“The best is all you can do,” I assure Mateo.
“Now… Let’s find some music.”
“You want to dance now?”
I narrow my eyes. I’m pretty sure that I already had this conversation. Mateo’s cheeks go pink. I go to the TV and find the remote control in its place on the third drawer to the left. I turn on the TV, then turn on the music. I find Frank Sinatra and start playing some music.
I turn around.
The others scrutinize me.
“You knew where the remote control to the TV was,” Annika says.
“Oh.” My chest widens. “I did.”
But then my lower lip trembles.
Because once again I have not remembered my dear wonderful amazing boyfriend.
I have remembered how to find remote controls instead.
What kind of boyfriend am I?
Papa and Mama’s faces pale.
Annika’s brows furrow like she’s pretending to be one of those people who have to ponder things. Annika is so smart and everything comes naturally to her.
But now she seems suspicious.
“We Germans have very technical minds,” Papa explains to Mateo.
“It might not have been a memory,” Mama says.
They all know it is embarrassing that I am remembering the minutiae within my apartment and not my dear, amazing boyfriend.
“I am sorry, mi amor.” My cheeks are red. The back of my neck itches.
“It’s not your fault,” Mateo says. “It’s a good thing! It means you might remember everything soon.”
“You really think so?”
“Absolutely,” he says. “You knew where two remote controls were located. That’s wonderful.”
“And I remember that I used to call you ‘mi amor’.”
Mateo’s cheeks redden. He looks down. His long black lashes are so beautiful. He is so beautiful. I cannot believe he is mine. I am so lucky.
I glance back at the screen, then click “It Had to Be You.”
Mateo’s lips part.
The music is already playing, and I bow.
Mateo’s eyes widen. They look uncertain, which is strange.
I sweep Mateo into my arms, then I foxtrot with him around the room.
Mateo is…
