected a dozen stems, all with buds in varying stages of flowering, and had them wrapped.

  They continued to walk through the flower district, Elizabeth simply captivated by the beauty around them. “Well, it’s settled. I’ll take you to the Macy’s flower show. These flowers are just in bins, but they’re transformed into artwork at the flower show.”

  “You’ve seen it?”

  He smiled sheepishly. “I’ve seen pictures. I would love to see it with you, though.” The truth was, he’d probably spend more time watching her passionate responses to the show than the flowers.

  “I’d love to go. Is it soon?”

  “It’s in April.”

  Her face fell. “April? That long?”

  “It’s only a little more than a month away.”

  “I expect I’ll have my memory back by then, but I’m sure I’ll enjoy it.”

  He had trouble imagining the Elizabeth he knew from medical school spending hours wandering through flower markets or a formal flower show.

  Eventually, she began to show signs of tiring, so he lured her away with the promise of a stop at the bookstore to buy some more workbooks and a fancy coffee shop for a mocha. They also stopped at a shop where he could buy an inexpensive vase for the irises.

  Once home, he tried to talk her into resting. “We’re going out again later to meet Nick.”

  “I’m not as fragile as you think I am, Gabe.”

  “I don’t think you’re fragile, but I know you have broken ribs that still cause you pain.”

  “Just a tiny bit. Curling up next to you and working in one of my new books while you watch the last day of the Olympics is not going to hurt anything.”

  He opened his mouth to argue, but stopped. “Now that you mention it, I can think of no better way to spend the rest of the afternoon.”

  In spite of her assurances that she didn’t need a nap, she dozed off after a few minutes, her head slipping into his lap. I could get used to this.

  Eventually, he had to wake her. “Elizabeth, wake up, sweetheart. We need to leave soon.”

  She stirred and yawned, resembling a drowsy kitten. “Leave?”

  “Yes, leave. We’re meeting Nick for dinner, remember?”

  She became fully awake. “Oh, right. I need to get dressed.”

  “What you’re wearing is fine.”

  She frowned. “I don’t want to be wearing trousers to meet your brother.”

  She disappeared into the bedr
oom, appearing again in a few minutes wearing the skirt and blouse he had bought for her.

  “You look beautiful.”

  She beamed. “Thank you. This is my favorite outfit.”

  ~ * ~

  They took a cab uptown to meet Gabe’s brother at a small Italian restaurant. Nick was waiting for them outside.

  Gabe paid the cab driver, then gave Nick a hug.

  “Since when do you take cabs? There’s a subway station on the corner.”

  “Elizabeth has broken ribs. She doesn’t need to be jostled in a subway car.” He turned to Elizabeth. “Elizabeth, this is my brother, Dominic. Everyone calls him Nick.”

  She took his hand, as Jo Sinclair had told her to, and said, “It’s lovely to meet you.”

  Nick leaned in and kissed her cheek. “It’s nice to meet you too, Elizabeth. Although technically, I have met you before.”

  Although his words were polite, she sensed a coolness in his greeting that made her uncomfortable. “I-I suppose we have. I’m sorry. I don’t remember.”

  “That’s what I hear.”

  Looking at Gabe, he said, “Shall we go in? Our table should be ready.”

  Once they were seated, they were given menus. Elizabeth looked at hers, but there were there no pictures, and she couldn’t recognize any letters.

  “See anything you like, Elizabeth?” asked Nick. “No, I don’t suppose you do. After all, you’ve forgotten how to read.”

  Elizabeth felt herself blush profusely.

  “Why are you being an ass, Nick?”

  “I’m sorry, Gabe, I just forgot.”

  Gabe hit his brother’s shoulder with the back of his hand. “Stunata, what the hell’s the matter with you?”

  Tears prickled behind her eyes, and she blinked rapidly to keep them from spilling. She wasn’t sure what was happening or how to handle it. She would have left, but there was no place to go.

  “Lighten up, brother, I was just joking.”

  “It’s not funny.”

  “You don’t think so? The little girl genius that walked out of your life, stomping on your heart as she left, is in a little accident and can’t even remember how to read? I think it’s very funny and highly unlikely, but somehow she’s managed to suck you back in.”

  Was that what his family thought of her?

  “God damn it, Nick. Stop. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Look me in the eye and tell me that isn’t true.”

  There was an older couple sitting at a table across from them. The woman waved her hand at Elsie. “Signorina. Scusa, signorina. Would you mind helping me?” She had a faint accent of some sort. “I need to use the ladies room, but I’m a little unsteady on my feet.” Then she nodded toward the man at the table and winked at Elsie. “My husband, he’s not so steady, either.”

  She wasn’t sure what the ladies room was, but she’d take any escape. “I’d be happy to help you.” Standing, she glanced at Nick, his angry gaze piercing hers for a moment. She looked away. “Excuse me.”

  She left the table to help the woman. She could tell Gabe and his brother were still arguing, but she didn’t look back.

  The ladies room turned out to be a bathroom. When they reached it, the old woman just stood there.

  “Do you need help…uh…”

  “No, bella ragazza. I don’t need to use the toilet. You looked like you needed a moment, and the brothers can fight without you there to take the blows. They’ll work it out in a minute.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I’m a mother of boys. They love each other. Sometimes they want to kill each other, but they love each other.”

  ~ * ~

  “Nick, why are you doing this?”

  Nick’s gaze followed Elizabeth as she helped the old woman to the restroom.

  “Nick!”

  “I’m sorry, Gabe. I just…”

  “What?”

  “You were so torn up after she left you.”

  “She didn’t leave me. I left her.”

  “I’ve never believed that, and I’ve always been pissed off with her for hurting you so badly.”

  “That’s what this is about?”

  “You have to admit that total memory loss right when you walk back into her life is hard to believe.”

  “But I do believe it. And I’m the doctor. Remember? We’ve been through this.”

  “I know, but I had to see it.”

  “See what?”

  “The look in her eyes.”

  “You’re some great expert who can tell someone is lying by looking at them?”

  “No. But I’m fairly sure when they’re completely innocent.”

  “So what’s it going to take to convince you?”

  “Nothing. I just saw it. She’s shattered, and I did that. I’m sorry, Gabe.”

  “God damn it. I should go get her.”

  Nick grinned, shaking his head. “No, let the nonnina handle it.”

  When Elizabeth returned the old woman to her seat and came back to the table, Nick stood up. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth. I love my brother. I had to know for sure that you weren’t playing him.”

  She cast Gabe a puzzled look. “Playing you?”

  “He was worried that you were pretending to have amnesia to gain my attention.”

  She looked back at Nick, shaking her head. “I’d never do that. But I understand. I wish I had brothers or sisters who would show such concern.”

  With the initial upset over, things settled down and they had a wonderful meal.

  “Not as good as Mom’s,” Gabe qualified.

  “But better than almost anywhere else,” added Nick.

  “Hey, are you coming home for my birthday?”

  “Christ, Gabe, Mom would kill me if I didn’t.” Nick raised the pitch of his voice, imitating their mother. “It’s just a little train ride, Dominic. You can take an evening away from the city to celebrate your brother’s birthday.” He shook his head. “She’s going to have kittens when she finds out Tony has to be in San Diego all week.”

  “He hasn’t told her?”

  “Nah. He’ll find his balls just before he gets on the plane.”

  Gabe laughed. “Well, there’s no way he’s getting out of Joe’s birthday.”

  “Yeah, it’s on a Sunday. Wait, if you’re off today,” he counted quickly on his fingers, “that means you have to work on Joe’s birthday.”

  “Actually, I will be there. I switched some shifts to get off. It means working two weekends in a row, but then I’ll be off two in a row.”

  “When is Joe’s birthday?” asked Elizabeth.

  “March nineteenth,” said Gabe.

  “The feast of Saint Joseph,” added Nick.

  “Birthdays are very important?”

  Gabe shrugged. “Not in all families, but we kind of have a family tradition that started when we were little.”

  Nick grinned. “Mom always makes the person’s favorite meal, whatever it is.”

  “Yeah, once, when Nick was about six, he liked hot dogs, tater tots, and macaroni and cheese.” At her puzzled expression, Gabe added, “It isn’t what you’d call fine dining. You can buy hot dogs from street vendors, tater tots come frozen, and the kind of mac and cheese he liked came from a box. I think it nearly killed Mom to serve that.”

  Nick laughed. “But she did because it was what I wanted.”

  “Do you still like those things?”

  “I’m not so into tater tots or boxed mac and cheese anymore, and while I love a good hot dog, I wouldn’t waste my birthday dinner on it.”

  “What will your mother be making for you this year, Gabe?”

  “Chicken Francese with pasta. It’s a sort of fried chicken cutlet with lemon sauce. I also asked her to make broccoli.”

  Nick looked askance. “Why did you ask for that? No one likes broccoli.”

  “I like broccoli.”

  “You do not.”

  “Well, I don’t hate it, a
nd mom loves it.”

  “Suck-up.” Nick shook his head. “I wish I’d thought of that.”

  “I’ll remind you of it in August.”

  Elizabeth appeared amused as she watched the back and forth banter. “So you celebrate a birthday with a feast. It sounds like fun.”

  “Serving our favorite dinner is only part of the tradition. Mom decorates the table with confetti, and there are always noisemakers and birthday hats.”

  Elizabeth cast Gabe a confused look. “Birthday hats?”

  Gabe laughed. “Yup, birthday hats. They are essentially cardboard cones with a rubber band strap to hold them on.”

  Nick nodded. “The rule is that you have to wear it. You cannot sit down at the table without one.”

  “You don’t have to wear it on your head, mind you,” said Gabe, “but you do have to wear it.”

  “Oh, and the dinner has to be on your actual birthday if possible,” added Nick, “except for Angela’s.”

  “Why?”

  “Her birthday is on Christmas Eve,” he answered. “We always have fish on Christmas Eve, so she gets to pick another day that week for her special meal. I remember ages ago—she must have been four or five—she begged Mom to get princess crowns instead of regular hats for her birthday.”

  “It was the Christmas she turned six. I’ll never forget it,” said Gabe.

  “Yeah, that’s right. She wanted to wait until you were there, so she had it the night after you came home from college.”

  Gabe nodded. “There was nearly a mutiny that year. I knew better, but you four idiots marched into the kitchen and announced that you would not wear princess crowns.”

  “To which Mom said, ‘Then you won’t eat dinner.’” Nick shrugged. “If it had been hot dogs or something, we might have held firm, but Angie asked for lasagna. There was no way we were going to miss lasagna.”

  “That’s when the you-don’t-have-to-wear-it-on-your-head rule was born,” said Gabe.

  “I think Gabe was the only one of the boys who actually did wear it on his head.”

  Elizabeth smiled at him. “That was sweet of you.”

  He shrugged. “It’s what Angie wanted, and it was a small enough thing.”

  “No, Elizabeth is right. It was sweet of you, just like asking for broccoli,” said Nick. He turned to Elizabeth. “Gabe’s probably the nicest guy I know.”