In an attempt to change the subject, I said, “I never could figure out that analogy. Aren’t beets purple?”
“Whatever. Are you okay?”
“Perfect, thank you.”
“Why are you flushed?”
“It’s hot in here.”
“It’s only sixty-eight. I’m chilly.” Then a salacious grin spread across his face. “English, what were you thinking?”
“Nothing exciting.”
“Great, then share.”
I crossed my arms. “Nope. Let’s watch TV.”
“Okay, but after you tell me what you were thinking.”
“Fine. I think I’m getting more memories back.”
“Fantastic! Which ones?”
“Sexy ones.”
“Even better.” A wicked chuckle from him knocked into me. Damn his voice.
“No, it’s not. They leave me all hot and sweaty.”
“It’ll be great when you get out of here, then. I can, erm, help you out with those.”
Someone cleared their throat and we glanced over to see Mom and Dad in the doorway with Easton. These visits were uncomfortable as I didn’t remember everything about my daughter yet, which disturbed me. She must’ve known because whenever she came to visit, she was always tentative. I had vivid memories of her being very inquisitive and exuberant. She had yet to show me that side of her personality, but it came out with flying colors for Tristian.
“Daddy!” She ran to him with her arms out. One of them had a cast on it from the accident, but it must not have bothered her as she didn’t act cautious about it. After Tristian set her down, she looked at me and waved. “Hi, Mommy.”
“No hug for me?”
“I, uh, don’t want to hurt you.”
“Easton, you won’t. I’m getting better every day and I might be coming home soon.”
“Does that mean I can sleep in my bedroom again?”
“Yes, it does,” I said. A toothless grin appeared. “Hey, is that a big tooth trying to poke out up there?”
“Yep. It’s coming out. Wanna see?”
“You bet,” I said. She came over and opened her mouth. The rough and jagged edges of the new tooth were seen breaking through the gum line. “Wow! That’s an awesome tooth. Good job!” I held out my fist and she bumped it, like we’d done this forever. Maybe we had and I just couldn’t remember.
“And look!” She wiggled a lower tooth to show me it was loose.
“Oh, boy. Looks like you’ll be getting more money from the tooth fairy soon.”
“Yep, and I’m putting it in my piggy bank. I’m saving up for a big princess bike with pink and silver sparkly streamers.”
“Sounds like the best idea.”
“And guess what else? Geepa found us a little Bucker.”
“What’s a little Bucker?”
“Our new puppy. He’s only going to be this big.” She held out her hands about six inches apart. I guessed little Bucker was the smallest dog in the world. I laughed at my own funny joke.
“So the little Bucker is a little bucker.” Heehee.
Easton stared at me, not getting the joke.
Dad piped up, “Your Geepa said it should only weigh twenty pounds. He found it at the pound and showed us all a picture. He took Easton a while back to look at other puppies, but they ended up getting sold before he could buy one. But this little fella, he really is a cute… little Bucker.”
“High-five, Dad!”
We were cracking each other up when Mom said, “You two need to grow up.” She tried to be serious but ended up making ‘little Bucker’ jokes too.
“Hey, do you think autocorrect will change his name to Ducker?” I asked, which sent us all into a fit of laughter.
Tristian’s phone rang and he left the room. He didn’t come back for a while and when he did his expression was grim. Easton was gabbing away and I didn’t want to interrupt her stride, so I didn’t say anything.
“Daddy, when are we going to have our campout in the backyard like you promised?”
“Campout? I’m in,” I shouted, to which everyone stared.
“Mommy, you don’t like camping.”
“I don’t?”
“Nope. You like your comfy bed. Isn’t that right, Daddy?”
The grownups waited for Tristian’s answer. I couldn’t remember if I liked camping or not, so I was happy somebody knew.
“You’ve never been camping with me, but said you didn’t care for it.”
Dad spoke up, along with Mom. “Nope, she is not a fan.”
“Well, darn. It sounded fun.”
I kept eyeing Tristian. He gave a slight nod. When everyone left, Dad lingered for a second. “Call us when you can fill us in.”
When the room cleared, Tristian said, “That was Ryan Cooper, one of your attorneys for the McLure trial. They’ve set a date. It’s in two weeks. He tried to get a delay, due to your condition, but the judge overruled it.”
“What exactly does that mean?”
Tristian sat on the bed. “English, if your memory doesn’t return a hundred percent, it could hurt the outcome of the trial. You’ll be testifying and the defense will try to use that against you.”
“How so? This accident occurred after Stuart tried to kill me.”
“If you can stand up to them, exactly like this, then you’ll do fine.”
“Tristian, that asshole came into my home—my home, where my daughter was asleep—and attempted to kill me. You’re damn right I’m going to stand up to them. I won’t be some spineless fool simpering away up there. If they want a fight, I say bring it on. They picked the wrong girl to do it to.”
He beamed. I wasn’t sure why, but I guessed we’d find out soon enough at the trial.
Chapter Forty-Nine
Tristian
English’s old personality was poking its head out. I wanted to wipe away her worry, though, about Easton. She was having trouble remembering everything about her, which made her snappy.
“I’m sorry I can’t answer you!” she barked one day. It was about a week after her release. We’d been discussing taking Easton on a trip and I suggested Disney, but wondered if she’d already been.
Dropping the clothes I was folding, since I was helping her with chores, I went and put my arms around her. “I don’t want to upset you. We can ask your parents.”
“But I should know these things, dammit. It’s crazy I don’t,” she growled at me.
“Look how far you’ve come. You even remember Elvis and Priscilla in Vegas. You know so much more now than you did even a week ago.”
“Tristian, we are talking about my daughter, my blood. How can I not know every single thing about her?”
“I know it will come. The therapy is helping. Don’t forget what the doctor said. The brain can be tricky, so don’t give up. This has to be the hardest thing you’ve ever done, but you are the strongest person I know.”
“Me? I’m not. I’m a mess. Look at me.”
“I am looking, and I see a beautiful woman who has been through a very traumatic accident and pulled out of it with amazing results. You can’t see what I do. All I ask is for you to trust me and have faith in yourself.” I dabbed the places beneath her eyes that were damp from tears.