Page 132 of Love & Other Disasters

Samantha stood. “Come on guys, let’s dance.”

The crowd descended on the dance floor.

“Shall we?” J.P. asked.

Violet couldn’t remember the last time she danced. She swallowed the last bit of her wine and nodded. Neither J.P. or Aiden could actually dance, but what they lacked in talent, they made up for in enthusiasm. Which helped her cut loose and forget, and soon she was dancing and smiling.

At the countdown to midnight they rang in the New Year with a champagne toast and a kiss.

“I want to kiss you every New Year from now on,” J.P. said.

“I’d like that.”

They danced until her feet hurt. Her favorite part was when he danced up close, his arms around her. While waiting for the elevator at two A.M., Violet flashed back to the night they met. In similar parallels, they were both intoxicated and in a sexy mood, but this time, his touch familiar, but no less exciting. Inside the elevator, she pulled him in for a kiss, and he pressed her against the wall, his hand sliding under her skirt.

“I love you,” she whispered, his touch sending shivers over her, and the need for him building.

J.P. would never have a better New Year’s Eve; of that he was certain. He’d only had four hours of sleep, but he was always up early. The night before may have been a wonderful distraction, but back to reality, as he pulled into the parking lot of the rehab facility to visit his mom.

“You sure you feel like coming in?” he asked Violet.

“Yes. I’m fine.”

Violet was green, suffering a hangover. Now that he knew her better than anyone, it amazed him that she’d successfully snuck out of his room after that first night. She didn’t drink a lot or hold it well when she did.

“I should take you home first.”

“No. Let’s visit your mother.”

Since there was no use arguing with her, he walked around and helped her out of the car. Inside the memory care unit, everything was moving about like every other day. His mom was asleep when he entered the room and bent to kiss her forehead.

Evelyn’s eyes opened and she stared at him, uncomprehending.

“Hi Ma. Sorry to wake you. We won’t stay long.”

She didn’t move.

“I brought Violet. She’ll be going back to Nashville soon and wanted to see you again.”

“Why are you in my house?” she grasped the blankets, pulling them tight under her chin.

“Mom, it’s me, J.P.”

“You are not. My ten-year-old son is asleep in his bed.”

“I’m not ten anymore. Don’t you recognize me?” He leaned closer.

Violet pulled his elbow, he straightened, and followed her to the hallway.

“What?”

“In her mind, her son is ten years old. And you’re a six foot, grown man towering over her and waking her up. You’re scaring her.”

The world whirled around, he rubbed a hand over the scruff on his jaw, and saw the situation as Violet pointed out. But, his mom had always recognized him, even as memories of what happened the day before faded. He’d read that Alzheimer’s patients slowly lost the ability to remember, and short-term memory goes first. But she’d looked at him like he was a total stranger. No amount of reading could have prepared him for that.

Violet wrapped her arms around him, and he gripped her like a lifeline and buried his face in the crook of her neck. The vanilla scent of the hotel soap on her skin distracting him with happier memories for a moment. Her hand ran through his hair and rubbed soothing circles over his back like he was a child.

“Evelyn didn’t recognize him,” Violet said. “She thinks her son is still ten.”

---