“Good news, Wyatt,” Cam said. “We truly only came to check on you, not turn you upside down and shake any coins loose to collect on imaginary debts.”
“Thatisgood news.”
“Beyond all that money you owe, do you remember anything useful?”
“The last thing I remember was going into a restaurant for lunch almost a year ago. Then, poof, nothing. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve recalled a few images where I’m hunting in nearby woods, but I used to do that almost every weekend and have since I was a little kid here in Skeeter Bite. I might just be remembering trips from before a year ago.” He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned about losing his memory. That was sort of a relief.
“My folks and especially my four sisters have caught me up on a year’s worth of gossip regarding everyone in a three-county area. That’s super fun.” He paused, then added, “No, not really. I’m lying.” He grinned and shook his head.
“What do your doctors say about the memory loss?”
Wyatt shrugged. “They don’t know. Every doctor I talk to has a different theory. I figure I’m healthy enough for my purposes. The headache’s gone and whether I remember the past year or not, I expect life will carry on like it did before.”
Diesel nodded. “That’s a good way to think about things.” His phone buzzed in his pocket, signaling a text. He looked at the screen. A 9-1-1 message from Aunt Dixie. Heaven help him, even though she’d been on a trip for nearly two weeks, he still didn’t feel like dealing with any of her shenanigans.
Wyatt laughed. “I just have to figure out a way to pay back all that money I owe.”
Before Diesel or Cam could comment, Wyatt’s receptionist came to the open door and leaned her head in to let the sheriff know there was someone to see him.
Cam stood up. “We’ll get out of your hair, Wyatt. Good to see you and hear that you’re on the mend.”
Wyatt came around his desk and shook their hands again. “Thanks for stopping by. It was good to see you both.”
Diesel looked out the window at his vehicle. “Could we slip out the back door? We’re parked right there.”
“Sure. It’s around the corner and down the hallway.” Wyatt turned to his receptionist and asked, “Who is here to see me? I don’t have any appointments today, do I?”
“No, sir, you don’t have any appointments today. This woman said she just wanted to stop in and say hi.” The receptionist looked at Diesel and Cam for a long spell and added, “She said her name is Valene Grey.”
“Your sister is here?” Wyatt looked at them, eyes scrunching in confusion. “That’s strange. I wonder why.”
Oh, I know exactly why.The phone in his pocket buzzed yet again. It was another text from Aunt Dixie, telling him she needed to see him pronto about some earth-shattering news. Which didn’t move him, as that was what she always said about everything they discussed. From a price increase on any product at the local grocery store to every single money-making plan she told him about for the old folks’ home, it was all an emergency.
Space potatoes.
Chapter Seventeen
Valene was not supposed to be here. She had sworn on her life she would stay away from Wyatt after his memory wipe. She was playing with fire. No, she was playing with a glob of lava.
She paced in front of the reception desk, trying to decide whether to run out before he showed up or keep playing with the melted rock.
Valene kept playing. She had to see Wyatt with her own eyes. She had to know he was okay. If he was as interested as he was last time they met for the first time and asked her out, she’d say no and invent a fake boyfriend.
If any of her brothers found out about this little foray into Skeeter Bite to visit the sheriff, they’d probably blow a gasket. Even so, she needed to see him with her own eyes. Needed to assure herself he was okay. Needed to see him one last time. She pushed out a mental sigh. She was lying to herself.
This was such a bad idea. Valene turned to leave. Her hand touched the doorknob the same instant Wyatt said, “Hello. Valene, is it?”
She spun around and saw Wyatt, followed closely by a perturbed-looking Diesel and an equally unhappy Cam.
Valene stuck out her hand as if introducing herself. Wyatt took it, but seemed puzzled. She looked deeply into his eyes, but his expression remained quizzical.
“What can I do for you?” he asked politely.Oh my. You can do so much. Stop it.He gestured over his shoulder with a thumb. “Your brothers were kind enough to stop by and check out my auspicious return to work after my accident. I’m sorry, but if we’ve met in the last year…I forgot.” There was a terrible silence for what seemed like forever before Wyatt cracked a smile and laughed.
He was making a joke. He didn’t know her. He didn’t remember them being together.
She was both relieved and devastated. Valene also laughed, but it was forced and had the dual function of keeping her from wailing in despair over the loss of Wyatt’s love with his year-long memory wipe. She was in trouble and now she’d confirmed the fact he didn’t wake up two weeks ago and remember a single thing about her. If he had, he would have tracked her down.
