Underestimated

by Jettie Woodruff

  “Morgan?”

  I knew it was Derik before I ever turned my head.

  Fuck…

  What the hell was I supposed to do now? I panicked and sprinted to the rental car, started it and backed out of the parking space, trying to get out of there in the ridiculous traffic. I would catch the next flight. I knew they would track down every name on that plane if I would have gotten on it. I wasn’t chancing that. Every thought possible was going through my mind. What if he caught me? What would Drew do to me? I couldn’t go back there, and for the first time since I had met Dawson, I wished I would have given him his name or even mine before I became Riley Murphy. He had no way to find me. He thought that I was on a plane heading toward Chicago.

  I kept a close eye on my rearview mirror. Derik was one car behind me. I could see him on his cellphone and knew exactly who he was talking to. I could hear Drew’s voice on the other end, telling him not to lose me. I felt like my world was crashing in on me. Everything that I had worked so hard for, for the past two years was hanging by a thread, all because I was stupid. I should have never chanced being there in the first place.

  I was finally out of the airport traffic and into even more traffic darting in and out of lanes, trying to lose him. I had no idea where I was or where I was going. I wanted to call Dawson. I had to call Dawson. He had to be able to find me if I was caught. I reached into my purse to retrieve my phone and looked up just in time to keep from hitting the stopped bus. My purse and all of its contents landed on the passenger floor.

  This could not be happening. It was like one of those movies that kept you on the end of your seat, waiting to see what happened. I went around the bus, and Derik was now right behind me. I shot back in front of the bus and took the next street to the right. I kept darting in and out of traffic, up and down different streets with Derik right on my tail.

  I finally got out of the city enough to get some speed, still passing cars, illegally. I didn’t care. I would have loved for the cops to see me and stop me. They didn’t, and I was left to fend for myself. I was a few cars ahead of him when I came up on a sports car with the top down, full of young girls. They were yelling and having the time of their life, but they were driving too slowly. I knew I shouldn’t try it. I couldn’t see if anything was coming from the little knoll.

  I darted around them, and I was right. I shouldn’t have done it. Neither I nor the city bus driver had time to react before my car was under his bumper. I don’t remember much after that. I could vaguely recall sirens, voices and the sound of a saw. I was hot. I was so hot, and I could smell smoke. Was the car on fire? Was I being cut out of the car? I didn’t know. I was drifting away. I felt my body becoming lighter and lighter as I floated into the dark.

  I’m sorry, Dawson…

  ***

  I didn’t know how long I had been there. I coughed and didn’t like the tube in my throat. The lights were bright, and I was confused. I gagged on the tube inserted into my throat as I tried to move my head.

  The tube was being pulled out. That was why it was gagging me. I managed to get my eyes opened and saw a doctor, a nurse and a man that looked familiar, but I just couldn’t put my finger on who he was just yet.

  “Mrs. Kelley, can you hear me?” the doctor asked.

  Mrs. Kelley? Mrs. Kelley? I repeated over in my head unable to speak. That didn’t sound right. Was that my name?

  I let my eyes close again and drifted back into the darkness. I don’t think I was out very long. I think the doctor had continued to call my name or somebody’s name. None of it made any since. I had no recollection of anything.

  “Mrs. Kelley, can you tell me your name?” the doctor spoke.

  I looked at the man who felt familiar, and he looked worried. Was he worried about me? Who was he?

  “Where am I?” I asked.

  “You’re in the hospital, baby,” the man who seemed to know me said. I pulled my hand away from him. I didn’t know who he was.

  “What’s wrong with me?”

  “You were in a bad car accident, but you’re going to be okay,” the man that thought he knew me replied.

  “How long have I been here?”

  “We have had you in an induced coma for five weeks now. You suffered a ruptured spleen, broken pelvis and a serious head injury. Your brain had swollen severely, so we put you into an induced coma so it could recover.”

  “Five weeks?” I asked. I wasn’t sure why it mattered. I couldn’t even remember my name.

  “Mrs. Kelley, can you tell me what your name is?”

  “Who are you?” I asked, turning to the man who seemed to care about me.

  “It’s me, Morgan, Drew. I’m your husband.”

  What the fuck??? I don’t think so…

  “I don’t think that is right,” I assured him.

  “You might suffer some memory loss from your head injury, but I am highly optimistic that you will have a full recover. Memory loss is a common side-effect of serious head injuries. It is highly likely it will return in time,” the doctor explained.

  I drifted back off. That was enough. I couldn’t take anymore. Maybe the next time I woke it would be over. Maybe it was just a bad dream. Yeah, that’s what it was. I will wake to my real life the next time.

  I think I was out for a long time. The room was dark, and the same man that was there earlier was sitting in the chair. He jumped up when he saw that I was awake.

  “Hey,” he softly spoke. I pulled my hand out of his again. It took every bit of strength that I had. My arm felt so heavy.

  “You should leave. I don’t know who you are,” I demanded.

  “I’m your husband, Morgan. We’ve been married for almost eight years.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  He got my purse and showed me my Nevada driver’s license. The picture looked familiar but was it me? That didn’t prove anything.

  Every time I woke this man was sitting there. Why wouldn’t he leave?

  I don’t know how many more days I was there drifting in and out of consciousness, but every time I woke this man was there. He was there when I was moved to the rehabilitation center as well.

  I was starting to come around and was awake more and more. This guy who claimed to be my husband was always there, always telling me how much how much he missed me being home with him.

  Evidently I had just gotten home when I had my accident. Apparently I had been studying English Literature in France, and hadn’t even made it home yet or so I was told. I didn’t remember being in France either. I was scared, and I felt like my whole life had been erased. Why couldn’t I remember something? Anything? It was so frustrating. I felt a massive void, and despite the things this Drew character had begun telling me about my past, it was all alien. He said that we were getting ready to start a family, we lived in a beautiful mansion and that I loved books. It all sounded so superficial, and for some reason I didn’t believe him.

  Each morning, I'd wake up hoping it would be the day everything would come flooding back. It was frightening and frustrating because each day was as strange as the one before. No matter how hard I tried, I had absolutely no idea who Drew was or how much we meant to one another. He seemed to care about me a lot more than I cared about him. He was always there.

  I did start seeing less of him because he said that he had to work. I didn’t care if he went to work. I didn’t want him there. He still came every night, but sometimes it was a few days because he had to go out of town. He could have stayed out of town.

  I spent three weeks in the rehabilitation center learning to walk and regaining my strength. Had I known that the doctor was going to release me to that man I would have contrived injured longer.

  “Where are my parents?” I had asked when the doctor talked to me about going home.

  “Honey, both your parents are gone,” Drew explained.

  “Gone where?” I wanted to know. I knew that I was only twenty six. My Nevada driver’s license said so.
Why didn’t I have parents?”

  “Your dad passed away a few years back, and you never really knew your mom. She left when you were just a little girl?” Drew explained. He sounded sincere. I guess I didn’t have a reason not to believe him.

  “What about brothers or sisters? Don’t I have any family?”

  “Not really, Morgan. You and I were getting ready to start our own family, remember?”

  No. you fucking idiot, I don’t remember.

  Another familiar face picked us up from the hospital. I was wheeled out, and Drew helped me into the back seat. I was doing much better and could walk on my own, but moving into the car hurt.

  Drew sat right beside me in the backseat. I wished that he would move over, and every time he tried to take my hand, I pulled it away. It just didn’t feel right to me.

  I know that my eyes had to be wide open when we pulled into the long drive with a security gate. I read the sign above the gate.

  ‘Callaway Estates.’

  Wow, was this where I lived? None of it looked familiar. The house was a mansion. I mean big enough to get lost in. This didn’t seem right either. I didn’t think that I had really lived there at all.

  “What the fuck is he doing here, Derik?” Drew asked the driver, and then looked to me like he was afraid of scaring me or something.

  “I don’t know, but I’m sure he has a right to be here whenever he wants,” the driver stated, and I wondered what that meant. Who were they talking about?

  I saw the frail older man in his wheelchair waiting. Was he waiting for me? I didn’t know him either. There were three nurses with him. Was he sick?

  Drew helped me out of the car, and the older gentleman pushed the joystick on his chair and came to me.

  “How are you, Morgan?” he asked with a warm smile, reaching for my hand.

  “I wish I remembered,” I smiled down at him. My hand in his didn’t feel like it did when Drew held it. This man felt genuine.

  “We’ll help you with that. I’ve hired the two best nurses in the state of Nevada. They will make sure you get better,” he assured me.

  “I’m very sorry. I know that I am supposed to know who you are, but I honestly don’t,” I explained.

  “That’s not important right now. My name is Randal. Let’s get you better before we worry about that, uh?”

  I smiled with a nod. He turned his chair and pretty much demanded Drew’s attention.

  “I’ve got Terri and Melissa set up in the north wing. They will see to Morgan’s needs. I want her taken care of, and that’s an order. Do you understand?” he asked Drew.

  “Yes sir. I will be sure of it,” Drew said, bowing down to the man. I wondered who he was and why Drew was so intimidated by him.

  Randal Callaway didn’t come into the house with us and left with the third nurse.

  I stood immobile once we were inside. Drew dismissed the two women and turned to me.

  “Do you remember this place, Morgan?” he asked, staring very intently at me, probably trying to read my face and figure out whether or not I did.

  “I’m sorry,” I apologized. I didn’t remember. I didn’t remember at all, and nothing about the magnificent home did anything to jog my memory.

  “That’s okay. It’ll come,” he smiled, and I heard the Derik guy snort.

  “I kind of wanted to talk to you about something,” I said to Drew.

  He dismissed Derik, and held my elbow while we walked into the living area.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said.

  He did come right back and sat beside me on the sofa.

  “What is it, Morgan?” He asked, turning his legs toward mine. I moved. I didn’t want his legs touching mine.

  “I know that we are married, and all, but I really think I need to sleep alone for a while. This is all like very new to me, and I am having a hard time figuring out where I fit in.”

  Drew smiled as a lady brought in two cups of hot tea. I didn’t recognize her either.

  “It’s okay, Morgan. I have already moved your things to a nice suite upstairs. I thought you might feel that way.”

  I smiled. “Thank you, but is there a bathroom up there. I realized as soon as I had asked that it was a stupid question. Of course, there were bathrooms up there. The house was amazing.”

  “Yes, there is one in your suite,” he smiled.

  I sipped the warm tea, but really didn’t want it. I just wanted to lie down.

  “Do you mind if I go there now? I’m a little tired.”

  “Not at all, you rest, and I will have some food brought up to you when you wake up.”

  “Thank you.”

  I held the rail going up the stairs and Drew walked beside me, holding my arm. I wondered why he put me in a room upstairs. He knew that I had a broken pelvic.

  When I got to the top of the stairs, I stopped. There were so many rooms, all with closed doors. Drew didn’t help me figure out which one I should go into.

  “Do you mind helping me out here a little?” I asked. It came out sort of cold.

  “You don’t remember which one is your room?”

  I looked at him oddly. “My room? I thought that you moved my things in here after my accident.”

  “I did, I was just trying to help your memory along.”

  How was confusing me going to help me get my memory back?

  He opened the door, and I looked around. That room did feel maybe a little familiar, but I wasn’t sure if it was a good feeling. I almost felt like I was going to have a panic attack being in there, but didn’t know why.

  “I’ll leave you to rest. If you need anything, just pick up that phone and hit one. It goes right to my office” Drew smiled.

  “Thank you,” I smiled back.

  I walked around looking at the room. It looked like he had taken all of my things from our shared room and brought them to that room. A jewelry box sat on a vanity, and I opened it to find some beautiful pieces. I walked to the walk-in closet, and none of the expensive clothes were ringing a bell. I ran my hand across the fashions and walked to the back of the enormous closet. I had more shoes than any one person could wear in a life time. I was rich. I was really, really rich. Okay. Maybe Drew was the rich one, but none the less.

  I walked into the bathroom and was happy to see the jet tub that was calling my name. I started the hot water, and walked back to the bedroom to find comfortable clothes that weren’t so fancy. There were none. I had expensive nighties, not a cotton t-shirt in sight. I opened the underwear drawer and frowned, pulling out something that I thought was supposed to be panties, but wasn’t honestly sure. What was the point in wearing them?

  That just wasn’t going to work. I wanted comfortable flannel pants, underwear that covered my ass, and a soft cotton t-shirt.

  I walked over to the phone and hit the number one.

  “Is something wrong?” Drew asked.

  “Yeah, kind of,” I stopped talking when I heard my voice coming from his end of the phone. How was that possible?

  “What’s wrong, Morgan?”

  “Are you sure these are my clothes?” I asked. I didn’t hear my voice on the other end that time and blew it off as another side effect to my brain injury.

  “Yes, I am very sure that those are your clothes.”

  “Well, I would like some comfortable sweats or flannels, some normal panties, and maybe some socks. Didn’t I wear socks?” I asked.

  “Not very often, you wore pantyhose mostly. I will send someone out to get you a few things.”

  “Thanks, do I have a laptop?” I asked.

  Drew didn’t speak. He kind of acted like I took him off guard for a second.

  “You did have, it was in the car when you wrecked it.”

  “Well, do you think that I could get another one?”

  “Not yet. The doctor is afraid that too much eye movement will cause seizures. You have a television. You can watch that for a while if you want.”

  “I don’t want t
o watch television. I wanted to do some research on my head injury. I would kind of like to know what I am up against, maybe find some stories from other survivors.”

  “I’ll tell you what. You get a bath and rest for a while, and you can come down to my office and use mine for a while. Okay?”

  “Why would I take a bath?” I asked. Why would he say that?

  “Is that not what I hear in the background?” he asked. I relaxed.

  “Oh, yeah, I guess it is. Sorry.”

  The hot water felt amazing, and the jet streams were hitting sore spots that I didn’t know that I had. I think I was dozing off a little when I heard someone in my room.

  “Hello,” I called out.

  “It’s just me, Terri,” the one female called. “Can I come in?” she asked.

  “Sure,” I replied, covering myself as much as I could.

  “Mr. Kelley said that you were requesting some more comfortable clothes while you recovered. Mellissa went out to get you some things. I brought you some lunch,” she added.

  “Thank you,” I replied. She smiled and left me to get out. The only problem was. I couldn’t get out. Every time I tried to pull myself up, the pain was unbearable and shot from my pelvic all the way down my right leg. Why the hell did I get in there?

  “Terri!” I called out with no response. She was gone. Great, how long was I going to have to stay in there until someone came back?

  I tried a couple more times with no avail. I couldn’t lift myself out. I wanted to cry. I felt so helpless, so alone, so lost, and now I need something for the pain. If I ever got out the bathtub.

  I heard Drew call out next.

  “Morgan,” he tapped on the door.

  Great. I didn’t want him to be the one to come and rescue me.

  “Can you go and get Terri for me?” I called out, not wanting his help.

  “Why? Is something wrong?”

  “No, I just need help getting out of the tub.”

  He didn’t wait for a reply. He opened the door and was smiling at me.

  “I can help you out, Morgan. We slept together for almost eight years. I’ve seen you naked before.”