Page 54 of Diagnosis Attraction

“Then we’ll start there.”

They drove to a neighborhood of typical Baltimore row houses, some with brick fronts and some faced with a man-made material that was supposed to resemble stone but lookedmore like something from a kid’s construction set. Elizabeth had always wondered why anyone would want to put that stuff on a home.

“You know which house?” he asked.

No. But I think I’ll recognize it when I see it.”

He drove up and down several blocks, and she scanned the facades, looking for some kind of clue.

Finally, she saw a house with a planter full of geraniums beside the marble steps.

“That’s it!”

Matt found a parking space around the corner, and they walked back, then climbed the steps.

Elizabeth rang the bell, then waited with her heart pounding because she didn’t know what the woman inside looked like, but she was pretty sure she’d recognize her when she saw her.

The door opened, and Wendy stood on the other side of the storm door, an expression on her face that was a mixture of astonishment and anger.

“You said you’d come back days ago,” she accused. “Where have you been? We’ve been waiting and worrying. I called social services, and they said you had … disappeared.”

Elizabeth swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. Can we come in?”

Wendy looked like she was about to refuse.

Matt pressed his shoulder to Elizabeth’s, and she suddenly knew that he was going to use the technique they’d discussed. Don’t turn Elizabeth away. She had a good reason for not coming.

Elizabeth fought to keep her gaze on Wendy. They’d only speculated about trying this, and Matt’s doing it now had taken her completely by surprise. But had it worked? Especially since she hadn’t even thought about giving him extra power.

“Is there a good reason why you didn’t come back?” Wendy asked.

“She was in the hospital. I’m her doctor.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Wendy said. “You’d better come in.”

They both stepped directly into a small living room with a bay window that looked onto the street. The room was cluttered with toys. When Wendy knelt to sweep some blocks into a pile, Elizabeth knelt to help her, remembering the little girl who was so lucky to be living here.

“How’s Olivia?” she asked.

“She’s doing great. She’s already in bed.”

Elizabeth picked up a floppy stuffed rabbit from the sofa and stroked it.

“I remember this room,” she said.

“What do you mean?” Wendy asked.

“I had amnesia. That’s why I didn’t come back. Matt—Dr. Delano is helping me recover my memories.”

“Oh, you poor thing,” Wendy said. “Where are my manners? Please sit down.”

Elizabeth and Matt sat together on the couch. Wendy looked at Matt, then Elizabeth, then back again. “You look more like her lover than her doctor.”

Elizabeth flushed at the directness of the statement.

“We’ve gotten to know each other pretty well,” Matt said. “Elizabeth was on the way here to your meeting when she was in an automobile accident.”

“I didn’t know.”

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