Page 36 of Remember Me

“And definitely no climbing,” she said, following my gaze.

Sheepishly I sidestepped the stool. “Maggie, I’m fine, really. Being pregnant is not some debilitating illness —”

“I don’t want to hear it. Do you know how awful I would feel if you were to lose your balance and fall?” Maggie grabbed the box herself, setting it down on the floor.

“I’m not going to fall. Besides, you hired someone to help you...not the other way around.”

“Psh. You are a huge help.”

I had confessed my pregnancy to Maggie the first day I went into work. I’d been terrified she would change her mind, but she had merely arched a brow and said, “bet that was a surprise.”

“To say the least.”

She hadn’t replied for a moment, then had cautiously asked, “Do you remember the father?”

“No,” I had returned. “I mean, we know it’s the man I was dating before the accident. But I don’t remember him, you know?” My forehead creased as I thought about it. “And I want to. He seems legitimately good, and kind, he has a good job, and —”

“Good looking? Does he do it for you?”

I had laughed. “He’s a ten. And yes, he totally does it for me. But... what if I never remember him, and me, the way we used to be? If I never love him the way I did? What if there’s someone out there who’s better for the me I am now, rather than previous me, or...?” I didn’t finish the thought, but it was plain. What if Hayes never loved the new me the way he had once loved Birdie Grant? What if I fell in love with him — all over again — and he decided we were better off apart?

Maggie’s eyes were sad. “That’s a fear we all have, sweetie. Whether we’re suffering from amnesia or not. Maybe you choose not to worry about that so much. Just focus on the here and now.”

Now, as Maggie left and I sat down on the floor by the box, I couldn’t help worrying over it. We were a good three weeks past the date of the accident, and while I felt like I knew more, I didn’t remember more. It was frustrating.

With a shake of my head, I pushed the thoughts away and settled in to my work. A couple of hours later, the storeroom looked amazing — clean, organized, and with room to move in the once cramped space. As I stood with hands on hips to take it in, my cell buzzed with an incoming call.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Are you okay to chat for a minute, Birdie?”

I peeked into the storefront. It was empty of customers, and when she saw me on the phone Maggie winked. “Of course. What’s up?”

“I needed to talk to you about something, but it feels like old times. I never see you.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m just trying to figure out who I am.”

“No need to apologize. I understand. I just needed to catch you before too much time had passed.”

“What’s going on?”

“First, this is going to seem sudden and it may feel insensitive. I want you to know that you knew about this before the accident.” Her voice was defensive, and my fingers tensed in reflex on where they held the phone.

“Mom…?”

“The restaurant is closing.”

“Oh, no! You were laid off?”

When she spoke again Mom’s voice was grim. “Yes. I’m sorry. I know you needed my insurance.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll figure something out.”

“There’s more, though.” I steeled myself. “Since finding out that the restaurant was closing, I’ve been working with a realtor to sell the house, Birdie. He called this morning with an offer.”

“Mom, no!” I spoke more sharply than I’d intended. “You can’t! Can’t you wait until you get another job —”

“I accepted another job at the beginning of November. With your uncle, in Georgia.”

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