A/N: I suppose some of you have guessed by now that this would be the final chapter. I hope I did a sufficient job wrapping up the loose ends although I purposely left some things up to your imagination. Obviously, there's still one big question left to be answered. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it.
Chapter 21
"Hi Dr. Hammond. How's Ty doing? Do you think he can be released from the hospital today? Dr. Hammond replies, "Ty's doing fine..." Ty interrupts, excitedly saying, "I'm sprung!" Dr. Hammond continues, "Hold on Ty, I said I would release you under the condition that you're not left on your own...at least for another week and before you think about moving back to your trailer, I want to examined you again." Amy responds, "No problem...I'll make sure he does just as you order. He's going to stay with us for the time being." Dr. Hammond responds, "Okay..I'll release you and Amy's now in charge. Remember to watch those ribs and bed rest for the next couple of days. Also, no lifting or extraneous activity. If you experience any dizziness, vision problems or nausea, I want you back here immediately. Got it?" Ty replies, "Understood and thanks for everything." Dr. Hammond says, "You'll need to stop by the nurses station on the way out. She'll have a form for you to sign along with a prescription and she'll need to schedule you for a follow up appointment next week." Amy responds, "Thank you again. I'll make sure it's taken care of before we go."
...
"So back up to the loft again." Amy responds, "Yup..come on, I'll help you up the stairs and get you settled in." Ty replies, "I suppose this is the way it's going to be for the next few days." Amy replies, "You heard the doctor...I'm in charge."
...
"Okay Jack, I spoke to my attorney and told him what you told me. He said that Ahmed could still try to hold Amy to the contract. However, the reality of it is, in order to do so, he would have to eventually return here to Canada. That being the case and considering that it's highly unlikely since he would risk arrest if he should return, then it's his opinion that the contract isn't enforceable and not really worth the paper it's written on. Amy can continue working with horses without the worry of a lawsuit." Jack replies, "That's good. She'll be glad to hear that. She's up in the loft with Ty right now, so I'll let you tell her when she come in."
...
Once Amy has Ty settled comfortably in bed, he asks, "By the way...I've been meaning to ask, any word yet from the police?" Amy feels caught by surprise. Ty hadn't mentioned anything about the investigation into his assault since he was first told about it and to her surprise, he hasn't mentioned anything yet about her not wearing her engagement ring either. She's worried though that it will be his next question. Still refusing to lie to him, she answers, "Grandpa spoke to the police today and so did I. I'll tell you all about it later, but right now you should get some rest and I think Lou is cooking up something special for you." Ty responds, "Great...that hospital food was awful."
Amy's relieved that she was able to avoid answering Ty's question, instead distracting him by mentioning Lou's culinary surprise. She says, "It looks like your settled in okay and unless there's something else you need right now then I'm going to see if I can give Lou a hand with dinner." Ty responds, "I think I've got everything I need for now and I am a little tired. If I should fall asleep, make sure you wake me up for dinner." Amy replies, "I'll bring it up to you when it's ready and we'll have dinner together." Amy gives Ty a kiss and as she's leaving, he reminds her, "Don't forget dessert too." Amy smiles at him and says, "Any special request?" Ty replies, "Surprise me."
...
"...thanks Lisa. I appreciate you having your lawyer give his opinion." Lisa asks, "I thought you would be happy to hear the news?" Amy replies, "I am...it's just that I have something else on my mind right now. Lou, grandpa...could you make sure Georgie doesn't go up and speak to Ty just yet. I know she's anxious to see him, but you know how she sometimes let's things slip." Jack asks, "And how long are we suppose to keep her from talking to him?" Amy replies, "I know what you mean, but please just give me a little more time." Lou looks sternly over at Jack and says, "Don't worry about it Amy...we will." Amy says, "I can't keep this up much longer. It's harder and harder to do and I don't feel good about it. It's like I'm right back where I started...keeping this secret from him and lying about it." Jack suggest, "Then maybe you should get it over with and let the chips fall where they may." Amy pauses in thought for a moment and then says, "I am...this evening."
...
"That was delicious...Lou out did herself. Now, how about dessert?" Amy replies, "I'll let her know how much you enjoyed it. Give me a few minutes to bring the tray back to the house and I'll bring you your dessert."
Amy sets the tray of dishes on the kitchen counter and goes to her room. She holds her engagement ring tightly in her hand and walks slowly back up to the loft with her heart pounding and trying desperately to hold back her tears. Not tears for herself and what she may loose once for all, but tears for Ty and how he's going to feel once he hears what she's about to tell him.
...
Stopping in the doorway of the loft and gazing over at Ty lying in bed, Amy calls out weakly, "Ty..." Ty looks over at her and says, "Didn't you forget something...my dessert?" Amy replies, "Ty...I have something I need to say." Ty, recognizing the look of distress on Amy's face, calls her over to sit with him on the bed. With the ring still clenched in her fist, Amy walks tentatively over to him and takes a seat.
"What's the matter? Why the long face?" Amy takes a deep breath and let's it out slowly, using the time to form her first words. "I can't do this anymore. I can't keep pretending that everything is okay." Ty, with a curious look, says, "I don't understand...what are you talking about...pretending about what?" Amy answers, "Pretending about this." Amy opens her hand, displaying the ring. Ty exclaims, "You finally found it! I thought you might have lost it again. I'm sorry I didn't say anything about it sooner when I noticed you weren't wearing it. I thought you were afraid to say something about losing it so I never bother to mention it. So, that's what's bothering you?"
Amy avoids looking directly at Ty. Looking down at the ring in her hand, she says, "I didn't lose it. I just couldn't wear it anymore." Ty asks hesitantly, "Why...What are you talking about?" Amy reaches out for Ty's hand and holding it in hers, she places the ring in his palm, saying, "It's what I'm trying to tell you." She sighs and says, "We're not engaged anymore...we haven't been since shortly after I returned from Europe." Ty, looking at the ring and then again at Amy, asks, "I still don't understand. Why would..." Amy interrupts, saying, "You broke up with me, Ty...you called off our engagement."
Ty asks, "Why would I do that? I love you!" Amy responds, "I love you too, but I kept some secrets from you...things that happened while I was in Europe and I lied to you. You found out and broke up with me. I hurt you so much that..." Ty stops her saying, "I can't imagine what you could have done..." Amy interrupts, "Please Ty...just give me a chance to tell you everything. I've been holding it back for so long. I wanted to explain everything to you, but I wasn't sure you would want to listen and then this happened and..." Ty stops her mid sentence and says, "You can tell me now and I promise I'll listen."
Amy pauses, still trying desperately to hold back her tears as her eyes begin to water up. "I'm so sorry. I know this is going to be difficult for you to hear and the last thing I want to do is hurt you again, but I have to tell you. No matter what happens, I only hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
Amy starts from the beginning. "I know now I never should have gone on that tour, but, at the time, the offer was more than I could refuse. You supported my decision, but if you had tried to convince me not to go, I probably would have held it against you. When I got there, I found myself suddenly immersed in a lifestyle that was completely foreign to me. I liked it, but at the same time I couldn't help feeling somewhat lost and lonely. I made a commitment to do a job that I liked and the only way I thought I could go on was by letting go of those feelings. I should have turned around and came home, but instead I allowed myself to become someone I never imagined I would or wanted to be. I became a different person...someone I'm ashamed of. I know you might find this difficult to believe after you hear everything I have to say, but I never stopped loving you...I just forgot that I did for a while. It sounds awful I know and I wish I could explain it better..."
Amy goes on explaining everything from the time she left up until the present, only partly referencing Ryan. She's taking Lou's advice and saving that for the end.
...
"Hey grandpa...where's Amy? She brought the tray back, but Ty's dessert is still here." Jack replies, "I saw her heading back to the loft a while ago." Lou asks, "Without Ty's dessert?" Jack responds, "I guess she thought there was something more important to do." Lou knowingly say, "Oh...she's finally doing it. I hope it goes okay." Jack replies, "Yeah...we all do. She's been up there for some time now. I don't know what to make of it other than a sign that Ty is at least willing to listen."
Lou replies, "I hope so." After a moment, Lou takes a seat at the kitchen table with Jack and says, "Grandpa...something has been bothering me." Jack replies, "What is it?" Lou continues, "Well, I was just wondering how it was that the police knew to look for a camera?" Jack answers, "I guess it's okay to say something now since I'm sure it's all going to come out shortly..."
"...So Ty, got his memory back?" Jack replies, "Not all of it yet, but most of it. Enough that he knows what happened between him and Amy. Like the doctor said, it started to come back in pieces. From what he told me it was just a little bit at first, shortly before Amy arrived at the hospital that day after he came around. He didn't want to say anything right away. I guess he was confused by what little he remembered and, knowing what the doctor had told him, he decided to wait until he remembered more before saying anything. During that night, more started coming back to him. Then when I sent Amy to his trailer to get his books and we were alone, he told me. It was his idea not to let on about it and he had me promise not to say anything. When I was with him, while Amy was talking to the police, he asked me a few questions to help fill in some of the blanks and had me promise again not to say anything." Lou asks. "What did he want to know?" Jack replies, "Not much. He wanted to know if I found the camera he called me about and I told him about the pictures. Then I told him about Ahmed leaving and what your dad and I had to say to Ford. He enjoyed hearing that, but wished he could have gotten a few shots at him himself."
Lou asks, "So all this was his idea?" Jack answers, "Yeah...it was and I had no problem going along with it. I kinda got the idea what he was up to, so I played along." Lou says, "He's giving her another chance then." Jack replies, "Seems like it, but he doesn't know that much about what happened between Amy and that Ford fella, so there's no telling how he might react when he hears from her about that." Lou adds, "Assuming she tells him." Jack replies, "I have no doubt she will."
...
Ty shifts uncomfortably in his bed. "...before you say anything, there's more. It's about Ryan Ford. I haven't yet told you everything about him...I mean, everything about him and me." Ty shifts again, nervously anticipating what Amy is about to tell him.
Amy continues, "This is the most difficult part for me to tell you and I'll understand if you never want to have anything to do with me again." After a deep breath, Amy nervously says, "I found myself attracted to him and having feelings I never should have had. It started out innocently, but the more time we spent socializing, I began to find it increasingly difficult to resist turning down his invitations to get together with him and his team. I did try to resist it, but he always seemed to manage to talk me into joining him. Then there was this one night we went out to dinner, just the two of us. Afterwards we went to a club where we spent time drinking and dancing. It was getting late and Ryan said he needed to get back to his hotel. I offered him a ride and when we arrived at his hotel, he invited me to join him in the lounge for one last drink. I was having such a good time, I didn't really want the evening to end...so, I agreed to joined him.
After that drink, he invited me up to his room to look at a video of a horse he was having a problem with. One that we had talked about. I'm not trying to make any excuses, but I wasn't exactly thinking clearly and I foolishly accepted his invitation. We were sitting on the couch watching the video on his laptop. When the video ended, I turned to him to give my opinion and that's when he put his arm around me. He kissed me and I found myself kissing him back. We continued kissing until he was almost on top of me.
It wasn't until I felt him begin to unzip my dress that I suddenly realized what I was doing. I pushed him off me and told him that I couldn't do this. It brought me back to reality and I felt horrible about what I had done. I tried to tell him that it was all a mistake and I didn't want to see him ever again. I was thinking of you and how much I really loved you. What happened scared me. I immediately left his room and returned to my hotel. He tried calling me the next day, but I ignored his call and blocked his number. I never thought or did I want to see him ever again. After that, I tried to erase the hole thing from my mind by concentrating on my work and only socializing with Ahmed and the rest of the team.
That first evening I was back home with you in the loft, I was worried that kissing you wouldn't be the same. That's why I avoided it. It was my guilt and the fear that you would somehow sense that things were no longer the same between us. I didn't want that to happen because I didn't want to lose you. I needed you to know that I still loved you, more than I ever have, but I just needed a little time to get my head together. I was terrible at it and treated you horribly in the process. I was a nightmare and wouldn't have blamed you if you had called off our engagement right then, before you found out everything else. I'm so sorry I kept all this from you. It was wrong of me to not to have told you what happened right away. I love you, Ty...I honestly do. I learned a lot about myself...things I wasn't aware of before and things I didn't like. I'm not that person anymore and never will be again. I promise you."
Ty sits motionless, staring down at the ring Amy had returned to him. After several moments of silence, Amy asks, "Is there anything you want to ask...or say?" Ty looks up at her. His eyes tearing, he says, "I don't know what to say. I don't even know what to think. I just need some time to myself."
Amy weakly says, "I understand why and I'm sorry I hurt you again. I'll have Lou come up later and check on you." Ty replies, "That won't be necessary. I just need to be alone."
...
As Amy walks through the kitchen on the way to her room, she stops briefly and says to both Lou and Jack, "Ty needs to be alone, so I would appreciate it if no one bothers him for the rest of the evening."
Once Amy closes her door behind her, Lou says to Jack, "I guess it didn't go too well." Jack replies, "Not surprising...what did you expect anyway...for Ty to just say "Okay, everything is forgiven?" and then they kiss and make up? If Amy told Ty everything, like she did with us, it's going to take him some time to process it all before deciding what to do next. So let's just leave them alone and see what happens."
...
It's late, much later than when Jack normally goes to bed and he's just about to put down his book when Amy steps out of her room. Amy says, "Grandpa...I'm glad you're still up. Ty just sent me this text. He said for me to ask you about the camera. What does he mean by that?" Jack tries not to smile, but he can't hide the knowing gleam in his eyes. Jack begins by asking, "When you were talking to Ty, I suppose you told him everything?" Amy answers, "I did...everything." Jack then asks, "Did he say anything afterwards?" Amy replies, "Very little...only that he needed some time to himself...what's going on? What does the camera have to do anything?"
Jack moves forward in his seat and says, "I think what he means...well...it's like this. I suppose you thought it was the police who found that camera, right?" Amy answers, "Well...yes, it was...wasn't it?" Jack continues, "It wasn't. It was your dad and me. Ty called me the night before and told me to look for one outside his trailer." Amy asks, "So, he remembered he had put it there? Why didn't you tell me?" Jack replies, "I think he remembered more than that, but he had me promise not to say anything about it." Amy asks another question, "What do you mean you think he remembered more?" Jack replies, "Actually I know...he remembered almost everything except for a few things like who it was who attacked him. At least that's the impression I got when I spoke to him this afternoon while you were talking to the police."
Amy says, "So, the whole time I was telling him everything, he already knew most of it?" Jack replies, "I would assume so. Remember that first night at the hospital, just before you left and what you said to him?" Amy answers, "Yes...it was...I think, "I wish I could go back and change everything." Jack grins and says, "I think you just did...as much as you could without a time machine. I guess Ty decided to give you the opportunity to go back and do what you should have done as soon as you got back from that tour."
Amy throws her arms around Jack and gives him a kiss on the cheek. Running to the front door, Jack calls out, "Shoes Amy!" Lou steps out of her bedroom and asks, "What's going on grandpa?" Jack answers, "Go back to bed, Lou. It's late and I'm going to bed too. I'll tell you about it tomorrow morning."
...
Amy runs up to the loft where Ty is reading one of his school books. Standing in the doorway, she says, "I asked grandpa about the camera like you asked me to." Ty puts his book down and says, "And?" Amy walks slowly over to the side of his bed as she says, "And he told me about it." Ty asks again, "And?" Amy replies, "And he told me what I guess you wanted him to tell me." Now looking up at Amy, once again he asks, "And?" Amy takes a seat on the bed next to him and says, "And thank you." Ty asks, "For what?" Amy says, "You're not going to make this easy are you?" Ty replies, "I wouldn't go there if I were you." Amy responds, "Okay then...thank you for giving me a second chance." Ty replies, "You know...Jack, in his own way, reminded me a while back how many second chances I was given and how a lot of them weren't deserved, so I thought the least I could do was to give you one." Amy replies, "So, that's why you did all this...playing like you didn't remember? So I could have a second chance? Ty responds, "Not entirely." Amy asks, "What other reason then?" Ty replies, "Because I love you."
Amy's eyes begin to tear up. Looking directly into Ty's eyes, she says, "I know I have no right to ask you this, but..." Amy sighs and asks, "Will you marry me?" Ty says nothing, but opening his hand furthest from her, she sees that he's holding her engagement ring. She watches as he takes her hand in his and slides the ring onto her finger. Looking up into her eyes, he says, "I think that answers your question."
Amy can't control her excitement. She throws her arm around Ty, holding him tight and kisses him. Ty wrenches and says loudly, "Ribs!" Amy releases him and says, "Sorry...I forgot about that." After sliding up on the bed next to him, with a smile she says, "You know, there's a lock on that door now. " Ty replies, "Yeah, but it's like it's made out of toothpicks, Amy. All Jack has to do is give it one of his looks and it'll probably fall down." Ty pauses in thought for a moment and says, "But I won't worry about it if you won't." Amy gets up and locks the door. While walking back to the bed, Ty reaches over carefully and turns off the lamp. Amy slides back into bed next to him. In the dark, Ty yells out, "Amy...my ribs!"
...
"Have you seen Amy yet this morning, grandpa?" Jack looks over the top of his morning paper at Lou and answers, "No...not yet." Lou asks, "So, what happened last night?" Jack answers, "I don't know...the last I saw of Amy, she was running up to the loft." Lou asks, "Was there a problem with Ty...is he okay?" Jack says, "That all depends on where Amy spent the night."
Amy emerges from her room, dressed and ready for breakfast. "Good morning grandpa...Lou. Do you have something I can bring up to Ty for breakfast?" Lou answers, "I was just fixing it. You sure sound chipper this morning. Any reason for that?" Amy replies, "Do I need a reason to be in a good mood...I mean, other than everything with you know who is settled, I can work with horses again, Ty's out of the hospital and back in the loft. Oh...and we're getting married."
In their excitement at the sudden news, Lou inadvertently drops Ty's breakfast plate into the sink while Jack let's his newspaper fall onto the table. Lou asks, "So this happened last night?" Amy holds up her hand showing that she's wearing Ty's engagement ring again and says, "Yeah...last night." Jack asks, "How late last night?" Amy replies, "Does that make a difference?" Jack smirks and says, "I guess not...I'm happy for you though." Lou adds, "Me too...have you two set a date yet? Amy answers, "We're going to talk about that this morning over breakfast. We'd like to do it sooner rather than later though. One thing we already have definitely decided is that, from this point on, neither of us ever in our lifetime want to go to France..."
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