Chapter 87

Because Dr. Skaggs had said that she was not allowed to drive for two weeks after her surgery, Mac was waiting for AJ to get home from the store so they could go to the counseling appointment. It was a beautiful spring afternoon and she could see that the lilac bushes near the house were about ready to bloom. She wondered if she had been living here last year when they did.

A wave of sadness struck her; she didn't even remember her own wedding anniversary! Looking down at her beautiful wedding ring, she held her hand up so the sun caught it, glinting off of the emerald, she suddenly lost focus and in her mind she saw AJ sliding the ring onto her hand, then the scene shifted to the same little old lady that she had remembered before. This time Ms. Bea was holding her hand and stroking her ring. She heard the woman's voice saying, "I see two unhappy men. One, in a uniform with golden wings, he will get over his unhappiness quickly. The other man, a secret man, he will hold his unhappy heart until he goes to his grave." Then the scene changed again…this time she saw Clay holding her hand and looking at her wedding ring….she heard him say, "You know I still love you, Sarah, and if you wanted we could make this ring the real thing. Marry me!"

Just then AJ pulled up and she ran over to the Escalade, "AJ, why would Clay suggest that my ring isn't real?"

"What?"

"I just had another flash of memory, and in it, Clay was saying that he could make my ring the real thing if I married him!" Tears were slowly sliding down her face. "He told me that he loved me when we were in Paraguay, but I couldn't return his feelings-is he still after me even after we got married?"

"Sarah, I know that this has to be frustrating for you in the extreme, but I can't tell you the things that you want to know. I'm so sorry, darling. Let's talk to Dr. Sheppard about it, and if she says that I can start to tell you some things because you are already remembering, then I will. Until then, don't worry about Webb. I'll make sure that he does not bother you with his feelings again!"

"Oh, AJ, I'm sorry that this is such a burden to you!"

He hugged her close and said, "You're not a burden. Having you and Angela in my life is a blessing, one for which I thank the Lord every day! Now let's get going or we'll be late."

After their first session with Dr. Sheppard, Sarah got Angela and all of her baby things ready to leave the doctor's office. AJ motioned to her doctor that he wanted a private moment with her in the hallway. Stepping out of the office and pulling the door closed, AJ said, "Dr. Sheppard, I'm concerned that her only memories so far have been of the time that we were in Florida on the mission. She's remembered nothing else of the year that's missing."

Gloria Sheppard looked up at the concerned husband standing in front of her. She had dealt with many amnesia patients in her time, but this case was the most unusual to date. "Admiral, have you considered that the reason for that is because that was a happy time for her? That the year that she has forgotten was not? She's remembering things that gave her pleasure. Her love for you brings her pleasure. The baby, in her own way, reaffirms that love. I wouldn't worry about it for now. The rest will come back in time, but if it doesn't then just continue to love and support her, the way you have been. That is what's best for her."

"Thank you, Doctor, I'll do my best," replied a thoughtful AJ.

"I know you will, Admiral, you're doing a splendid job so far," stated Sheppard, opening the door and stepping back into her office as Sarah came out with the baby.

"Secrets, darling?" Sarah whispered.

To be continued….