Page 56 of Undoing

“Absolutely not. You were way past finding who you were when you met Cass. She isn’t someone you were looking for, but she’s become someone you need. She balances you, Rebecca. And, more importantly, she makes you deliriously happy.”

Rebecca sat back in her chair with a thud and a groan. “This not remembering shit is so frustrating!”

“I can imagine. But I think it’s counterproductive to try and remember things you don’t know you’re supposed to remember. Don’t look at me like that. It makes perfect sense. Let the memories come to you instead of you trying to get to them.” Willamena patted Rebecca’s arm. “Now, why don’t you go upstairs and…”

“If you say get some rest, I swear I’m going to scream. That’s all I’ve been doing!”

“Good,” Willamena smirked. This stubborn side of Rebecca is one she hadn’t seen in years. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. Rebecca Cuinn-Giles was one of the most stubborn people Willamena knew, but it was the sullen pout that tickled Willamena’s funny bone. It was one of young Rebecca’s traits that Willamena wasn’t sad to see go. Seeing a nearly fifty-year-old Rebecca do it was quite comical. “That’s all you should be doing. Doctor’s orders.”

Rebecca narrowed her eyes. “Where did you get your degree again?”

“From a Cracker Jack box before they stopped giving anything but ridiculous stickers or tattoos.”

Rebecca’s eyes widened. “They don’t give toys anymore?!”

“Nope. I’m probably one of the last ones to get a degree from there.” Willamena stood, kissing Rebecca on the top of her head. “That means I have every authority to tell you to get your behind upstairs and…” she leaned down to whisper in Rebecca’s ear. “Get some rest.”

Rebecca blinked. She’d been staring at the TV for the past thirty minutes and yet had no clue what was playing. Per her aunt’s advice last night, Rebecca was trying to allow the memories to come to her. She tried meditating, but the quiet was allowing her mind to wander into territories she couldn’t quite navigate. The background noise of the TV gave her just enough of a distraction to space out without overthinking. However, she’d been brought out of her mini-trance by a different noise. And there it was again—the ring of the doorbell.

She glanced around to see if Aunt Wills was around to get the door but couldn’t see or hear her. “Guess I’ll get it. It’s fine. I don’t have anything pressing to do except sit on the couch and reflect on… whatever I’m supposed to be reflecting on.” Rebecca realized then, halfway to the door, that she was having a full-on conversation with herself. “I’m going crazy.”

She pulled open the door, her eyes moving up until she met the bi-colored eyes she was quickly being captivated by. Rebecca couldn’t explain why this habit Cass had of stopping by every night made her incredibly happy. “Cass,” she smiled. “You’re a little early for dinner. Or did you forget to bring something else? Do I have a favorite toothbrush? Or maybe a favorite pillow you forgot to bring the first two times?”

Rebecca was teasing her, and Cass was here for it. Though it still hurt to hear Rebecca calling her Cass, seeing the playfulness in her eyes warmed Cass’s heart.

“You do have a favorite pillow,” Cass said with a grin. “But I’m kinda using it. Nah, actually, I was summoned today.”

Rebecca tilted her head in question. Before she could ask what Cass meant by that, Aunt Wills came bustling in.

“Cass? Is that you?”

Cass peered past Rebecca to a smartly dressed Aunt Wills. She hadn’t told Cass why she needed her here, but it didn’t matter. As soon as she got the text from Aunt Wills asking if she could come over, Cass dropped everything and hightailed it over.

“In the flesh.”

Rebecca’s eyes involuntarily tracked over Cass’s body. Nice flesh. “Ahem, what’s going on, Aunt Wills?”

Willamena rummaged through her bag, searching for her keys. “I have an emergency session with a client,” she said distractedly. “Ah! There they are!” Willamena held up her keys in triumph. “Anyway, I asked Cass if she could come over to…”

“To babysit me,” Rebecca finished with a sour look on her face.

“No, Little Miss Sassy Pants,” Willamena countered. She didn’t waver against Rebecca’s icy stare.

Cass snickered but immediately wiped the smile off her face when Rebecca glared at her. She couldn’t help it! Aunt Wills just called Rebecca Little Miss Sassy Pants. How in the hell was Cass supposed to just let that slide by as though she didn’t hear it?

“I asked Cass to come and keep you company.” Willamena raised a brow. “Rebecca Aisling Cuinn G…” She stopped abruptly. Willamena hadn’t told Rebecca that she and Cass were married yet. Was that going too far with the information? Perhaps that was a conversation for another time, not when she was rushing out the door. “You are only a few days out of surgery. You still have stitches, for goodness sake! I cannot leave you here by yourself. If something happened while I was gone, I’d never forgive myself. So, do an old woman a favor and just accept this. Please?”

Rebecca blew out a breath. “Fine. But I’m sure Cass has better things to do than be cooped up here with me.”

“Nope,” Cass shook her head. “I was just heading to the diner for lunch.” She pursed her lips. “Why, uh, don’t you come with me? It’s a beautiful day. We could get some food, take a walk — a short one,” she said quickly for Aunt Wills’s sake. “I won’t keep you out long, but at least you could get some fresh air.”

Rebecca thought about it for a moment. A venture out of the house with the most handsome woman she’d ever seen? That sounded like a win-win. “Could you give me ten minutes to get ready?”

“I’ll give you all the time you need, Becca.”

Rebecca’s breath caught in her throat. She was stunned for a good ten seconds, seeing the look in Cass’s eyes. “I-I just need ten minutes. I’ll be right back.”

She headed for the stairs, turning back once to catch Cass’s gaze on her. Amnesia or not, Rebecca couldn’t remember a time when she felt so… beautiful. Even in her oversized sweats, that’s how Cass made her feel.

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