Page 21 of Amnesty

“But will it change anything?”

It felt like it would, but in actuality? “Probably not.” Then I changed my mind. “Unless Eddie still wants to search for answers about his long-lost love.”

“I’ve been your doctor for many months now. I do my best to always stay objective and professional.”

“Yes.” I nearly groaned. “I know.”

She sat forward. The light of the computer shifted behind her, changing the garish appearance into one more human. Softer. “But I am going to share something with you, an opinion, if you will.”

“This is better than reality TV,” I said, leaning forward.

She smiled. A genuine smile that lit up her eyes. “We really should talk about your reality TV addiction.”

“I’m waiting.” I reminded her.

“I have cautioned you about your relationship with Eddie.”

“We haven’t listened,” I told her, flat. If she was about to give me her opinion of my relationship with him, I wasn’t interested.

“I’m well aware,” she mused. “However, I see the way he looks at you. I read body language and people for a living. He’s in love with you, and I truly believe it won’t matter to him if you’re Sadie or not.”

I sat back. The weight of her words anchored me in the chair. It felt good to hear her say that. It gave me some relief.

“Eddie was stuck for many years, wondering what-if. Thinking his chance at love was taken from him. Then you came along, and regardless of who you are, you showed him love was possible. In many ways, you gave him back his life.”

I nodded. He’d pretty much told me the same.

“I still think you are entirely too dependent on each other,” Dr. Kline said, slipping right back into shmucky doctor mode. I guessed that meant our “personal” moment was over.

“I still want to know.” I admitted. “Maybe not because of Eddie… because of me.” Because of Sadie. For Sadie.

“I just don’t feel I’ll ever really be able to move on until I know if I’m her… until I know what truly happened to me.”

Dr. Kline was quiet a few moments. “I think I may have a way to find out.” She moved forward, lifted the black receiver off the base on her desk, and punched in a phone number. A few seconds later, she spoke into it. “This is Dr. Kline. Could I speak to Don, please?”

Who the hell was Don?

“Don,” she said warmly after what felt like an eternity of waiting. “How have you been?”

She chuckled at whatever he said, then cleared her throat. “I’m calling on behalf of a patient of mine. Amnesia. She—” Her voice cut off, and her eyes lifted to where I sat. “Yes. Yes, that’s her.”

“I was wondering if you still had records from twelve years ago?

“Ah, wonderful. Could I send her over, get your professional opinion after an exam? We’d like to get a definitive answer, as you can imagine it’s been a difficult time.”

My heart was beating hard, thudding against my chest so forcefully it made me short of breath. There was a way to find out if I was Sadie? Like for real? Why had no one said anything?

I could find out. Today.Nerves crackled beneath my skin and vibrated my tummy.

“Ah, I see. Yes, that’s understandable,” the doctor replied. “How long?”

Some of my excitement deflated. What was she saying? I wanted to jump up, snatch the phone from her hand, and demand answers from someone named Don.

“Okay, yes, that would be great. I’ll be expecting your call.” After a few more moments, she said her good-byes and hung up the phone.

“What’s going on?” I demanded.

“That was Dr. Don Shaw, the local dentist here in Lake Lochlain.”