The memory of the heart:
The Forgotten Lover
Chapter 2
"The proposal"
Terry was on scene with his partner. He was eager for the play to be over. Once the curtain was down, he ran to change to go back to the hospital. His colleague arrived.
- Terry, are you ready?
- I'm sorry Susanna, I can't tonight…
- Why?
- Because I have to get to the hospital…
- Are you sick?
- No, but one of my girlfriends had an accident…
- Ah…, she said sadly.
They would have diner every night, she had saved his life and he was grateful to her. But he just could take their relationship to the next level, and become more than a friend for her. But he had diner with her, and he was hoping it would end up differently. She had gone back on stage and she had regained confidence in herself and she was hoping to please Terry more. But it wasn't working… Terry was not interested… he was polite and nice to her, that was all. She even tried to make him drink but that wouldn't work either. He wouldn't fall of it and would rather drink water or something without alcohol.
Terry was done changing.
- Can I come with you, since I have nothing to do? We could grab a bite later…
- No, I would rather go alone… she has lost her memory, so I'd rather be alone with her.
- Oh, ok then…
- I owe you one Susanna, said Terry getting out.
She followed him and he closed his dressing room. He got out of the theatre and when to get his car to get to the hospital. He arrived on the floor and went to Dr. Miller's office.
- Good evening, Mr. Grandchester…
- Good evening doctor. Do you think she's going to recognize me?
- It's possible, but if it's not the case, don't be surprised.
- Aside from her amnesia, she's normal?
- Yes, her intellectual capacity is intact; it's her memory that is destroyed…
- If she doesn't recognize me, who am I going to be?
Dr. Miller seemed to be hesitating.
- How long ago were you involved with her?
- Am I that obvious?
- When I told you about her pregnancy, you looked crushed…
- We broke up three months ago… I wanted to marry her, but she refused, she thought I had a duty to fulfill… towards a colleague of mine who had saved my life…
- Now, she's the one who is going to need you…do you have a commitment with your colleague?
- No, I can't, I don't love her…
- Here is a chance for you to get back together with the woman you love…
- She's pregnant by another man…
- Nobody has filed for a missing person report and nobody else came to tell us they knew her aside from you… you have the free rein to charm her again and seduce her…
- She might not have come for me…
- You know her right?
- Yes…
- Does she know anybody else in New York, aside from you?
- Not that I know of… but she didn't come to see me…if she doesn't reconise me, who are we going to say I am? He asked again.
- You said it… a friend.
He gave her the file.
- It's documentation on amnesia. It's not a normal disease, some even doubt of its existence…
- And you, do you think Candy is faking?
- No, she really has lost her memory. But there is no standard treatment for amnesia. Only God knows how to treat her. If you want to follow my suggestions…
- All right… I'm listening.
- If she doesn't recognize you, I would advise you to say less things as possible. Her amnesia is probably temporary, I'm almost certain. If you say too much, and she doesn't want to hear what you're saying, she could regress and lose her memory for good. If we know what she's blocking, we could avoid talking about it, but since we don't know…
- Can I at least tell her that I know her?
- Yes, of course, tell her you're old friends…
- We went to school together…
- Good, but don't talk about your recent break up… She has to remember on her own…
- All right. When will she be able to leave the hospital?
- I would've let her go as soon as tomorrow, if she had a place to go… Physically, she is in perfect health and she doesn't need to stay there.
- She could come and stay with me…
- Very well. Are you ready to go see her?
Terry hesitated again.
- Is there a possibility for her to be 3 months pregnant?
- We can't exclude anything, but according to the size of the fetus… It could be fetal hypotrophia, but I wouldn't have much hope if I were you…
- You mean that there's a possibility for her to be three months pregnant and that the baby is small?
- Yes, but if you want my humble opinion…
He had to face the facts…
- Between us, she's eight weeks pregnant.., said the doctor.
- All right Doctor, said Terry sick to his stomach.
He walked towards Candy's room. He was going to see her again, after three months of hell, ever since he came back, he had missed her so much, he was finally going to see her again. They arrived in front of the door.
- Candice, you have a visitor, said Doctor Miller, this is Terrence Grandchester, one of your old friend…
Candy was sitting on the bed. "An old family friend?" She didn't recognize him. She got a little scared.
- Good evening Candy, said the stranger smiling.
- Good evening, said Candy trying to smile.
- Candice…, started the doctor.
- Everything is going to be fine, Candy, said Terry interrupting the doctor.
Candy looked at him. Those words coming from his mouth, sounded so true… she calmed down. He was so handsome! She like his long hair but his face wasn't telling her anything at all.
- I…I don't know you, she said.
She saw he was discouraged, but not for long.
- It's ok, I was expecting it…
- You're an old friend… do I have any family?
- You're an orphan, said Terry.
Which was not exactly a lie, it was half a truth… she has been adopted by the rich Andrew family… and she was probably pregnant by her roommate, Albert!
- Oh, I don't have a family?
- You considered the ladies from the orphanage where you grew up your family… I can contact them if you want…
- No… I wouldn't know what to tell them, I'm going to have a baby and I'm not married or even engaged… she said ashamed.
She looked at him. An old friend? Old how? Maybe he was the father of her baby, that was probably why he came…
- Since you're an old friend, did we sleep together two months ago? She asked pointblank.
She had to ask the question. She blushed a little. She had to know!
Terry looked at her, he loved her candor! He wanted so much to answer "yes" to her question! But he couldn't lie to her, not on something that important.
- No, he said a little sadly, It's been three months, since I've seen you. And I didn't know you were here in New York until I saw your picture in the news.
Candy looked embarrassed. That meant she slept with another man. Why did she feel so dirty all of a sudden?
- Don't worry Candice, your memory will come back and you'll know who your baby's father is…, said Doctor Miller.
- Why do I feel like those stupid blondes in those jokes…? Said Candy.
- You're not stupid, Freckles, said Terry softly, you've lost your memory, that's all…
- "Freckles"? Because I have them on my face?
- I like them, said Terry smiling.
- I bet you wished you had some…
- I would've collect them like you! Said Terry laughing.
He remembered their first meeting… and it seemed like she was remembering it too, without remembering…
- Do you know who the father of my baby is?
- No, said Terry and if I did, I wouldn't tell you…
- Why not?
- Because, said Doctor Miller intervening, it's better that way. Amnesia is a mystery. Some doctors would tell you that it's better to know, but I will tell you that it's better if your memory comes back on its own.
- How long is that going to take? Asked Candy a little impatiently.
- It will depend on you, Candice, said the doctor.
- What if I want to know everything?
- Then we would tell you, said Terry, but maybe your brain is not ready to learn what you forgot…
- And, added Doctor Miller, if we tell you everything, and you get your memory back, you're going to wonder if it's your memory or what we told you… And on top of that, nobody will be able to tell you what you did the past two months…
- Two months?
- You're from Chicago, said Terry.
- Chicago? I'm not from here?
- No…
- What am I doing here?
- That's the million dollar question, said the doctor.
- I didn't come to see you? She asked Terry
- No…, he replied
- So nobody knows what I'm doing here? You think that my amnesia is linked to something that happened two months ago? Do you think I've been raped?
- No, you have a few bruises from the accident, that's all. You have a confident attitude, that shows you were not traumatized by a rape…
- Thank God, said Candy relieved.
She looked at the doctor.
- Ok, what's going to happen now?
- I'm going to leave you with Mr. Grandchester, said Doctor Miller getting out of the room.
Candy and Terry looked at each other. He was litteraly eating her with his eyes.
- So we're old friend, you said…?
- Yes…
- Are you sure?
What can he answer to that? That he wanted to jump on her?
- Sure and certain, said Terry smiling.
She felt like he was joking.
- And we haven't slept together two months ago?
- I think I would remember, you're the one who's lost her memory…
She felt like he was regretting and so did she!
- Ok, if I'm here, it's to propose something to you…
- Yes…?
- Do you want to come and live with me?
- With you?
- Yes… You don't know where to go, while we look for your apartment, you can live with me, I have a guest room.
- You don't have a girlfriend?
- No…, he said hesitating.
- Are you sure? You don't seem really convinced…
- I don't have a girlfriend…
- Nobody is going to come and pull my eyes out if I come and live with you?
- Nobody, I promise you. I live in a big apartment… at Chelsea…
He was telling her that, but he saw that it didn't matter, because she didn't remember anything…
- Ok…
- It's not far from Broadway, it's easier for my work…
- Your work?
- I'm an actor?
- At Broadway? Cool! Are you famous?
- More or less… well, enough to have to disguise myself if I want peace…
- Can I have an autographed picture?
He looked at her smiling.
- We'll see, if you're nice…
- I hope you'll be nice.., she said.
- You have nothing to fear from me…
- What a pity! She said in a mischievous tone.
He looked at her. She was flirting with him!
Candy was wondering what was happening to her. She couldn't resist him. How is she going to be able to live with him? But she had no choice, she had no where to go…
- You could stay as long as you want, added Terry like he had read her mind, you and the baby are welcome…
- Thank you, she said approaching him.
He hugged her. He was happy, he managed to forget for a moment that the baby was someone else's…
"I love you, Freckles, with all my heart…" He said to himself.
