Chapter Four - Charlie's

Dr. Kim and I arrived at Charlie's, a pub just down the street from her apartment. At first it appeared to be a quiet atmosphere, with just a few customers sitting at nearby tables having a drink, a basket of fries, or one of the famous grilled burgers.

Kim walked up to the bar and started talking to a strikingly handsome man. Immediately I felt an intense sense of jealousy strike me. Who was this guy and was she flirting him? Did I even have right to CARE if she was flirting with the man standing behind the bar?

Kim laughed and smiled at something the guy said, her whole face lighting up as it would appear that they had some sort of connection and rapport. She leaned close to him as she seemed to be glowing with incredible beauty. All the sudden though, she glanced at me and her smile instantly faded. "What is it, Arielle? Is everything okay?"

"I don't know," I said uneasily. "I am just hungry."

I didn't want to tell her I was insanely jealous of whatever she had with this unknown guy. "Arielle, this is my friend, Julian Jerome, the owner of Charlie's. Julian, this is Arielle," said Kim.

"Hi Arielle. Good to meet you. You must be new in town."

"Yeah, I am as new as a newborn babe," I said sarcastically in reference to my amnesia. "It's as though I was just born yesterday."

"What can I get you two beautiful ladies?" Julian asked.

"We'd like a couple of burgers and a basket of fries," Kim said.

"What would you like to drink?"

"I'll have a glass of ice water," Kim responded.

"I'll have what she's having," I replied.

"Alright, I'll tell the cook and we'll have that out to your table in a few minutes," said Mr. Jerome.

Kim and I found a booth and sat down across from each other. "Hey, earlier, when I was talking to Julian..." Kim said as she looked into my eyes. "You seemed... well, sort of jealous."

I wanted to deny it, but I just couldn't. "He's a handsome man," I said. "Are you dating him?"

"No, he's free, if you want him for yourself, but you'll have to fight off his ex-wife. It would seem that she still wants him, too."

Ohhh dear God, she didn't get it! I didn't want Julian. I wanted her. So damn bad.

What I said earlier to Julian about a newborn babe - it was true. I had no clue how to navigate a relationship or even what to say. I would just hold my tongue awhile longer and see how it all played out.

Sure enough, when Mr. Jerome returned from the kitchen, a woman took a seat at the bar. Her eyes followed his every movement. Kim and I were both watching the drama as it began to play out. "Julian, I need to talk to you," she said.

"Not now, Alexis," he said, but she reached out and grabbed his hand.

"Is... is that his ex wife?" I whispered to Kim.

She nodded as both of us returned to watching the scene unfold. "Julian, please... if you'd just give me a minute of your time," said Alexis.

"Why, Alexis? You said it was over between us. It's time I moved on." He glanced over at the table where I was sitting with Kim.

*Ohhh hell no!* I wanted to cry out. *She's mine!*

But the truth of the matter was that Kim was NOT mine. I had no claim to her whatsoever. She just took me home to stay with her, because I had no memory of my past and she felt sorry for my situation. There seemed little hope that the perfect and gorgeous Dr. Kim Nero would ever have a romantic relationship with someone like me. I let out a long deep sigh in which Dr. Kim did not fail to notice.

"You look so tired, Arielle. I should get you home," she said with concern. "You really need your rest."

"But I am eating for two," I reminded as I was doing my best to come to terms with my shocking pregnancy.

"Yes, you are," she said as I melted at her lovely smile. "As soon as the burgers and fries are here, we'll head on home."

*Good,* I was thinking. *Cuz I want you all to myself.*