Page 46 of Mistaken Intention

“It’s hard.” I hate having to keep Maisie from him, but I can’t say that out loud. “What are you doing about Maisie? Will she be at the house in Newport?”

“Yes. Livia says all her things have been moved over to the main house now, so Drew isn’t gonna walk into one of the bedrooms at the cottage and wonder why there’s a crib in there, or anything like that. Of course, I guess there’s a chance that he’ll see her in the grounds, but there’s nothing I can do about that. We can’t keep her locked up in the main house until Drew gets better.”

No, they can’t. It wouldn’t be fair… but then, none of this is fair. “Is your wife looking after her?”

“She is. Along with our housekeeper, Pat, and my sister, although she’s got a newborn of her own, who Drew’s never even met, so…” He pauses for a moment, swallowing hard.“Maisie’s not short of people who care for her, but she needs her father. And I think he needs her, too.”

I can’t disagree with that. “Try not to worry. He’ll get there.”

I turn to leave, but he calls me back. “I meant to ask on the night of the accident, was Lexi’s sister notified of her death?”

I suck in a breath, feeling the blush creep up my cheeks. “Yes, she was.”

“Good.” He smiles, a very slight twinkle in his eyes.

“What’s so amusing?”

“Oh… it doesn’t matter. I just hope Drew’s memory comes back soon, and that when it does, he remembers her.”

“Who? Lexi?”

“No, her sister.” I have no idea what that means, and I can hardly ask… not without giving myself away. He looks down, his eyes fixed on mine. “Tell me… am I being selfish?”

“Selfish? No. You’re doing what’s best for your brother.”

“Even if part of the reason I’m doing it is that my wife is in Newport, and I’m here… and I miss her.”

I smile. “We all do selfish things from time to time, but that doesn’t make them wrong.”

I’m thinking of myself as much as him. I’ve chosen not to reveal my identity to Drew or his family. If anyone were to ask why, I’d give them the same reason I gave to Orla… I want to help Drew and Maisie. That’s not a lie. It’s exactly how I feel.

But it’s not the whole truth, because I’m also doing it for myself.

Because I love him too much to leave him… or to be left behind.

***

Drew

I’ve been wandering from room to room for the last twenty minutes, and I can’t take it in. How can this house be mine, and yet I can’t remember it? How can I have a brother, who I don’t even recognize? It doesn’t make sense. Although I’ll admit we look vaguely similar… I guess. He showed us around the house before he left, telling Josie where things were, probably because he knew there was no point in explaining any of it to me… not when I was unlikely to remember.

The one piece of solid information I’ve gained today is that my name is Drew. Drew Bennett. Hunter let that slip at the hospital, even though Josie has scrupulously avoided calling me anything for the last few days. He didn’t call me ‘Bennett’, but that’s what the doctor called him, and I assumed my last name must be the same as his, and put that together for myself.

I suppose I ought to feel grateful for small mercies. At least I’ve learned something… even if it doesn’t seem to have got me anywhere.

Before we came here, Hunter took us to Josie’s apartment so she could pack some things. She lives in a pretty little condo, and to enter it, you climb up some steps on the outside of the building. Initially, Hunter had suggested we’d wait outside for her, but I didn’t want to. I felt nervous being alone with him, and I think Josie sensed that, solving the problem by inviting us in. Of course, I hadn’t anticipated that I’d find the steps such a challenge, but it was the first time I’d tackled any since the accident and by the time we reached the top, I was feeling a little light-headed. Josie must have noticed, and she helped me along the balcony to her front door, opening it, and letting me inside, where she sat me down on her pale gray couch.

“Are you okay?” she asked, kneeling in front of me.

“Yeah. I’m just being pathetic… again.”

She smiled. “You’re not pathetic. Far from it. I should have realized the stairs would be difficult for you,” she said and I shook my head, but didn’t say a word, still feeling weak, and she gave me a smile and got to her feet. “I’ll be as quick as I can.” She went into an adjoining room, leaving me alone with the man who claimed to be my brother.

While she was gone, to avoid having to make conversation, I studied her bookcases, noting there wasn’t a single photograph anywhere in her living room. I don’t know why, but that felt odd to me. Hunter stared out the window, neither of us speaking… but I’m not sure what we’d have said. He’s not supposed to tell me anything, and I don’t know who he is.

Awkward didn’t even begin to cover it.

Fortunately, Josie didn’t take long at all, and within twenty minutes, we were on our way again. She held my hand as we went down the steps, Hunter carrying her bag and going ahead of us, and when we got to the car, she made sure I was sitting safely in my seat before climbing in beside me.

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