Page 6 of The Liar I Married
SIX
Don’t trust anyone.
Who sent me a warning? Is Maria involved? If so, has she overheard someone talking? A phone call? Why does she care? Jerked from my thoughts as footsteps sound in the passageway, I expect to see Dolly, but two women come into the room, arms filled with flowers and chocolates. I look from one to the other. They obviously know me but I don’t recognize them. “Hello.”
“Oh, don’t tell me you don’t recognize us; it would be such a pain.” A woman about my age comes to the bed and places her gifts on the overbed table. “Have we aged terribly? It’s me, darling, Sarah, and you know Laura—don’t you?”
No, I don’t.I look from one to the other, searching my mind. I recall having girlfriends but these two didn’t fit the puzzle inside my head. I can’t be thinking straight, and nod like an automaton. They exchange satisfied smiles complete with raised eyebrows as if I’m too feeble-minded to notice. With fake tans and casual dress, they do look like the crowd I hang out with. The uniform is usually cargo pants and floaty tops with designer sandals. The thing is, I don’t know them, so what the heck do they want? Acting dumb seems the only way to find out because I have no idea what game they believe they’re playing—or whosent them. “It’s nice to see you again. I don’t have any news; being in a coma does that to a person. What’s been happening?”
“Oh well, we are on strict instructions not to speak about anything personal, like family or what happened to you.” Sarah pulls up a chair and sits beside the bed. “You need to find your own memories but I can talk about old times. Do you remember when we played tennis and I tripped over that hunk of a tennis pro?”
I didn’t but just nod and smile. That seems to make them happy.
“She did it on purpose. Remember the bet we had with her?” Laura frowns. “The first one to get his attention would make the others pay for lunch.”
“Yeah, and he took me to lunch.” Sarah chuckles. “I shouldn’t laugh because Rose Sawyer told her husband and it got straight back to Steve. I needed to dance my way out of that one.”
I look from one to the other, totally lost. These women are strangers and I have no idea what they’re saying. I guess I’ll make it up on the fly. “You didn’t plan on having an affair with the tennis coach, did you? I mean, they do have notches on their belts.”
“Why not?” Sarah grins. “We’re not all as lucky as you, to have married a gorgeous man, who never ages a second. Looking at you, I’m starting to believe he’s a vampire and has bitten you. Are you both eternally young? If so, bite me before it’s too late.”
Both women dissolve into laughter and I glare at Dolly as she enters the room. I hope she gets the message to throw the pair of loons out.
I look from one to the other. “If I was a vampire, maybe, but I don’t have a hankering for blood just yet. In fact, I’m still very weak. I get tired so fast and my mother-in-law is coming over soon.”
“The dragon lady?” Sarah wrinkles her nose. “She was at your house for a time. They packed all your things and gave them to Goodwill.”
Stunned, I just stare at her. John threw out all my stuff? Why didn’t he want to keep anything to remind him of me? Gathering my composure, I nod. “All my things? Well, that’s good, I’ll never fit into any of them now with my new sleek figure.”
“Yes, he emptied the house, so I’m told. I did ask John’s mother why he hadn’t kept anything to remember you by.” Sarah pats my hand. “She said he wanted to move on.”
Heart thundering, I breathe deep and let it out slowly through my nose. I don’t want them to know how much that’s hurt me. “Well, he didn’t, did he? My nurse tells me he comes by all the time and he was here yesterday and wants me better so I can go home. So someone is lying to cause trouble. Do you recall how long it was after the accident he got rid of my belongings?”
“I’m not sure.” Laura looks uncomfortable and fidgets on her chair like a young kid needing the bathroom. “Maybe two weeks. We dropped by when we saw the Goodwill truck outside your house. I mean you’d spent so long making your home like a magazine spread and I guess we were nosy. Your mother-in-law said you were brain-dead.” She rolled her eyes dramatically. “Obviously you’re not.” She turns over the book on the bedside table. “That cover reminds me of the play we did in high school. You remember that, don’t you, Jessie? I played Juliet and you stood in the wings whispering my lines.”
“Michael played Romeo.” Sarah giggles. “He looked mighty fine in those tights.”
No, I don’t remember. These people are strangers and I don’t recall being in a play with them or anyone else, and why would my brother be involved? Michael went to a different school—one for boys. My school was for girls, an exclusive private school. The chances that three students from the same school endedup living in the same gated community is very remote. What is going on here? Has my mind been damaged to such an extent I’m remembering a different reality? I shake my head. “That was a long time ago. I’ve a hard time recalling what I did yesterday.”
“That’s enough for today.” Dolly steps forward. “Mrs. Harper needs to rest now.”
“Okay.” Sarah pats me on the arm. They must think I’m somebody’s pet. “We’ll be back soon.”
Confused, I wait for them to leave and turn to Dolly, who is collecting the flowers. Would admitting I don’t recognize them make things worse? Should I keep my mouth shut for now? Indecision is plaguing me of late and I’m usually so decisive. I remind myself that, although Dolly seems like a friend, she’s under my doctor’s orders and reports everything to him. The visitors have confused me and I need an excuse not to see them again. “Please make appointments in the future, and inform me, so I can get my head straight before they arrive.” I wave a hand toward the door. “I don’t want to see them again. They’re too noisy and make my head ache.”
“I figured seeing your friends would trigger nice memories.” She gave me a long look as if trying to see the truth behind my shield. “But I can make a list for you to approve, if you prefer?”
Nodding, I push the chocolates away. “Thanks.”
I need to talk to someone about my memory but can I really trust Dolly? I chew on my lip, not able to make a decision, but there isn’t anyone else, and Dolly seems professional enough…maybe I can talk to her in confidence. Not getting back my memories might be significant and need treatment. I take a deep breath. Maybe if I bend the truth just a little. “You know, I hardly recognized them. I expect they’ve changed since I last saw them but things are still a bit fuzzy. Is that a problem?”
“No, that’s to be expected with head injuries.” She smiles at me. “Don’t worry, you’re doing great.”
I fall back into the pillows and the next moment Dolly returns with a cup of coffee and a slice of cherry pie. The aroma of freshly ground beans fills the room and mingles with the heady fragrance of the flowers. “Thank you.”
“I’ll ask Maria to bring some vases.” Dolly indicates toward the door. “I’m taking a short break. Just press the buzzer if you need me.”
I lie back, sipping the rich brew and running each year of school through my mind. Only significant memories remain, exam times and getting into trouble. Nowhere can I find any plays. I worked hard, enjoyed sports, and spent my spare time studying. There was a tennis coach at school, and I enjoyed playing the game. I still do and I’m good at it too and a member of the exclusive Grande Haven Tennis Club. I recall my other friends and their names but Sarah and Laura’s faces don’t fit into my memories anywhere. What if this is a permanent chunk of missing information? If so, what am I going to do?
