All good things, including the pudding cup and her silence, must come to an end.
“We could fly you to a hospital on the mainland,” she finished.
“No. I barely made it to your porch. I’m not up for a car ride, a plane ride, and another car ride. Plus, Leigh must have taken a big cut of the profits from the watch because I’ve only got three hundred dollars in cash. That won’t cover a plane ticket and pay for my hospital stay.”
“I can loan you—”
“No. You said you researched cracked ribs, and all it takes to heal them is time. So there’s nothing a hospital can do for me now.”
“I’d feel better if you were examined by experts.”
And he knew she’d also like to get him off her hands. He met her eyes. “I don’t want to be a burden to you. But even if the hospital could help me and I had money, I’m not strong enough to go anywhere right now. I can’t.”
Her chin inclined a fraction of an inch, indicating acceptance of her sad fate.
“When I’m able,” he told her, “I’ll pay you back. For your time and the expense of my room and board.”
“One Omega watch does not a rich man make.”
“No. But I’m a man who pays my debts. I’ll pay mine to you.”
“How would you know what kind of man you are?”
“I know I’m someone who pays my debts because the idea of not doing so turns my stomach.”
Remy nodded but didn’t appear to care much whether he did or didn’t reimburse her.“I don’t measure success in terms of income,”she’d told him. Everything he’d observed about her so far supported the idea that money wasn’t what motivated her.
She rested her head and shoulders against her chair’s back, her attention on the ocean. “I contacted the people who rent houses on the island. None of them have guests this week. Which leads me to the conclusion that your presence in the water didn’t originate on land, but at sea.”
“Okay.”
“And seeing as how your memories haven’t returned, I think we need to proceed as if you have amnesia.”
Amnesia. The word weighed five tons.
He still had the sense the memories were right there, waiting. But every time he tried to retrieve one, he’d come up blank. He didn’t want amnesia but at this point it was the explanation that made the most sense.
“I’ve already spent ten hours researching the condition,” Remy announced.
“Ten hours?”
“Yes. I can follow a rabbit hole obsessively if a topic interests me. Amnesia interests me. So I’ve been reading and taking notes—last night and all day today.”
“When you weren’t monologuing about the importance of hydration, I assumed you were working.”
“When I’m working, you’ll know because I play music.”
“Can you afford to take time off work to research?”
“Yes and no. Yes, because I don’t believe in deadlines. No, because I do believe in making enough income to pay my bills. I’ll get back to work soon.”
He glanced toward the water to see a brown pelican glide in an arc then dive. “Look.” He pointed.
She patted her overalls’ middle pocket. “Where are my glasses?”
“On your head.”
“Oh!” She located them and slid them on, watching the bird with wonder. The breeze danced through her hair, and the direct light illuminated her face. He had to admit, her skin was a beautiful shade, creamy with peach undertones.
