“I’m not sure. I don’t think Dr. Anderson was planning on doing any testing until the morning, to just give Stone’s mind a little extra time to catch up, but I’ll let you know once he does. I’m honestly overwhelmed and I don’t really understand what’s happening.”
“Try not to panic. I’m sure Dr. Anderson will explain everything.” Sloane’s sentiments should have been comforting, but the shadow of the words he last spoke to her was sitting in her stomach like a lead weight.
“Dr. Anderson did tell me that if it’s retrograde amnesia, and Stone doesn’t remember the missing time before he’s discharged to go home for the remainder of his recovery, we should just try and move forward as if it were the day after Nash and Lacy’s wedding. That we shouldn’t try to force the memories to come back. He mentioned not recreating situations or stressors in the hopes that it would trigger something.”
“That’s the right call, as least according to recent studies.” Sloane had her phone out, and it looked like she was swipingthrough something. Probably a peer-reviewed study so she could be better equipped to help Stone. Mae loved her for that.
“That won’t be a problem. We can all just carry on. Nothing’s changed that dramatically, has it?” Gunner asked. And that’s when Mae broke.
Tears tracked down her face as every emotion warred within her.
“Gunner, honestly.” Lily scolded.
“What did I say?”
“Mae, just breathe.”
She did as she was told, the overwhelming tidal wave of pressure letting up just a bit as she did.
“He doesn’t remember what he said to me…” she whispered, her arms wrapping around her waist. “You want me to just pretend everything is fine between us?”
The room was silent.
“Honey, nobody wants you to put your feelings on the back burner.”
“Fuck yes, you should.” Gunner blurted out. “Mae. He almost died. His head is messed up! You love him, and he doesn’t remember you guys breaking up. What is the fucking problem? You get a do-over. Take it.”
Mae nodded, but Lily apparently wasn’t on board. “Do not speak to her like that, and certainly not in front of the kids.” Her head tipped towards the corner of the room. Mae had completely missed Embrie, Addie, and Sage playing together. Three little girls. Would the baby in her belly be a little girl too?
She couldn’t keep that a secret much longer. Mae groaned, the weight of everyone’s gaze and their expectations stealing the breath from her lungs.
“I can’t… I need some air. Rhett and Cheryl might have more information. They stayed with him. I just wanted to tell you all…”
“I’ll come with you.” Lily volunteered.
“Me too.” Gunner grunted as he stood from his chair.
“Absolutely not.”
“Lily Kate, you can be mad at me all you want, but I will make sure you’re both safe. The person who shot Stone is still out there. We don’t know the motive, if Stone was a random victim or a target… if we all could be targets.”
“Mae needs a minute of peace, and I’m going to make sure she gets it. Stay here and make sure the girls are safe. We’ll stay by the nurses station. They have a security guard posted there.”
“Fine,” he conceded.
“Come on, Mae. Let’s go.”
Lily tucked Mae’s hand in her own, and pulled her out of the room. Some of the tightness in her chest finally eased.
“What are you thinking?” Lily’s eyes roamed over Mae’s face.
“He doesn’t remember! Everything bad from those last few weeks together… it’s just gone. And I wished for this,” she whispered, a confession that had been eating at her since Stone first seemed confused about what had happened. “When we had our fight that night. Lily, I wished that he would forget the last few weeks, and I could have the Stone back who loved me. Who worshipped me like I was a fucking goddess and peppered me with promises of our future together.”
Mae took two steps back, letting her eyes close as soon as she was pressed against the wall.
“He could remember everything tomorrow,” Lily said as her hand landed on Mae’s shoulder, giving a little squeeze in support. “Or, like my idiot husband failed to say in a gentle way, you both could have the chance to explore what things would have been like had that night not happened at all.”
“I want to do it. To pretend.” Mae shook her head. “I would do anything for him. But I’m scared to lose myself in the lie that we’re a happy couple. It would be so easy to let myself lean into it. But what the hell will I do when it all comes falling down?”
