“Do you want me to tell you what happened?”
My head went up and down.
“As far as we know, you were in a car accident coming home from the riding lessons with Landry.”
Who was Landry and why was I taking riding lessons? Only I couldn’t ask him.
“Do you remember the accident?”
How could I say ‘kind of’ with my head? I shrugged instead.
“It’s fine. We can wait for all of this when you can talk. I’m just happy you’re awake.”
I nodded, this time slowly. I was getting super-sleepy. My eyes closed and I dreamed of that car wreck again.
When I woke up, Tristian was still there holding my hand. Why was he being so nice? Hadn’t he been a dick to me?
I slept on and off for most of that day and then a doctor came in to tell me they were taking that dumb tube out. My throat burned like fire after, but at least I could talk.
“Hey,” I said. My voice was gruff and sounded like a man’s.
“Hey, yourself.” Tristian sure was pretty when he smiled.
“How come you’re being so nice to me? You’re usually a dick.”
He acted surprised. “I used to be but that was a while back.”
“What do you mean?” My brows squished together. He wasn’t making sense.
“A lot happened since then. Don’t you remember?”
“Remember what?”
“Um, how about going to Vegas? Remember the Elvis chapel?”
“Nope. Want to fill me in?”
A crinkled forehead clued me in that he wasn’t certain of what to say. He cracked his knuckles and stood. “I’ll be right back.”
Only he wasn’t. My parents showed up instead.
“Hey, darling, how are you?” Mom kissed my cheek.
“Munchkin, you’re looking better every day,” Dad said.
“Thanks. What’s this about Tristian and me going to Vegas?” Might as well get right to the point.
Tristian returned with a nurse, followed by a doctor.
“Mrs. Baines, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”
“Why did you call me Mrs. Baines? I’m English Bridges.”
“That’s what I want to discuss with you,” the doctor said. “It appears your memory is a bit foggy. That’s perfectly normal after sustaining a head injury. Can you tell me what you do and don’t remember?”
“I don’t remember getting married.” I glanced at Tristian to see him staring at the floor.
“But you remember Mr. Baines.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good. Good.”
The doctor asked me a series of questions relating to work—what I did and who I worked for, things of that nature. Then he wanted to know what year it was and who was president. He asked my birthdate and middle name and then my address. Apparently, I answered them all correctly.
“Do you remember anything at all about your accident?”
“No, not really. I have this dream about a car wreck, so maybe my brain is trying to reconstruct the scene?” I asked.
“That’s a possibility. The brain is an amazing thing, but don’t worry. With everything you’re telling me, I believe you’ll be getting your memory back. I can’t say when and it may take some time, so be patient. And don’t beat yourself up if you can’t remember something.”
“Do you think it’ll affect my work?”
“I’m not sure. The only way to find out is when you’re released to try to work a little. But I won’t clear you to go back to work for a while. You have other injuries that need to heal.”
“Other injuries?”
“Yes. You broke some ribs, had some internal injuries, and sustained a broken foot. You probably didn’t notice that yet.”
I lifted my head and saw my foot was elevated and in a cast. “I guess that coma helped the foot.”
“Probably, because it kept you off it, but that’s the orthopedic surgeon’s department, not mine. If you need anything, just call.” He gave my good toes a squeeze and was gone.
“I don’t like not remembering everything. So we got married?” It was weird because what I remembered was Tristian was a giant butthole. Why would I marry a giant butthole?
He smiled. “We went to Vegas and tied the knot.”
“I have a question. If I don’t remember, can that Vegas knot be untied?”
He actually paled. I mean turned the color of a ghost. What was up with that? “If you find you can’t stand me, then yes, we can untie the knot.”
“English, don’t you think you should give it some time? This is all so new and you’ll get your memory back,” Dad said.
“What if I don’t?”
“Oh, darling, you will. Besides, someone else is very anxious to see you,” Mom said.
“Who?”
“Easton.”
“Who’s Easton?”
They all gawked at me until Dad said, “She’s your daughter.”
I gulped.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Tristian
I left the room with sinking spirits. Fuck, fuck, fuck. She hadn’t remembered getting married and had asked if we could get divorced. I was madly in love with this woman. Letting her go wasn’t going to happen if I had a say in the matter. She didn’t even remember her daughter. How was this going to affect the adoption proceedings? Devastation pummeled me.
A hand touched my back. “Tristian, it’s going to be fine.”
“I can’t lose her, Sheridan. I love her, am in love with her.”
“Beck said as much. She’ll figure it out too. It’s just going to take some time. Like the doctor said, the brain is strange. She’ll remember.”
“What will we tell Easton?”
“Nothing yet. English may remember everything tomorrow. For now, we’ll just say that her mommy can’t have visitors yet.”
“Easton will pester you for answers.”
“I know. She already is, but I took a picture of English to show her. That should help.”
“I hope so. I’m going home to shower and then I’ll be back.”
I was torturing myself with visions of English telling me she wanted out of the marriage. This had to stop. An attitude adjustment was in order. After my shower, I popped in to see Easton. She always cheered me up and it was time I bucked up and did the manly thing. Here was this six-year-old whose mom didn’t even remember her and I was acting like the baby in the group.
“Daddy!” Easton ran straight into my arms and a warmth settled straight into my heart.
“Hey, pumpkin pie.”
“I wanna be blueberry pie.”
“Then blueberry pie it is. How’s my girl?”
“I’m sad. Mommy is still in the hospital from the axdent. I don’t know when she’ll be home.”
“But guess what? That’s the best place for her to get better.”
“But, Daddy, I wanna see her and I can’t cuz I’m too little.”
“I know. But maybe she’ll be home soon. How’s your arm?”
“Wanna put your name on it?”