Gaia blinked. “My place in society? What are you talking ab—”
“Good afternoon!” Dr. McMasters cheerfully announced as he walked into the hospital room. “How are you feeling today? Are you getting excited to go home yet?”
The switch in topics gave her momentary pause. She wanted to keep questioning the nurse, but good manners dictated she answer the surgeon first. Besides, not only did she like Dr. McMasters, he was also the man responsible for saving her life. She’d decide after meeting Ryan whether she was glad for that outcome or not. “I feel nervous,” Gaia admitted. “Extremely on edge.”
The doctor waved that away. “Of course you are. It’s to be expected.”
“You get a lot of amnesia cases then?” she asked sardonically.
“Touché.” His truthfulness was somewhat calming. “No, I don’t.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take out my feelings on you.”
“Forgiven.” His smile was like him—weathered, warm, and sincere. “Whatareyou feeling, Gaia?”
She wished she had the words to describe it. “Everything and nothing, but at this moment mostly everything.” She frowned. “Including regret for putting off the inevitable.”
“Ahh. Your husband.”
It didn’t matter how many times people called the mystery man her husband. Her entire body still recoiled at the term. “Yeah.”
“I’ve met him on several occasions. He seems like a very nice gentleman, Gaia.”
“Here’s hoping he is what he seems then.”
“Agreed.” Dr. McMasters and Sheila shared a chuckle. “We both voted for him after all.”
A knot formed in her already dry throat. She swallowed against it. “Right. A politician. So is he like on the city council or something?”
Their laughter faded. “We think it’s best for you to learn about your husband from your husband,” the doctor explained.
“He’ll be here soon enough,” Sheila reminded her.
Gaia glanced at the clock. The husband she had no memory of would be at the hospital to get her in less than forty-five minutes. She drew in a shaky breath and slowly exhaled. Shereallyshouldn’t have waited so long to meet him.
Chapter Two
By the time a second nurse came in the hospital room to announce the arrival of the mystery man, Gaia’s nerves were beyond frayed. Worse, Sheila and Dr. McMasters thought it was best if they left so Gaia could meet Ryan alone. From their perspectives, she supposed it made good sense. From her nauseous POV, she would have preferred them to stay.
“Take good care of yourself,” Sheila whispered, hugging her goodbye. “Everything will be great.”
Dr. McMasters gently patted her on the back. “You’ve got a good-looking, God-fearing, hardworking, devoted husband. Smile, kiddo. You’ve got a lot to be happy about.”
God-fearing? Gaia was born and raised Catholic, true, but she wasn’t religious per se and had never been attracted to those who were. She wondered what qualified as God-fearing to a sixty-something-year-old man, but said nothing. Then just like that, he and the nurse were gone.
Gaia trembled as she looked at herself in the mirror. She probably should have went with the pantsuit, but it was too late to change her mind much less her wardrobe choice. Besides, it’s not like she looked terrible in her gray yoga pants that went up to just below the navel and her matching gray t-shirt that went down to just above it. She looked sporty.
The sound of approaching voices made her heart rate climb. She took the scrunchie out of her hair and let the long, flowing curls cascade down. Putting the discarded scrunchie around her right wrist, she sat down at the table in her soon to be vacated hospital room. Her teeth sank into her lower lip and nibbled. Her left hand absently toyed with the scrunchie. By the time the door opened, she felt ready to vomit.
“We’ll be a few minutes,” a masculine voice said to an unseen someone. “Make sure the car is ready.”
“Yes, sir.”
The door closed behind him. The man she presumed to be Ryan slowly turned around. His piercing blue gaze found her wide hazel one.
“Gaia,” he said softly. He smiled. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Ryan?” Gaia blinked as a small glimmer of recognition struck. She had no memory of this man as her husband, but the seed of familiarity took root regardless. Surely that was a good sign? “I don’t remember you,” she said honestly. “I’m sorry.”
