From that moment on, for the rest of her life, she’d fiercely debate anyone who said it was impossible to survive once a heart stopped beating.
“Drea, this is my mom, Evelyn.”
Evelyn.Lynn.She knew that blonde hair, even though part of it was covered in white bandages.
Everything moved slowly.While she couldn’t hear what Evelyn was saying through the rush of blood in her head, her mouth was moving.Hello Drea,perhaps.Orpleased to meet you.Niceties Drea couldn’t comprehend as she absorbed the fact that Cujo’s mom was Lynn.
“Are you okay?”Cujo stood in front of her.He stooped slightly to make eye contact with her, and she could see the concern etched across his face.“You’ve gone really pale, Shortcake.”
“Get her a chair, Brody, she needs to put her head between her knees,” Evelyn instructed from the bed.
Within a fraction of a second, the back of her knees made contact with hard plastic, and Cujo’s hand pressed on her shoulder to make her sit.
Dropping her head between her knees, Drea tried to bring the world back into focus.How in heaven’s name was she going to tell Cujo who Evelyn was?How should they tell Evelyn?Her experience with amnesia was solely limited to watching the movieThe Vow, but even she knew blurting outI know who you arewasn’t a great strategy.
This was the moment she’d dreamed of.Lynn was alive.She knew who she was.It was supposed to make her feel better, not like she’d been hit by Cujo’s truck.
“Should I call a nurse, Brody?”The sound of Evelyn’s voice broke through the buzzing in her ears.They definitely didn’t need more people in here.In fact, what she really needed was to get Cujo out.
“I’m fine, Evelyn.”The words came out breathlessly, as if she’d run a marathon.“I think I need some air.”
Cujo was crouched by her side, and she became aware of his hand slowly sliding up and down her back.
“Come on, Shortcake, let me help you.”
He took her elbow and helped her stand.Her legs wobbled a little as she righted herself.
Drea looked at Evelyn for a moment longer.“I’m sorry, Evelyn, but I promise we’ll be back.”
“I hope you feel better soon.”
Drea gripped Cujo’s arm as he led her away.“I’ve got you.Let’s get you outside.”
He steered her toward the double doors they’d come in through, but she tugged against him.“Cujo, stop.”
“You okay?”he asked, leading her over to a row of four plastic chairs by a window wall.
No, she wasn’t.And neither would he be when she told him what she knew.Drea shivered.
“Sit down, Cujo,” she said quietly, and he did immediately.
“Want to tell me what is going on?”
Drea grabbed both of his hands.They were warm and comforting, a contrast to her frigid fingers.
“Evelyn is Lynn.She’s the woman who came into the café.”
Cujo’s hands tightened around hers.“No, that can’t be right.”
“I’m sure, Brody.I spoke to her.I carry the photograph the police took from the security footage around with me.You need to see it.”
There’d never been any reason to show him the image.Drea pulled the photograph up on her phone and handed it to him.
Cujo shook his head as he studied it.He coughed gruffly and rubbed the side of his head.Her heart fractured into pieces as he she watched emotions flicker across his face.Anger, frustration, sadness, grief.His eyes filled with tears.
“We can’t be sure… it could be…” Cujo stood up and paced.
“Evelyn is the woman who came into my café.I’ve dreamt about her.We need to get hold of Don Hexley.”
