“Thank you.” Even though she could see some lean, potentially desperate times in the near future, especially if she couldn’t find that down payment money, she didn’t want this accident to break her.
She put a hand to her head and rubbed.
“Do you have a headache?” Jake asked. She nodded.
“Well, we’ve got to get going,” said Jake as he stood. “It was nice to meet you all. Hannah?”
She stood and took his arm, grateful he’d come in with her. The rain had only intensified since they’d arrived. They stood under the porch, preparing to make a run for it to the car.
“Honey, can I talk to you for one second?” Her mother looked at Jake when she said it. The “alone” went unsaid, but was clear as day.
“I’ll wait for you in the car, Hannah,” Jake said before dashing off into the rain.
Hannah turned back to her mother and waited.
“I’m sorry, that was rude, but I don’t know when we’ll speak again and thought I should warn you.”
“About?”
“Well, I mean, what if Jake is just after your money? Maybe he took you in with some hope of a reward once you’re better. How do you know you can trust him? Maybe you should move home.”
“Jesus, Mom. How much is in the fund? How much is someone possibly trying to kill me over?”
“Over a million dollars,” said her mother. “And we don’t take the Lord’s name in vain, honey.” She reached out and stroked Hannah’s hair, but it seemed like it was meant more to fix the fly-aways than as an act of tenderness.
Hannah took a step back. “Well, apparently I do. Thanks for your concern, but Jake took me in before he knew who you were. Not everyone’s sole focus is money.”
“Hannah, she’s only trying to help.” Her father shot her a disapproving look, giving her another clue as to why she’d left.
“Look, why don’t you take the money back? I don’t want it, and it’s not worth dying for.”
Her mother’s mouth dropped open, and her father stared in disbelief. Clearly, these two were not used to a difference of opinion.
“I gotta go,” Hannah muttered before dashing out into the rain.
No hugs, no promises to see them again soon. The whole thing probably would have meant a lot more to her if she had her memories, but as it was, she felt no different than if she’d just left the home of a casual acquaintance. A slightly pretentious, borderline snotty casual acquaintance.
She didn’t regret coming but wasn’t sure when or if she would return. They seemed nice enough, but she got the impression they were holding something back. It would be interesting to remember how the “argument” had gone down from her point of view.
“What do you think?” Hannah asked.
“Well, if it happened the way they say, you are one determined lady.” He laughed. “Sounds a lot like you actually.”
“There has to be more to it. Maybe I just didn’t fit perfectly into their perfect little life. I’m gonna wait to get my memories back before I decide what to do about them.”
The busy day left her exhausted, and she really did have a headache. When they got home, she took some aspirin, thanked Jake for all his help, and went to bed. As she climbed under the covers, she glanced at her new, now fully charged phone but didn’t have the energy to start on that yet. Tomorrow.
Before falling asleep, she relived the kiss with Jake. She’d like more of that, but he seemed determined to keep their relationship friends only. Perhaps she could change his mind about that. She wasn’t above seducing him. Or if she was, she didn’t know it. If it turned out to be a horrible mistake, she could blame it on the amnesia.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Zach slid the needle from his arm, released the slip knot on the rubber tied around his bicep, and waited. It didn’t take long before he was in the clouds, flying with the birds, weightless and free. And for a few moments, he had no worries, no cares, and life was grand.
He lay still and let the drugs surge through his system. Much too soon, the euphoria gave way to doubt and despair. After the bliss, the facts of real life reappeared, and he couldn’t help but think of how far he’d fallen. Just a few months ago, he’d been on top of the world—had a great girlfriend, a stable job, his own place, and he was going places. It didn’t take long to lose everything. Now, he was back living with his grandparents and having to sell shit he found around the house to make money. If his life were a train, it would be right on time. Destination: Sucksville.
Hannah dumping him was the beginning of his downward slide. The start of his life not just deteriorating, but taking a quick and complete nose dive to rock bottom. Everything had been hunky-dory between them until she told him about her trust fund money. The disagreements about whether she should use it were intense and constant. She was adamant that she wouldn’t, but he saw no reason not to. When they’d talked about getting married, he thought for sure she’d come around, needing money for a wedding and maybe buying a house. Instead, she’d grown tired of the arguments and finally cut him loose.
Hannah’s money. That’s what had started his life’s descent. It was also what he hoped would pull him out of it.
