Chapter 2
'Christina' Romano, sat with her baby daughter, Abigail Romano, in the children's area of the Oak Park Library. She began reading her a story, but found her mind wandering. It was a good thing Abby was too little to notice.
What she really wanted was a cigarette! She had told her husband, Robert, about her cravings, and he admitted, that her x-rays had shown she was a heavy smoker. But then he told her how rotten it was for her health, and how now was the time for a fresh start. Christina had reluctantly agreed.
She had not smoked while she was pregnant, and couldn't understand how eight and a half months of going cold turkey, could still make her feen nicotine! She took a deep breath and looked down at Abby. She was asleep.
Christina had brought her daughter's stroller in with her, and set the baby back inside. She then put her head in her hands.
This party Robert and her were throwing tonight was making her crazy! The party, and those damned dreams she kept having! The dreams that she had told her husband nothing about.
And the dreams were unsettling, not because they were about anything in particular. It was the unknowns that kept swimming around that bothered her. A various array of faces, most of them men, that meant nothing to her. Nameless men.
The woman that she dreamt of sometimes, looked like her, but seemed to be from a different time. She wondered if that woman was her mother?
Christina lifted her head again, as her mind jumped to another sore subject: Dr. Elizabeth Corday.
The lovely, British doctor was coming to their party tonight. And while Christina may have amnesia, she was no fool! Robert was in love with his colleague. She had known this from the day she met him in the ER. He had been updating her on her condition, while Dr. Corday was in the room. But, he kept making 'cow eyes' at her! But, Christina had cast aside her doubts, when Robert began pursuing her aggressively. She had no one, remembered nothing, and Robert, for all of his public boorishness, was sweet and loving behind closed doors.
Still, Christina was uneasy having that woman in her house this evening. If Robert hadn't told her that Elizabeth was bringing a date of her own, she might have put her foot down and insisted that he uninvite her.
Because it wasn't just Robert's suspected infatuation with the woman, that bothered her. Dr. Corday was always pressing her to go to therapy and try and unlock her past. It was none of her damned business whether she remembered her life, or never did! But she suspected, that to the 'good doctor', her remembering her past, might get her up and out of Robert's life!
Christina, on impulse, reached over for her purse and pulled out her wallet. She looked at the driver's license that Robert had pulled many a string, to help her get.
'Christina Romano,' she whispered, eyeing her lousy picture. Somehow, she didn't feel like a Christina. But Robert had told her she looked like one. She might as well be Christina, since she didn't know what her real name was anyway!
She put her wallet back inside her purse, then stared at her baby. Abby had not went to sleep, but was staring back at her. She smiled. Christina smiled back.
Not many men would marry a woman pregnant with another man's child. Not many men would marry a woman, who not only did not remember getting pregnant, but had no clue as to who the father was.
These were the times when she would stare at her daughter, and try and see if she could find a familiar face from the past, in her daughter's eyes, or nose and mouth. But Christina never saw anything.
She knew she should just forget about it, and consider herself fortunate that she had a nice husband and a beautiful baby. Robert wanted to try again in a year, for a child of their own. Abby could use a baby brother or sister.
Christina's mind jumped from future babies, and back to the party tonight. She looked at her watch. In about fifteen minutes, she was going to drop Abby back home in the care of a babysitter. She had found a place that taught karate, and had been strangely drawn to it. She had a class this afternoon, then she had to prepare to let the caterers in so they could set up for the party tonight.
****
Jarod noticed that Elizabeth was strangely silent, as they entered the Oak Park community that the Romano's lived in. He smiled over at her as he drove.
'A penny for your thoughts?' he asked, watching her profile. Jarod knew that Dr. Corday had been married to a doctor on staff that had died, two years before. A Dr. Mark Green. They had had a daughter together, Ella.
Jarod liked Elizabeth, and in a way, was drawn to the sadness that lurked within her. It was obvious that she still missed her husband.
Elizabeth smiled over at him.
'I guess I'm wondering if this isn't a mistake.'
Jarod frowned, as he reached the street and found parking spots, far and few between.
'Do you mean our coming to the party together?'
Elizabeth's eyes widened. She laughed slightly.
'Well, I did receive a few ferocious glares from Dr. Lewis and Abby Lockhart. But no, Jarod, it isn't that. I don't think Christina likes me.'
Jarod was attempting a particularly tight parallel park, when he looked over at Elizabeth again.
'Christina?'
Elizabeth nodded slightly, touching her earrings.
'Yes, that's her name... or the name Robert gave her. Oh Jarod! I shouldn't be talking like this!'
Jarod finally parked the car, turned off the ignition, and took her hands in his.
'Elizabeth, if you are uncomfortable going in there, I'll take you back home.' he said. He hoped she would not take this option, since he would then have to take her home and come back. And there was no way he was not going into that house tonight!
Elizabeth smiled.
'No, I'm alright. I guess it just bothers me that Robert has done nothing to help his wife's memory. I mean, he doesn't know that she isn't already married. I just think he rushed into this thing way too quickly.'
Jarod said nothing, but wondered if Elizabeth's passionate feelings on this matter, did not have more to do with repressed feelings for Romano, more than any concern for 'Christina'. Parker was definitely not a Christina! Jarod would never understand how the man could've looked at Ms. Parker, and decided that 'Christina', would be the perfect name for her?
'Let's go in, okay?' Jarod asked softly. Elizabeth nodded.
****
Christina looked around, to make sure that everyone had drinks and plenty of food. She was dressed in a slinky black dress, with the back cut out. A diamond barrette was snapped firmly in the front of her hair.
The doorbell rang. Christina turned and walked by Robert, who pulled on her arm laughingly.
'Honey, Dr. Kovach here is into that karate stuff you've been doing lately.'
Christina eyed the handsome doctor. She liked his eyes. They were very dark.
'Really? Listen, I'm going to get the door and when I come back, I'll tell you what I've learned so far, okay?'
Luka Kovach smiled and nodded at her. Christina struggled to keep her eyes from him. What the hell was the matter with her? She shouldn't be oogling other men in front of her husband!
Christina made her way through the swarm of people to reach the door. She had just turned behind her, to thank someone who had complimented her dress, when she opened the door and saw Dr. Corday and her date.
Christina eyed Elizabeth. Beautiful as always! Great hair color...things she would never hear out loud from Christina's own lips!
'Hello, Christina. Well, it looks like the party is in full swing.'
'Hmmm. Yes it is.' Christina answered rather coldly. Her eyes then swept from Elizabeth, to her date. So she did bring a date, Christina thought. Good!
Christina stuck out her hand towards Jarod. She smiled at him.
'Hello. You must be...'
Elizabeth looked embarrassed.
'Oh, I'm sorry Jarod. This is Dr. Jarod Russell. He's new to County General.'
Christina looked at Jarod. She was a bit startled by the intensity of his gaze. She pulled away her hand, and found that she had to pry it away from him!
'Okay! Well, it was nice to meet you, Jarod. Elizabeth, I hope you both enjoy yourselves.'
Christina then turned and abruptly walked away. Elizabeth glanced at Jarod.
'Do you see what I mean?' she asked him.
But Jarod saw much more than what Elizabeth was referring to. Yes, Christina Romano was definitely his Ms. Parker. And unfortunately, she was wearing another barrette.
But those were the small things. Because for a few moments, Jarod saw the old Ms. Parker, when she had looked at Elizabeth just now. Yes, she definitely disliked his date quite a bit!
And he also saw, that Ms. Parker had looked right through him, as if she were indeed, meeting him for the first time. Granted, Jarod had heard of people never regaining lost memories. But he was struck at the irony of the situation. For years, he himself, had struggled to remember and find who his people were, and where he came from. He couldn't believe that Ms. Parker didn't wonder where she truly came from, and who her child's real father was.
Jarod watched Ms. Parker's back, as she walked off. His mind took him back to that rainy night in the barn. He could still remember how her skin felt against his, how silky her legs had felt, wrapped around his waist...
Christina Romano suddenly stopped and turned back around to stare at Elizabeth and Jarod. More pointedly at Jarod. She saw him staring at her again, and realized that she had KNOWN he was looking at her. Elizabeth's date gave life to the saying 'burning a hole in one's back'. Unnerved, she made her way through the crowd and headed upstairs to check on a sleeping Abby.
****
Christina stood over Abby's crib and smiled down at her. She felt better here.
She knew she would have to go back down soon, to play the perfect hostess. But she didn't know any of those people. She didn't even know herself.
'Hiding out, Ms...Mrs. Romano?'
Christina turned around quickly, startled. It was Elizabeth Corday's date! The one that had leered at her earlier. What the hell was he doing up here?
She watched as he walked into the semi-lit room, and looked down into the crib. Christina stared at him. His expression, as he looked at Abby, was tender and...and...proud!
Jarod tore his eyes away from the baby, and looked at Ms. Parker.
'What is her name?' he asked.
Christina tore her eyes from his. She then looked down at her daughter.
'Abigail.' she said. She didn't like this man, and she definitely didn't want her daughter alone with him!
Christina fidgeted, then touched his arm, as if to steer him away.
'Why don't we both get back to the party?' she suggested. Jarod reached up and touched her hand that was on his arm.
'Forgive me, Mrs. Romano, if my being up here has frightened, or offended you in any way. It's just that everyone downstairs has been telling me about what a beautiful child my boss has. I just had to see her for myself.'
For some reason, Christina smiled, for she misinterpreted the compliment completely. She removed her hand from his.
'Because you couldn't believe that such a jerk, could produce such a nice baby, hey?'
Jarod looked embarrassed. Christina laughed. Jarod was struck by the sound, since Ms. Parker rarely ever did so.
'I know what my husband is like. I don't think I could explain to anyone, that he is not the beast that he appears to be in the workplace.'
'You could explain it to me.' Jarod suggested softly, his eyes falling back on Abby.
Christina eyed him. For some reason, she had no doubt that she could explain it to him. A man she had just met. The idea suddenly made her feel uncomfortable.
'Are Elizabeth and you close?' she asked politely.
'Are you hoping that we are?' he asked in return.
Christina's polite face disappeared, and the Ms. Parker sneer took over.
'What does that mean?'
Jarod grinned.
'It means that it was obvious to me, from the chilly reception you gave Dr. Corday downstairs, that you consider her to be some sort of threat to you...or your marriage. Am I getting warm, Mrs. Romano?'
'What you are, is getting on my nerves, Dr. Russell! Now I suggest you leave my daughter's room, before I tell my husband about our disturbing encounter!'
''Disturbing encounter'?' Jarod asked, enjoying the dressing down he was getting. He had missed his Ms. Parker!
'Get out!' she hissed, not knowing how to respond to this man's aggravating demeanor and grin!
Jarod backed away, not wanting to push her, or the situation.
'I'm sorry if I offended you.'
Christina looked him up and down.
'No you're not! But you can prove how sorry you are, by keeping that red-headed tramp away from my husband!'
Jarod did not respond, but turned and walked out of the room. He then stood out in the hallway for a moment.
Ms. Parker had sensed something between Dr. Romano and Dr. Corday, just as he had. Was it possible that Dr. Romano had married Ms. Parker, in some sort of attempt to make Dr. Corday jealous?
Whatever the situation, Jarod began to realize, that maybe pushing Dr. Romano and Dr. Corday together, could be a way to extricate Ms. Parker from this marriage. He also needed to earn her trust and friendship. That would be the first step in helping her regain her memory. Then, maybe she would remember the two of them. Once that happened, then they, him, Ms. Parker, and Abigail, could be a family.
Jarod stared back towards the room. The Centre could not find out about Abigail. They could not find out that Ms. Parker was alive. The thought of his daughter going through what he went through, made his stomach churn! And they would want Abigail. The child of a Parker and a Pretender. And there was still Arvin Sloane and Mr. Lyle to consider. Jarod realized he would still have to be very careful. He didn't want to unwittingly lead The New Centre sweepers, to Ms. Parker, Abigail, or himself.
'Hey, Russell!'
Jarod looked the other way, and saw Robert Romano glaring at him.
'What do you think you're doing up here?' he asked sharply.
Jarod pasted on a smile.
'Just looking for the bathroom.'
'The one you need is downstairs. You haven't by any chance seen my wife, have you?'
Jarod knew that Ms. Parker had come upstairs, to get away from the pressures of this social situation. She wasn't cut out to be a doctor's wife, not had she ever been the social butterfly.
'No, I haven't.'
Robert Romano stared at him hard.
'Are you coming?' he almost snapped.
Jarod nodded, and walked down the hall with him. As they reached the landing, Robert looked at him.
'It took a lot for Lizzie to come to this thing, without Mark, and with another man. If you're playing around with her, I will make your life miserable, are we clear?'
Jarod heard the strong emotion in his boss's voice, none of the anger.
'It's clear. Everything is now crystal clear.' Jarod responded, walking down the stairs. He worked his way through the crowd, until he was by Elizabeth's side. Romano had stayed put on the landing. He didn't like Jarod Russell. He would be keeping a close eye on him.
****
Christina Romano slowly rocked in the chair that was in her daughter's room. She had just realized something.
Dr. Corday's arrogant date...Dr. Russell...his face...he was one of the men that appeared in the dreams that she had been having! What did it mean?
One thing she was beginning to be sure of, was that Dr. Russell KNEW her. If she was remembering him, then he did know her from somewhere else. He knew her, but had not said a word to her about it. She couldn't forget how he had looked at Abby. For it had been one of her fears, that one of these strange men that she had been dreaming about, was Abby's real father.
Christina swallowed hard and pulled herself together. Maybe it was time to tell Robert about her dreams, and that Jarod Russell was showing up in them.
****
Later that evening, after dropping off Elizabeth, Jarod returned to his apartment and called Sydney.
'Well?' he asked.
'It's her,' he replied. 'She appears to have complete and total amnesia.'
'So, she did not recognize you at all? And she loves this man she is married to?'
Jarod took a deep breath.
'My answer would be, 'I'm not sure' on both of your questions, Sydney. I know Ms. Parker didn't seem to know me when we first met. But I did manage to get some time alone with her later. I believe she found me to be quite aggravating.'
Sydney smiled on his end.
'So you're taking her annoyance with you, as a sign that she may have remembered you?'
'Yes.'
'Okay, well, what about this man...Dr. Romano?'
'It would take too long to describe that man, Sydney. I do suspect that he has a fondness for another woman. Ms. Parker suspects it as well.'
'Oh no! What has she gotten herself into?'
'Her domestic affairs are the least of her problems, Sydney. And to be blunt, it worries me that she is unaware of this. The Centre lets no one go. Ms. Parker, amnesia or not, is not really free. She needs to know that.'
'What are you going to do? I mean, The Centre and what they do, will mean nothing to her, even if you try and explain it. She may not even believe you.'
'I still have to try.' Jarod said quietly. 'Goodnight, Sydney.'
Jarod hung up and set his phone down. He then picked it back up, and called his father, Major Charles. They had a friendly chat, in which he did tell the Major, that he had found Ms. Parker. They then said their goodbyes. That call, would prove to be Jarod's undoing. For Mr. Lyle, had Major Charles's phones tapped. Despite the New Centre's more diversified interests, he had not forgotten Jarod. Not by a long shot.
A lackey, delivered a report to Mr. Lyle about the conversation. Needless to say, he was quite disturbed to find out that his twin sister was still alive.
'Christina' Romano, sat with her baby daughter, Abigail Romano, in the children's area of the Oak Park Library. She began reading her a story, but found her mind wandering. It was a good thing Abby was too little to notice.
What she really wanted was a cigarette! She had told her husband, Robert, about her cravings, and he admitted, that her x-rays had shown she was a heavy smoker. But then he told her how rotten it was for her health, and how now was the time for a fresh start. Christina had reluctantly agreed.
She had not smoked while she was pregnant, and couldn't understand how eight and a half months of going cold turkey, could still make her feen nicotine! She took a deep breath and looked down at Abby. She was asleep.
Christina had brought her daughter's stroller in with her, and set the baby back inside. She then put her head in her hands.
This party Robert and her were throwing tonight was making her crazy! The party, and those damned dreams she kept having! The dreams that she had told her husband nothing about.
And the dreams were unsettling, not because they were about anything in particular. It was the unknowns that kept swimming around that bothered her. A various array of faces, most of them men, that meant nothing to her. Nameless men.
The woman that she dreamt of sometimes, looked like her, but seemed to be from a different time. She wondered if that woman was her mother?
Christina lifted her head again, as her mind jumped to another sore subject: Dr. Elizabeth Corday.
The lovely, British doctor was coming to their party tonight. And while Christina may have amnesia, she was no fool! Robert was in love with his colleague. She had known this from the day she met him in the ER. He had been updating her on her condition, while Dr. Corday was in the room. But, he kept making 'cow eyes' at her! But, Christina had cast aside her doubts, when Robert began pursuing her aggressively. She had no one, remembered nothing, and Robert, for all of his public boorishness, was sweet and loving behind closed doors.
Still, Christina was uneasy having that woman in her house this evening. If Robert hadn't told her that Elizabeth was bringing a date of her own, she might have put her foot down and insisted that he uninvite her.
Because it wasn't just Robert's suspected infatuation with the woman, that bothered her. Dr. Corday was always pressing her to go to therapy and try and unlock her past. It was none of her damned business whether she remembered her life, or never did! But she suspected, that to the 'good doctor', her remembering her past, might get her up and out of Robert's life!
Christina, on impulse, reached over for her purse and pulled out her wallet. She looked at the driver's license that Robert had pulled many a string, to help her get.
'Christina Romano,' she whispered, eyeing her lousy picture. Somehow, she didn't feel like a Christina. But Robert had told her she looked like one. She might as well be Christina, since she didn't know what her real name was anyway!
She put her wallet back inside her purse, then stared at her baby. Abby had not went to sleep, but was staring back at her. She smiled. Christina smiled back.
Not many men would marry a woman pregnant with another man's child. Not many men would marry a woman, who not only did not remember getting pregnant, but had no clue as to who the father was.
These were the times when she would stare at her daughter, and try and see if she could find a familiar face from the past, in her daughter's eyes, or nose and mouth. But Christina never saw anything.
She knew she should just forget about it, and consider herself fortunate that she had a nice husband and a beautiful baby. Robert wanted to try again in a year, for a child of their own. Abby could use a baby brother or sister.
Christina's mind jumped from future babies, and back to the party tonight. She looked at her watch. In about fifteen minutes, she was going to drop Abby back home in the care of a babysitter. She had found a place that taught karate, and had been strangely drawn to it. She had a class this afternoon, then she had to prepare to let the caterers in so they could set up for the party tonight.
****
Jarod noticed that Elizabeth was strangely silent, as they entered the Oak Park community that the Romano's lived in. He smiled over at her as he drove.
'A penny for your thoughts?' he asked, watching her profile. Jarod knew that Dr. Corday had been married to a doctor on staff that had died, two years before. A Dr. Mark Green. They had had a daughter together, Ella.
Jarod liked Elizabeth, and in a way, was drawn to the sadness that lurked within her. It was obvious that she still missed her husband.
Elizabeth smiled over at him.
'I guess I'm wondering if this isn't a mistake.'
Jarod frowned, as he reached the street and found parking spots, far and few between.
'Do you mean our coming to the party together?'
Elizabeth's eyes widened. She laughed slightly.
'Well, I did receive a few ferocious glares from Dr. Lewis and Abby Lockhart. But no, Jarod, it isn't that. I don't think Christina likes me.'
Jarod was attempting a particularly tight parallel park, when he looked over at Elizabeth again.
'Christina?'
Elizabeth nodded slightly, touching her earrings.
'Yes, that's her name... or the name Robert gave her. Oh Jarod! I shouldn't be talking like this!'
Jarod finally parked the car, turned off the ignition, and took her hands in his.
'Elizabeth, if you are uncomfortable going in there, I'll take you back home.' he said. He hoped she would not take this option, since he would then have to take her home and come back. And there was no way he was not going into that house tonight!
Elizabeth smiled.
'No, I'm alright. I guess it just bothers me that Robert has done nothing to help his wife's memory. I mean, he doesn't know that she isn't already married. I just think he rushed into this thing way too quickly.'
Jarod said nothing, but wondered if Elizabeth's passionate feelings on this matter, did not have more to do with repressed feelings for Romano, more than any concern for 'Christina'. Parker was definitely not a Christina! Jarod would never understand how the man could've looked at Ms. Parker, and decided that 'Christina', would be the perfect name for her?
'Let's go in, okay?' Jarod asked softly. Elizabeth nodded.
****
Christina looked around, to make sure that everyone had drinks and plenty of food. She was dressed in a slinky black dress, with the back cut out. A diamond barrette was snapped firmly in the front of her hair.
The doorbell rang. Christina turned and walked by Robert, who pulled on her arm laughingly.
'Honey, Dr. Kovach here is into that karate stuff you've been doing lately.'
Christina eyed the handsome doctor. She liked his eyes. They were very dark.
'Really? Listen, I'm going to get the door and when I come back, I'll tell you what I've learned so far, okay?'
Luka Kovach smiled and nodded at her. Christina struggled to keep her eyes from him. What the hell was the matter with her? She shouldn't be oogling other men in front of her husband!
Christina made her way through the swarm of people to reach the door. She had just turned behind her, to thank someone who had complimented her dress, when she opened the door and saw Dr. Corday and her date.
Christina eyed Elizabeth. Beautiful as always! Great hair color...things she would never hear out loud from Christina's own lips!
'Hello, Christina. Well, it looks like the party is in full swing.'
'Hmmm. Yes it is.' Christina answered rather coldly. Her eyes then swept from Elizabeth, to her date. So she did bring a date, Christina thought. Good!
Christina stuck out her hand towards Jarod. She smiled at him.
'Hello. You must be...'
Elizabeth looked embarrassed.
'Oh, I'm sorry Jarod. This is Dr. Jarod Russell. He's new to County General.'
Christina looked at Jarod. She was a bit startled by the intensity of his gaze. She pulled away her hand, and found that she had to pry it away from him!
'Okay! Well, it was nice to meet you, Jarod. Elizabeth, I hope you both enjoy yourselves.'
Christina then turned and abruptly walked away. Elizabeth glanced at Jarod.
'Do you see what I mean?' she asked him.
But Jarod saw much more than what Elizabeth was referring to. Yes, Christina Romano was definitely his Ms. Parker. And unfortunately, she was wearing another barrette.
But those were the small things. Because for a few moments, Jarod saw the old Ms. Parker, when she had looked at Elizabeth just now. Yes, she definitely disliked his date quite a bit!
And he also saw, that Ms. Parker had looked right through him, as if she were indeed, meeting him for the first time. Granted, Jarod had heard of people never regaining lost memories. But he was struck at the irony of the situation. For years, he himself, had struggled to remember and find who his people were, and where he came from. He couldn't believe that Ms. Parker didn't wonder where she truly came from, and who her child's real father was.
Jarod watched Ms. Parker's back, as she walked off. His mind took him back to that rainy night in the barn. He could still remember how her skin felt against his, how silky her legs had felt, wrapped around his waist...
Christina Romano suddenly stopped and turned back around to stare at Elizabeth and Jarod. More pointedly at Jarod. She saw him staring at her again, and realized that she had KNOWN he was looking at her. Elizabeth's date gave life to the saying 'burning a hole in one's back'. Unnerved, she made her way through the crowd and headed upstairs to check on a sleeping Abby.
****
Christina stood over Abby's crib and smiled down at her. She felt better here.
She knew she would have to go back down soon, to play the perfect hostess. But she didn't know any of those people. She didn't even know herself.
'Hiding out, Ms...Mrs. Romano?'
Christina turned around quickly, startled. It was Elizabeth Corday's date! The one that had leered at her earlier. What the hell was he doing up here?
She watched as he walked into the semi-lit room, and looked down into the crib. Christina stared at him. His expression, as he looked at Abby, was tender and...and...proud!
Jarod tore his eyes away from the baby, and looked at Ms. Parker.
'What is her name?' he asked.
Christina tore her eyes from his. She then looked down at her daughter.
'Abigail.' she said. She didn't like this man, and she definitely didn't want her daughter alone with him!
Christina fidgeted, then touched his arm, as if to steer him away.
'Why don't we both get back to the party?' she suggested. Jarod reached up and touched her hand that was on his arm.
'Forgive me, Mrs. Romano, if my being up here has frightened, or offended you in any way. It's just that everyone downstairs has been telling me about what a beautiful child my boss has. I just had to see her for myself.'
For some reason, Christina smiled, for she misinterpreted the compliment completely. She removed her hand from his.
'Because you couldn't believe that such a jerk, could produce such a nice baby, hey?'
Jarod looked embarrassed. Christina laughed. Jarod was struck by the sound, since Ms. Parker rarely ever did so.
'I know what my husband is like. I don't think I could explain to anyone, that he is not the beast that he appears to be in the workplace.'
'You could explain it to me.' Jarod suggested softly, his eyes falling back on Abby.
Christina eyed him. For some reason, she had no doubt that she could explain it to him. A man she had just met. The idea suddenly made her feel uncomfortable.
'Are Elizabeth and you close?' she asked politely.
'Are you hoping that we are?' he asked in return.
Christina's polite face disappeared, and the Ms. Parker sneer took over.
'What does that mean?'
Jarod grinned.
'It means that it was obvious to me, from the chilly reception you gave Dr. Corday downstairs, that you consider her to be some sort of threat to you...or your marriage. Am I getting warm, Mrs. Romano?'
'What you are, is getting on my nerves, Dr. Russell! Now I suggest you leave my daughter's room, before I tell my husband about our disturbing encounter!'
''Disturbing encounter'?' Jarod asked, enjoying the dressing down he was getting. He had missed his Ms. Parker!
'Get out!' she hissed, not knowing how to respond to this man's aggravating demeanor and grin!
Jarod backed away, not wanting to push her, or the situation.
'I'm sorry if I offended you.'
Christina looked him up and down.
'No you're not! But you can prove how sorry you are, by keeping that red-headed tramp away from my husband!'
Jarod did not respond, but turned and walked out of the room. He then stood out in the hallway for a moment.
Ms. Parker had sensed something between Dr. Romano and Dr. Corday, just as he had. Was it possible that Dr. Romano had married Ms. Parker, in some sort of attempt to make Dr. Corday jealous?
Whatever the situation, Jarod began to realize, that maybe pushing Dr. Romano and Dr. Corday together, could be a way to extricate Ms. Parker from this marriage. He also needed to earn her trust and friendship. That would be the first step in helping her regain her memory. Then, maybe she would remember the two of them. Once that happened, then they, him, Ms. Parker, and Abigail, could be a family.
Jarod stared back towards the room. The Centre could not find out about Abigail. They could not find out that Ms. Parker was alive. The thought of his daughter going through what he went through, made his stomach churn! And they would want Abigail. The child of a Parker and a Pretender. And there was still Arvin Sloane and Mr. Lyle to consider. Jarod realized he would still have to be very careful. He didn't want to unwittingly lead The New Centre sweepers, to Ms. Parker, Abigail, or himself.
'Hey, Russell!'
Jarod looked the other way, and saw Robert Romano glaring at him.
'What do you think you're doing up here?' he asked sharply.
Jarod pasted on a smile.
'Just looking for the bathroom.'
'The one you need is downstairs. You haven't by any chance seen my wife, have you?'
Jarod knew that Ms. Parker had come upstairs, to get away from the pressures of this social situation. She wasn't cut out to be a doctor's wife, not had she ever been the social butterfly.
'No, I haven't.'
Robert Romano stared at him hard.
'Are you coming?' he almost snapped.
Jarod nodded, and walked down the hall with him. As they reached the landing, Robert looked at him.
'It took a lot for Lizzie to come to this thing, without Mark, and with another man. If you're playing around with her, I will make your life miserable, are we clear?'
Jarod heard the strong emotion in his boss's voice, none of the anger.
'It's clear. Everything is now crystal clear.' Jarod responded, walking down the stairs. He worked his way through the crowd, until he was by Elizabeth's side. Romano had stayed put on the landing. He didn't like Jarod Russell. He would be keeping a close eye on him.
****
Christina Romano slowly rocked in the chair that was in her daughter's room. She had just realized something.
Dr. Corday's arrogant date...Dr. Russell...his face...he was one of the men that appeared in the dreams that she had been having! What did it mean?
One thing she was beginning to be sure of, was that Dr. Russell KNEW her. If she was remembering him, then he did know her from somewhere else. He knew her, but had not said a word to her about it. She couldn't forget how he had looked at Abby. For it had been one of her fears, that one of these strange men that she had been dreaming about, was Abby's real father.
Christina swallowed hard and pulled herself together. Maybe it was time to tell Robert about her dreams, and that Jarod Russell was showing up in them.
****
Later that evening, after dropping off Elizabeth, Jarod returned to his apartment and called Sydney.
'Well?' he asked.
'It's her,' he replied. 'She appears to have complete and total amnesia.'
'So, she did not recognize you at all? And she loves this man she is married to?'
Jarod took a deep breath.
'My answer would be, 'I'm not sure' on both of your questions, Sydney. I know Ms. Parker didn't seem to know me when we first met. But I did manage to get some time alone with her later. I believe she found me to be quite aggravating.'
Sydney smiled on his end.
'So you're taking her annoyance with you, as a sign that she may have remembered you?'
'Yes.'
'Okay, well, what about this man...Dr. Romano?'
'It would take too long to describe that man, Sydney. I do suspect that he has a fondness for another woman. Ms. Parker suspects it as well.'
'Oh no! What has she gotten herself into?'
'Her domestic affairs are the least of her problems, Sydney. And to be blunt, it worries me that she is unaware of this. The Centre lets no one go. Ms. Parker, amnesia or not, is not really free. She needs to know that.'
'What are you going to do? I mean, The Centre and what they do, will mean nothing to her, even if you try and explain it. She may not even believe you.'
'I still have to try.' Jarod said quietly. 'Goodnight, Sydney.'
Jarod hung up and set his phone down. He then picked it back up, and called his father, Major Charles. They had a friendly chat, in which he did tell the Major, that he had found Ms. Parker. They then said their goodbyes. That call, would prove to be Jarod's undoing. For Mr. Lyle, had Major Charles's phones tapped. Despite the New Centre's more diversified interests, he had not forgotten Jarod. Not by a long shot.
A lackey, delivered a report to Mr. Lyle about the conversation. Needless to say, he was quite disturbed to find out that his twin sister was still alive.