Page 22 of Awakening

I nod. “It is,” I say as there’s a knock on his door.

He smiles at me as he makes his way over to the door and I move to stand behind him. He opens the door and any nerves I had drain from my body when I see her smiling face.

“Chloe?”

Chloe runs to me and envelopes me in a strong hug. “Olivia, thank God.” I hug her back and we both cry. She pulls back to look at me.

“We’ve been so worried about you. I’m so happy to see you.”

“We? You and Nick?”

Her face drops. “Yes, Nick has been worried sick about you, but it’s not just us.” Chloe and Anthony exchange looks and she doesn’t go any further.

“It’s not just you? Have other people been looking for me too?”

“Yes, but before we get into that, maybe you should fill me in on what’s happened with you first.”

Anthony nods. “That would be wise.” Chloe and Anthony glare at each other, seeming to size up one another.

“Actually, maybe Anthony could tell you. He’s been there from the beginning, or at least what I remember of the beginning.”

Chloe looks him up and down again, then nods. “Sure, okay.”

“As I mentioned, I’m a surgical resident at the hospital where Olivia was brought in, and I happened to be in the ER when I saw her. They hadn’t been able to identify her until I recognized her. When Olivia woke up, she knew me, but thought we had only broken up a couple of months ago. That’s when we started investigating further and determined she’s suffering from a case of amnesia.”

“Oh, my gosh,” Chloe says, reaching out to grab my hand.

“Chloe,” I say, “did you know I was pregnant?”

“Yes.” She nods. “Wait, did you say was?” she whispers. I nod as she stares at my stomach beneath my leggings and baggy sweatshirt.

“Unfortunately, the baby was likely fatally injured during the impact of the accident,” Anthony says. “Olivia went into labor when she was still unconscious and there wasn’t anything the doctors treating her could do to stop it. Sadly, the baby had already passed. Olivia doesn’t remember being pregnant or giving birth to the baby.”

Chloe gasps. “Oh, God. No. Liv, I’m so sorry,” she says, pulling me into another hug as she cries.

“Did you know it was a girl?” I ask.

She pulls back and nods. “Yes. I threw a gender reveal party for you the day you were taken. You were both so excited.”

“Wait, both? Who? And, I was taken?”

Chloe looks at Anthony again then back to me. “I’m sorry. I know this is a lot, but you deserve to know what happened, and you deserve to know about the people who love you.” Anthony lowers his head, but nods in agreement. “Are you up for this?” she asks.

“Yes. I have to know, Chloe. I can’t stand knowing I’m missing years of my life.”

“Okay. I just don’t know where to start.”

“Start with the baby’s father. You said we were both excited. So, he knew about the baby and wanted it?”

“Oh, yes. So much, Liv.”

“So, we’re together?”

She nods with a small smile. “You are…engaged, actually.”

“Oh, my God. I have a fiancé?”

“Yes. His name is Ethan Sullivan, and the two of you are so in love. You’re one of the happiest couples I’ve ever known. He’s going to be devastated when he hears about the baby, but he’s going to be over the moon to know we’ve found you.”

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