Trevor peruses the buffet, skipping the sushi altogether. Just like he refused the Snickers bar I tried to get him when welanded. I swear it’s almost like he doesn’t want us telling him who he is.
Maybe showing him would be better.
“Trevor?” I sit on the couch and pat the space to my right. “Will you sit with me?”
He brings his plate of food over, sets it on the coffee table as if completely uninterested in eating it, then he sits on the cushion adjacent to mine, leaving much more physical distance between us than I was hoping for. I try not to take offense that my husband doesn’t want to be close to me. I understand why, but it doesn’t make it any easier on my heart.
Dawn has stacked a large pile of photo albums on the table in front of us. He realizes what they are and eyes them like he’s not sure he wants to even go down this road. But it’s what the doctors said to do, so I pick up the first one, set it on his lap, and open the cover.
It’s his medical school graduation. What a wonderful day that was. I close my eyes and recall every moment of the day as I hope to take him on a trip down memory lane.
He’s silent the whole time. His expression is unreadable, his lips pressed together in a thin line as I lean over and turn the pages.
Next, I show him our wedding album.
Please remember.
My eyes are glued to him as the pages turn. He has zero reaction. He doesn’t even look over at me.
I can’t stand it anymore, so I get up and go into the kitchen, feeling sick to my stomach. Standing over the sink in case I throw up, I rub my flat stomach, knowing a secret that only three other souls know.
I tell myself over and over that this is only temporary. That Trevor will regain his memory. He’ll go back to being the man he was. And he’ll be over the moon about the baby.
There’s a bit of commotion in the other room. I go to the kitchen doorway and see the photo albums strewn across the floor. Then I see the back of Trevor’s head as he stomps to the front door, hand running through his hair. “I have to get out of here.”
“Trevor!”
I race after him, but Carter catches me before I get to the door. “Ava, let me. He’s overwhelmed. I know what he needs. Give me some time with him.”
“Please, Carter.” There’s a hitch in my voice as I struggle to hold back more tears. “Help me do whatever it takes to bring him back.”
He smiles sadly and nods. Then he yells, “Trev! Brother, wait up!”
Chapter Thirteen
Trevor
Ilook between the reporters still waiting by the mailbox, and Carter Cruz, who’s running after me, and try to decide which is worse.
Carter reaches my side. “Piss off,” he tells the reporters. Then he turns to me. “My ride is over there. Come with me. I have something to show you.”
I huff my frustration. “Man, I’m really not up for any more trips down memory lane.”
“I have a feeling this will be different. Give it a try?”
The reporters start yelling questions at me, so I shrug and follow Carter to a… tow truck? I look at him curiously before reaching for the passenger door handle.
He laughs. “I’m guessing Ava hasn’t told you much about me. Hop in.” The engine roars to life and he pulls away. “I’m on towing duty today. I alternate days on the truck with my brothers and sister. We’re all much happier working in the shop.” He slaps the dash. “But without this part of it, we’d have a lot less business.”
“The shop?”
“Yup. It’s just down this street.”
We pull up to a large building with four open garage stalls to one side. Three of them are occupied by cars. To the right of the garages is a storefront. Above that is a marquee that readsCruz-in Auto Repair Shop.
“Cruz,” I mumble. “So you own it?”
“Well, the bank owns most of it,” he says with a snort. “But yeah, my three siblings and I make the payments.”
