Page 19 of Giorgio

“What are you saying?” Giorgio was getting impatient with what he considered to be the man’s delay tactics.

“I am saying that this will be quite an adjustment for her.”

“I am only adhering to her wishes. She wants out of this place. I will be there. She is familiar with me, seeing me somehow calms her down. I promised her brother that I will take care of her.”

“For how long?”

“As long as it takes!” He snapped, dark eyes glittering dangerously. “You are overstepping yourself.”

“Giorgio…”

Eduardo held up a hand to stop Alfredo’s comment. “I apologize. I just want you to know that I am looking out for my patient.”

“And I want you to know that I am responsible for her becoming a patient.” He was reminded grimly. “I feel responsible for her and whatever she needs, I am going to make sure she has it. Please arrange to have a nurse monitor her while she is at the house. Plus make the necessary arrangements for her to have therapy.

But not until she is ready.” Dragging a hand over his face, he turned to leave the room. “I am going to give her the news that she will be leaving today.”

The two men watched as he left the room and closed the door.

“He is feeling guilty.” Alfredo was not making excuses for his son, but the doctor was a friend and deserved an explanation.

“I am aware.” Shoving his hands into the pockets of his lab coat, Eduardo walked over to the window to stare at the leaves blowing in the wind. “He is assuming all of the responsibilities, and I am afraid the young woman has formed an unnatural attachment to him.”

It was as Alfedo feared. “What do you make of it?”

The doctor turned to look at his friend. “Giorgio is a man of immense good looks, so it is normal for women to gravitate to him. There is also the fact that this young woman has lost her memory, and he is the only familiar person in her limited scope.

He represents some sort of normal for her, and she has no idea who he is. To her, he is just the man who has been there for her. Let’s hope it stops there. I would hate to see her go a step further and depend on him completely.”

Alfredo joined him at the window, a frown on his brow. “You are saying that the longer her memory keeps from coming back, the more danger it represents?”

“Something like that. To her, he is her entire life. We have to hope that the memory loss is only temporary.”

“I have never seen him this committed about anything.”

“He feels guilty. It was his recklessness that caused the accident and put her in this position. I understand you found the villa where she was staying?”

Alfredo nodded. “Dario is very good at his job and very discreet. He sent someone nosing around and collected her things.

A suite, one which my son has picked out himself, one that is of close proximity to his accommodations has been prepared for her. He even ordered flowers and requested that a bowl of fresh fruit be put in the sitting room for her.” He glanced at his friend.

“He has not been out of the house, except for that charity event where he left before it ended because she was asking for him. His entire time is spent here at the clinic. I am afraid he is showering this young woman with too much attention and as you indicated, she might be taking it the wrong way.”

Both men stared out the window in silence, each involved with his own thoughts.

“I hope I am not speaking out of turn.”

Alfredo turned to look at his friend. “Never!”

“This might just be what is needed for Giorgio. He is usually accustomed to being catered to. You have been lamenting the fact that he does not have a responsible bone in his body. During this entire incident, I have noticed how attentive he is and committed to the care of the young woman.”

“I have noticed that as well.” There was a thoughtful look on Alfredo’s face. “He stands up for her and is very protective.” Running a hand at the back of his neck, he stared out the window. “This might be a turning point in his life.”

Chapter 5

She was fast asleep within minutes of being gently guided into the passenger seat of the sensible four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle he had chosen to transport her home from the clinic.

Giorgio figured that it was a left over from the drugs still in her system. He was vastly relieved that she was alive and well and was praying fervently that her memory would return very soon, so that she could be fully healed. During the week’s stay at the clinic, he had seen little of her body except her throat and face.

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