Caroline woke up to find herself alone in the bed. She opened her mouth to call out for Chris when he walked into the bedroom. "Where were you?"
Chris carried a coffee mug over and handed it to her. "I slept on the couch because I knew you needed your rest. How are you feeling? In any pain?"
"Yeah but I want to try and avoid taking any pain medication for a while if I can." She said, taking a drink of her coffee. "Is my needing rest the only reason you slept on the couch?"
He glanced away and took a deep breath before looking at her again. "What other reason would there be?"
"I don't know. You seem different ever since I been home. Like you're keeping me at arms length for some reason."
"I'm sorry Caroline. I'm fine, just worried about you is all."
"I'm fine Chris so you don't need to worry about me." Caroline assured him, reaching over to take his hand in hers. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"When did you cut your hair? I don't remember."
Chris was tempted to tell her that she didn't remember because they weren't together when he did it. "It's been a few weeks now."
"It's going to take some getting used to."
"I know. I'm going to go downstairs to make breakfast and I'll bring it up to you as soon as it's done." He quickly got up and walked out of the room before she could say anything else.
{}{}{}{}{}
Chris pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and sat down at the kitchen table as he dialed Dusty's number.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's Chris. Did I call at a bad time?"
"I just got done feeding Lennon so no. Why? What's up? Is Caroline alright?" Dusty asked and he sighed.
"She's fine. I...I don't know if I can do this for much longer Dusty."
"Do what?"
"Have her here and keep lying to her like I am. It's starting take a toll on me." Chris admitted, running a hand through his hair.
"I know it's hard Chris but you heard what the doctor said...her memory could come back at any time. If you want us to come and get her though, she can stay here."
"No, I don't want to have to make her leave and try to think of a lie as to why she has to leave...she can stay here. I just don't want her to hate me even more than she already does when her memory comes back and she realizes that I've been lying to her."
"She doesn't hate you Chris and she never has. Yes, she was pissed at you for what you did and rightfully so but she never stopped loving you no matter what she says."
"I hope you're right Dusty. Well, I need to get off of here because I told her I was coming downstairs to make breakfast so I'll talk to you later." He said, standing up and walking over to the refrigerator.
"Okay. If you need anything or you just need to talk, call me."
"I will Dusty, thanks." He hung up the phone and laid it on the counter then he began to get food out to make something for breakfast.
{}{}{}{}{}
Dusty hung up the phone and sighed as she laid it on the kitchen table. "I hate this."
"What's going on baby?" Aleister questioned, walking into the kitchen and taking Lennon from her.
"Chris just called and having Caroline there is a lot harder than he thought it was going to be."
"What's she doing?"
"Nothing that's her fault really. She believes that they're still together and it's bothering him to have to lie to her." Dusty explained as she got up, poured him a cup of coffee and brought it over to him.
"Thanks baby. Do you think that we should go get her and let her stay here?"
"I suggested that but he said no because it would be too difficult to try and explain to her why she couldn't stay there any longer. I just hope her memory comes back soon."
{}{}{}{}{}
Caroline smiled as Chris walked into the bedroom and did her best to pull herself up in the bed. "Hey, that smells amazing."
"Eggs cooked just the way you like along with bacon, toast and a glass of orange juice." He said, setting the tray on her lap and kissing her forehead. "What are you watching?"
"There's really not much on."
"How about I put a movie on then?" Chris asked and she smiled up at him.
"Will you watch it with me?"
"Of course." He sat down on the bed beside her and grabbed the remote, searching for a movie that they would both like until he finally found one.
{}{}{}{}{}
Chris opened his eyes, realizing he must have fallen asleep during the movie and he turned to see Caroline glaring at him. "Baby? What's wrong?"
"Don't you baby me...what the fuck am I doing here?"