Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
My heart clenches, and I suck in a harsh breath the moment the thought crosses my mind. My family didn’t understand boundaries, were hurtful, or worse, both?
I wrap my arm over my stomach and reach for my glass of water. I drink it down, hoping to swallow the ache that’s formed inside me.
“Are you all right, Tuesday?” Lark’s fingers just barely touch the table’s edge, hanging on after pushing her empty dessert plate away.
Setting my glass down, I look at her and nod. “Amnesia is tricky. It’s a gatekeeper to all my memories that I can’t get past most days. Then one just sneaks up on me out of nowhere. Sometimes it’s clear, and sometimes I have to guess what it means. Either way, it strikes, leaving me feeling vulnerable, like my happiness in the now is at risk.”
Her hand returns to her lap, but her attention is fully on me. It would be easy to say it’s her polished bedside manner, but I really think she’s genuinely this caring all the time. “How are you feeling? Any dizziness or headaches?”
“Occasionally, I get a pain in my head, but it’s not so much a headache, more of a temporary reminder that I’m pushing myself too hard.”
“Port shared that you have a concussion. When is your follow-up appointment?”
It’s not something I’ve discussed with Loch because the last thing he needs is more reason to drop his life, or more money, to help me. But I can’t lie to her. “I don’t actually have one. I was told there are free clinics if I had concerns.”
“Why would you need a free clinic? Your doctor should have scheduled the follow-up before you checked out of the hospital.” I appreciate her keeping her voice low and our conversation private.
Leaning closer, I whisper, “I have no money. No insurance. No way to pay. So the follow-up was not approved by the hospital. The nurse told me to come by this week, and she’d be able to help me find a clinic that can fit me in, but that’s not necessary—”
“It is necessary, especially at this point in the healing process. Would you like me to do your checkup? I’m limited to the tools I have at my disposal, meaning no X-rays or CT scans, but I don’t think you need those. But if the need arises, we’ll figure out how to get those done.”
I don’t know what to say. Sure, she’s my . . . she’s Loch’s sister-in-law, but this is more than I could ask for. “Honestly, I’m sort of speechless. Thank you. I do have a few minor concerns I’d like to discuss. I promise I won’t take up too much of your time.”
“You’re welcome. The guys were discussing a potential basketball game tomorrow before Port leaves town, so I could come over then.” A thought has her bolting straight and grinning. “I can bring lunch, and we can go shopping after. Depending on how your appointment goes, of course.”
“There’s just a tiny issue. Money. I hate to even mention it because it’s a little embarrassing. But since I don’t know who I am, I can’t figure out if I even had a job or a savings—”
“I understand.” She laughs lightly. Her eyes are sincere, with her smile reaching the outer corners. “Don’t worry about a thing. If the guys get to play, so do the girls.” Her gaze fixes on Loch. When he turns from his conversation with his brother and father, she says, “Loch, we’re going to need your credit card to go shopping tomorrow.”
A mischievous look raises his eyebrow and quirks the right side of his mouth. Glancing at me out of the corners of his eyes, he says, “Shopping, huh?” He reaches for his wallet, pulls a card from it, and then hands it to me.
I take the card and waggle my eyebrows. “What’s my spending limit, Daddy Loch?”
Ohhhh, damn.
Why.
Did.
I.
Say.
That?
The table is silent, but that’s better than the mortification I feel. Loch starts tugging at his collar, and I hear him gulp. “I, uh—”
“I was only joking.” Meeting his dad’s eyes across the table, I pray he doesn’t think less of me. “I don’t call him Daddy. Oh no. I’m making this worse.” I turn my gaze to Loch and plead, “Please save me.”
Taking hold of the arm of my chair, he scoots me closer, the legs grinding against the floor, causing others at tables around us to stare. Not helpful. Then he kisses my temple and says, “Spend as much as you want. You’ve been a very good girl.”
Oh.
My.
God.
The man could take me right here on this table, and I would let him.
“What?” Harbor asks, drawing our attention. He’s staring at Lark like she just did some damage to his ribs. “Hint taken, babe. If you want me to talk dirty, I’ll do it.”