CHAPTER 3: THE ROBBERY
They arrived at the hospital in no time – CC drives as a mad woman, when she wants, and that was exactly the case. Maxwell was pale as a ghost, when she finally parked.
They retold the story while in the car: Niles was at the grocery store when some guys entered and announced the robbery. An old woman started crying and, as the Police was told, Niles tried to calm her down. The crying, the movement and probably the noble air about the British blue-eyed man probably rub one of the guys the wrong way, and Niles got hit in the head with the gun-stock. When they saw the quantity of blood and the loud cries of the hostages, the robbers run away.
'We're here for a Niles', CC demanded at the emergency desk.
'He had a blow on his head. He was hit by a robber', Fran complemented.
The attendant gave them the number of the room, and soon they had found the correct door. Fortunately, a doctor was exiting the room at that precise moment.
'Are you here for Mr Brightmore?', he asked once he noticed the three distressed faces from the people who simply blocked his way wide-eyed and silent.
'Yes!', Maxwell and CC answered. Fran just added, 'I'm with them', a bit shocked by the situation they were and the surname finally said out loud.
'How is he, Doctor'? Maxwell asked.
'He is sleeping, now. He had a mild head trauma, and needs some rest and medication, but will be ok in no time.'
The three smiled at one another – it was great news!
'Of course, you'll have to be very patient, because he has some issues to deal with, right now'.
'Issues?', CC eyed the doctor warily. Why was it that doctors always had some dramatic info they let to be said as an afterthought?
'It's very common for patients with this kind of trauma to have lapses of memory. Some forget about the incident that got them hurt, some have total memory loss, and some have partial…'
'Niles has a memory loss?', Fran made that O mouth, and put her hands on her cheeks.
'What kind of?', CC demanded.
'Partial. It seems he remembers all of his childhood and teenage years. He even remembers coming to the United States to work as a butler to his friend, Maxwell Sheffield. He remembers Sarah, your wife, and that you are beginning a life as a producer, and looking for an assistant. More than this, he could not tell me, even if he tried hard. I supposed I'm correct in assuming that it is everything correct, and that there is a big blank space of more or less a decade?'.
'In fact, if he remembers me looking for an assistant, it is almost fifteen years, Doctor', Maxwell clarified.
'I see. Well, I have told him of the lapse of time, and he was a bit shocked, but trusted me after some talking. He felt tired and dazed by the medication, so I told him to sleep, and that his family would be here when he woke up. So, I say you can enter and see him, but he will be able to a good talk and go home just tomorrow morning'.
'How much time is he supposed to have amnesia, Doctor?', Fran asked.
'It is not predictable. Normally, the daily routine helps people to recover their memories. The medication is a very important auxiliary measure, too'.
They thanked the doctor and decided to enter and see Niles, before going home.
He had a bandage around his head, and was sound asleep. Fran immediately run to his side and took his hand. Maxwell was misty eyed, and stayed besides the nanny.
CC went to the other side of the bed, and kept looking at Niles. It would be very strange, having to introduce herself to him again.
Oh, God. Disturbing it was, again. But would it be fun, too?