Chapter 2 – Memories

A few days had passed since the encounter. Patrick seemed to have no memory of what happened and life resumed as normal.

Patrick entered the house and headed towards Emma's room. It had been a really long day and he is really tired. As he moved closer, he could hear Liz reading a story and stood in the doorway watching them. He is so thankful for Liz reaching out to him and Emma since Robin's death and didn't know what he'd do without her. Suddenly a flash went off in his brain and he saw himself kissing Liz passionately. It was gone as quickly as it came, but he shook his head and backed out the doorway wondering what the hell was going on in his mind. Where had that visual come from? He retreated to the living room trying to process it all but no more thoughts came. Why is he dreaming of her? He barely heard her walk up to him.

"Emma is asking for you," she said smiling.

He stared at her mouth for a moment and then stood to go into Emma's room.

"Thanks for everything," he said walking by her.

Liz noted that he looked a little strange but just figured that he is tired. They were really busy today. Gathering her things, she left and went home.

A few minutes later, Anna knocked on the door hoping Patrick hadn't gone to bed yet.

"Anna?" he said wearily.

"Hi, I know that it's late, but I wanted to say something."

They had just had the anniversary of Robin's death and it had been hard on them. He wasn't sure that he could hear what she had to say, but he let her in.

"I know that sometimes I'm really hard on you." Patrick tried to interrupt but she stopped him. "Just let me finish. I know that you really loved my daughter and I see you and my heart breaks," she said, pausing to compose herself as Patrick grabbed her hand, "but for Emma's sake and yours, you've got to move on."

"Anna, do you know what you are asking me to do?"

"Yes. I'm asking you to live, Patrick. "

He shook his head as tears rolled down his face and then walked to the other side of the room."

"I just can't—I can't let her go," he cried out helplessly.

Anna went to him and held him as he lost it.

"I know it's hard, but you need to start looking forward to your future instead of staying stuck in your past."

They separated and Patrick wiped the tears from his eyes.

"I'm doing the best I can."

"I know you are." She patted him on the back. "Robin would not want you to be in the place you are now. Do you realize how your happiness affects Emma?"

Patrick sighed and sat on the couch, knowing that she is right, but it is so hard to let go.

"I'll think about it."

"Good, then my work is done here." She smiled through her tears and went to the door.

"Thank you, Anna."

"Anytime."

iIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI

The next morning, Patrick entered the locker room and saw Liz standing there. He suddenly remembered another scene from their tryst and he just stood there with his mouth open. Liz stopped talking, and after realizing that he remembers, she is horrified and ran out. Patrick turned and ran after her and caught her in the hallway.

"Wait," he said before pulling her into a vacant room. "We need to talk."

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she struggles to figure out what she is going to say to him.

"Is it true?" He searched her teary eyes.

She couldn't even speak and just nodded.

"Oh my God," he said putting his hands through his hair and spinning around. His eyes are filling with tears as he remembers how she looked that next day. "Did I hurt you?"

She realizes what he means and starts to sputter. "No—oh, my God—no."

He sighed with relief trying to process it all. "Why did you—"

"—go along with it?" she said wiping her tears away. "Because I'm in love with you."

She hadn't meant to blurt that out and as soon as the words fell from her lips, she realized she couldn't take it back. Overwhelmed, she ran out of the room, but this time, Patrick is frozen in place. Part of him is horrified that he had made a move on his best friend and the other can't stop thinking about how bad she must have felt for the last week. He needed to get out of there and told Epiphany he was going home sick, but instead, he went to The Floating Rib.