Page 14 of Ghosts From Christmas Past

Her wide eyes held his as she digested this. “That makes sense. I felt a connection to you from the second you walked into the room.”

He smiled at her sincerity. “That’s the way it always was with us. We just clicked from the moment we met.”

She returned his smile. “In daycare.”

“Yes, in daycare.” Looking at her now, he was reminded again of how much he loved her still. She was waiting for him to tell her more, yet it was hard. It was the worst time in his life. He couldn’t imagine what it would feel like for her. Dylan cleared his throat. “Anyway, I arrived at your house around eight that morning.” He remembered that feeling of anticipation still. He couldn’t wait to see her again. Though it was the day they were going to tell Charlie’s parents they were married, he’d been young enough to think everything would work out. But he would never know what Charlie’s parents would say.

“I rang the doorbell, but there was no answer. It was then that I noticed the front door was cracked a little.” He gathered a breath and continued, “I pushed it open and found your dad first near the staircase. He’d been stabbed multiple times.” He’d never forget the horror that ran through him at the sight of her father covered in blood.

Dylan swallowed several times. “I checked for a pulse, but he was gone. I moved into the living room. Your mother was just inside.” He looked at Charlie. Her eyes were glued to his, tears hovering. “She was gone, too.” And then he’d found his Charlie. “You were near the Christmas tree. When I saw you, I almost lost it. I ran to your side, so certain I would find you were dead as well.” His voice broke. All the emotions were there again. Like reliving the worst day of his life.

“But you weren’t. There was the faint pulse. I called 9-1-1. The EMTs arrived. They had to shock you multiple times to get you stabilized enough to transport you to the hospital. I wanted to go with you, but the sheriff needed to ask me questions. As soon as I could, I went to the hospital.”

He stopped long enough to collect himself. “For the longest time, they weren’t sure you would live. Then, your vitals improved and physically you grew stronger, but you never woke up.” He focused on her again. “Until now.”

She managed a smile and sank down on the bed. “I’m glad I’m awake, and I hope Dr. Montgomery is correct, and my memories return soon. I want to help bring my parents’ killer to justice.”

He prayed the memories would return quickly so that Charlie could start to rebuild her life, because without any DNA or fingerprints, and no sign of a break in, their chances of solving the case without her help was slim.

“It was as if the killer just appeared in the house and destroyed so many lives, then disappeared in the same fashion,” Dylan said. “Sheriff Lewis told me there had been nothing taken from the house. He was convinced the murders were an act of passion.”

Her brows knitted together and he explained.

“He believed your parents’ murders and your attempted murder was triggered by passion. Though he was convinced it was the act of a drifter, he thought something set the killer off into a fit of rage and he killed your parents. He probably thought he’d killed you as well.”

She stared past him as if trying to recall details of that day before shaking her head, frustration in her eyes.

For eight years he’d tried to recall anything that Charlie might have said that would lead to identifying the killer, but nothing came to mind.

Tears filled her eyes. “I don’t even remember my parents, Dylan. How messed up is that?”

He sat beside her and gathered her close. “Yet. You don’t remember them yet, but you will. The memories will come.” He rested his chin on the top of her head. A protective instinct roared inside of him that wouldn’t let go. This was his wife. He loved her. No matter what their future held, he would be by her side until everything—all the truths behind that Christmas long ago—were exposed.

Chapter Four

Since she’d laid eyes on Dylan for the first time, there’d been a connection she couldn’t explain. Though she didn’t recognize him, Charlieknewhim. Now she understood why. She and Dylan had been close for many years. He was a good memory from her past she so desperately wanted to remember.

He leaned over and kissed her cheek before letting her go. But he didn’t move away, and for that she was grateful.

“It will all work out, Charlie, I promise. Now that you are awake, I believe in my heart we will catch this person. It’s only a matter of time. But until we do, I’m going to have someone standing guard outside your room until we catch this guy.”

“You think he’ll come after me again?” The thought was terrifying.

Dylan didn’t mince words. “I don’t know for certain, but if he’s still around the area, he’ll find out you’re awake, and he’ll know at some point your memory will return. He has everything to lose. We can’t take any chances.”

The warning washed over her with terrifying effects. Someone she couldn’t remember wanted her dead because of something she couldn’t recall. And the only way to bring him to justice was by remembering the worst possible day of her life.

“Jesse will be standing watch from time to time along with Deputy Sam Crenshaw. They are both good friends, and I trust them. Completely. I’ve asked the local police chief to help out as well. Dr. Montgomery has agreed to keep the facility on lockdown until further notice. No one will be allowed inside building without us knowing about it.”

Dylan was taking every possible precaution to protect her, but the thought of someone waiting all these years for her to wake up, hoping she wouldn’t remember, terrified her.

“What can I do to help?” she asked because she wasn’t about to be a victim again.

An approving look passed over his face. “Let us do our job, and you rest. Try to get those memories back as quick as you can.” He rose to his feet. “Hang tight. I’ll be right back.”

Charlie watched him leave with a growing bad feeling. It felt as if they—she—was in a race to uncover the truth before the killer struck again.

Dylan returned carrying a folder. He grabbed the chair near her bed. A sense of dread crept into the pit of her stomach. “What’s that?”

---