Chapter 15.

Lois had resumed her shift at the Talon the following morning, and Lana was immensely grateful and pleased that Lois was back to her usual self. Martha would be back at work after the weekend so at least by the start of the week, the shift rota would be back on track. Lois had just finished serving a customer when she saw somebody approach the bar. She had a feeling she should know him but her mind was drawing a blank.

"Hi. What can I get ya?" she asked.

Kevin nervously stepped closer and opened his backpack, taking out a package in a brown envelope.

"This is all of it. I-I'm sorry if I hurt you," he said, looking at the floor ashamed.

Lois was surprised but kept her voice down. "You! It was you who took my memory and the money?"

"Look, I'm not proud of what I did but I want to put it right. Starting now," he explained.

Lois carefully took the package and looked over the envelope, keeping her eyes on Kevin as she opened it. The envelope contained money. Removing it and quickly counting it, she found $200 plus maybe ten dollars in loose change. Having helped Martha and even Lana count the takings on several occasions, the amount more or less tallied with what they'd expect to find after a busy morning. She looked up at Kevin again, curious.

"Why would you do that?"

"I got into a destructive cycle after what happened last year, but thanks to your friend Clark, I can now do something more positive with this gift," he explained.

Lois was now curious. "And what might that be?"

"I'm working with Summerholt on a programme that helps people affected by memory loss to come to terms with it. The job is part time and I don't get paid, but Summerholt have agreed to fund my college tuition after I graduate from high school. I guess they also feel a bit guilty for what my dad did."

"Well, I'm not happy about what happened but I guess I'm back to normal now. Maybe it's better to not dwell on bad memories, or even the fact I had no memories for a while."

Kevin smiled for the first time. "Because of what happened, the Sheriff decided not to press charges after I said I'd return the money. I've left a bit extra in there just because I caused so much trouble. Thanks for understanding. I'm glad you're better now." As he made to leave, he added, "Oh hey, tell your friend Clark thanks for everything. He's a good guy. I can see why you like him."

Lois was incredulous. "What? Me like him?"

Kevin explained. "Well, yeah. The way you looked at him, and how he helped you when I took the money, and how much he wanted me to try and help get your memories back. I thought you guys were like that because it seems you like each other a lot." He crossed his index and middle fingers together on the word 'that'.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Here was Kevin suggesting that she and the dorky farmboy had a thing for one another judging by how she'd behaved when she had amnesia. It simply wasn't possible, was it? Oh god, did I do something?

Lois was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she hadn't notice Kevin slip away and out of the Talon. She looked over at the front door and then at the envelope full of money on the counter. Had she forgotten anything that was worth remembering?

FIN.