I wake up to a rattling sound from the kitchen. Kate's trying to make breakfast, how sweet, but unfortunately impossible. Kate's cooking skills are a disaster. I untangle myself from my children who cling to me still sound asleep and stand up, making my way to the kitchen to take over.
"Good morning, Ana Montana!" she stifles a yawn.
"Good morning, Kate! How was your date?" I ask, curiously. After all, her answer will dictate my future life.
"Great. He's quite a good lover", she smirks.
"Good for you, Kate", I say and flip the pancakes. That was not the information I needed, that was too much information.
"More enthusiasm, please. He is going to help us. Actually, he's picking you up in two hours to take you to the hospital. Who knows, maybe we'll have a male guest for lunch", she winks at me.
I stop dead in my tracks. Oh my god. I don't know if I'm ready for this.
"Ana", she says, "it will all work out, you'll see." She lays a hand around my shoulder.
"Let's hope so!" I say and ask her to set the table.
After I have woken up the boys we have breakfast and talk about our plans for today. Kate will take care of Tommy and Andy and I'll go to the hospital with Phil. If Mr. Grey is ready to leave, we will come home and let things take their course. If not, we'll have another day of preparation. I look at the clock and realize that I have only one hour left to get ready. So I hurry up to the bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. I change into jeans, a white tank top, a melon colored cardigan and flats and put my hair up into a bun.
At ten o'clock sharp there's a knock at the door. Kate answers it and gives Phil a big, fat kiss. He kisses me on the cheeks and I offer him a coffee. He refuses it, because he made an appointment for us at the hospital and we should get going. We take two cars to get there and meet at the entrance.
I'm not a good liar, nor a good actress, but now I must not fuck this up. "I can do it, I can do it, I have to do it …" I say to myself. This fucker will pay, and he will shell out for me. So when Phil arrives, we make our way to the hospital entrance, with my back straight and my chin held high. Phil instructs me to wait in the waiting room, which is kind of obvious. So I sit there in the waiting room, ready for the confrontation with this Neanderthal, reading 'Guess how much I love you', Andy's favorite book. Although it's written for two to three year olds, I have major problems concentrating. I'm quite nervous and still hope that this was not a bad idea. After half an hour the door opens, Phil appears and says to me: "Come on, Annie, let's get ready to rumble!" He escorts me through the hallway and shows me to the right door. I open it a little and have a look. In the room, there are two doctors and another patient and of course, Mr. Grey. Unsurprisingly, he has a temper tantrum.
"… Well, what do you know? Extend your brain a teensy little bit, if possible", he screams.
"You seem to be suffering from a temporary amnesia", one of the doctors explains.
"How temporary is it?" he asks emphatically.
"We don't know. Other than that, you seem to be in excellent physical shape", the other doctor states.
"Listen to me, medical people. As of now, I have a life history of a dirty garbage scow and meals you can barely call them such, because every pig in the United States gets better food. Now I refuse, refuuuse …" he throws something through the room "… to be incarcerated in this semiprivate room!" Pointing to the other patient, he continues: "He snores!" Turning to the doctors he says: "While there are no efforts being made by anyone to try and locate …"
Phil interrupts my eavesdropping and whispers: "Maybe we wait a bit and come back later, when he's quieted down."
I nod and take a last look at Mr. Grey.
"… I demand you do something! Do you hear me? I don't know who I am, but I'm sure I have a lawyer!" he hollers.
I turn around and go to the cafeteria and have a strong coffee. Normally, I drink tea, but I have a feeling, I need the energy today, so coffee it is. Seeing Mr. Grey in such a mood makes me scared. What if he's like this at home, with my kiddos? How can I get rid of him? I think, that is a problem Kate will have, because it was her idea. After the coffee, I make my way to Christian's room. I enter the room and look around. It's a very simple room with two beds, two little nightstands, two chairs and a little TV. One bed is now empty and in the other, there he is, sleeping. I take a chair and sit beside him looking at him. He is even prettier than I remember. Ok, back then I didn't look at him very close. He is muscular, so that means he should be able to work hard for me. I chuckle. Now I have a slave and a babysitter. Oh my god, I could take long baths and maybe go out and do some things for myself. I love my children, but in the last few months, I only lived for them and not for me. Maybe this all is a sign to take better care of myself. I run my fingers through his tousled hair. Hmmm, they're so soft. I look at him closer and see something on this chest. He's wearing a hospital gown and the two top buttons are undone, so I open another button and see round scars. It looks like cigarette burns, but they're not fresh, they seem to be much older as if they are from his childhood. I gulp. Oh my god, what happened to him? I button him up and lean back in my chair. I feel sick to my stomach and my mind reels. Am I doing the right thing? Maybe he was abused as a child and now I'm the one taking advantage of him. I sigh. Oh shit, too late to flee, he stirs and opens his eyes. He looks at me. I freeze. Will he recognize me? When he does, then we would have done all of this for no reason.
"Hey sleepyhead!" I say to break the ice.
"Hi!" he croaks and clears his throat.
"How are you?" I ask and take his hand in my own. I feel a familiar shiver running through my hand.
"Who are you?" he asks me with a demanding voice. So he doesn't remember, good.
"I'm Ana, short for Anastasia, I'm your wife", I say as conclusive as possible.
"I don't have a wife. I don't know you!" he says in a voice, which is a pitch higher than usual. Shit, he's not buying it.
"I heard you lost your memory. It's ok." I smile at him, trying to ease this situation.
"Nothing is ok. I'm lying here for the second day. Where were you?" he says annoyed and sits up in his bed.
Oh my. What have I done? This pinhead will make my life more miserable than he already had. "I was looking for you, you egoist! I was at home, nearly dying because my husband went missing. You scared the shit out of me, you fucking dickhead! Where were you?" Huh! Take that!
He sighs. "I don't know. I don't know anything. What's my name?" he asks, beginning a round of 21 questions.
"Christian", I say exhausted.
"Hmmm. Christian." He's trying to recollect something, you can see the wheels turning in his head. I hold my breath. I'm afraid, when he remembers something before he finished the work in my back yard, then all would be to no purpose.
"Yes, Christian Steele." Ugh! That sounds weird.
"How old am I?" he asks and I try to remember. What did this guy on TV say?
"Thirty." Could be right.
"Where do I live?" He is persistent.
"We moved not long ago and are now living here in Montesano." 'Thanks for that, Mr. Grey' I think to myself.
"What do I do for a living?"
"You work for your father's company. He is a carpenter."
"What was I doing yesterday?"
Ok, stick to the truth as much as possible. "Honestly, I don't know exactly. We had a fight and you left. Obviously you were at sea." Wow, this is an excellent explanation. This would explain why he has to sleep on the couch, we won't have sex and I'm distant to him, which I think I will be. At least not as close as a married woman should be.
"Why were we fighting?" he asks narrowing his brows. Maybe his persistence is the reason he's so good at his job, but it fucking annoys me.
"Look, let's talk about it, when you have your memory back. As long as you don't remember anything, it's irrelevant anyway." I'm pretty pleased, how this conversation is going.
He sighs. "It's so frustrating not to remember one single thing."
"I know. So how about you rest and as soon as the doctors give their permission, we can go home and slowly work on your memory. When you're stressing yourself out, it won't help you at all." I squeeze his hand.
He nods. I give him a bag with clothes and say: "Here are some clothes for you." He thanks me and puts it on his night table.
"Are you staying for lunch? Maybe you can smuggle something eatable into my room. I can't eat this muck anymore!" he moans.
I giggle. "Sure. Wait here. I'll go to the deli right outside the hospital. How does a chicken sandwich sound to you?"
"I would die for it right now. Bring it to me and I name my first born after you!" he says distressed.
I smile at him and stand up to get us sandwiches. On the way out I think about Christian. It went better than I thought. I'm anxious about what he will say to my kids. I chuckle. Poor Christian, my boys are a handful, even for experienced people. Getting back to his room, I stop at the vending machine to get us some soda cans. As I enter his room, Christians face lights up. I sit in the chair and spread the food in front of us. He takes one bite and moans.
"Mmmmhhh, I think, I'm in heaven!" he says and takes another bite. "This is so much better than the food here!"
"Then wait until you get home. I think I can top these sandwiches", I say proudly and smile. He stares at me.
"What?" I ask. It's a bit creepy staring bluntly in front of your counterpart.
"You are really beautiful", he murmurs.
I blush and look at my sandwich. Oh I'm not used to compliments anymore, but it feels good. I smile. 'Yeah, that's what you are for.' I think to myself. 'To make me feel good.'
"Thanks", I say and open my can. *splash* The can squirts all over me and Christian chuckles. Great! That's typical. I take a napkin and clean myself up. "Do you know, when you are able to come home?" I try to change the subject.
"Tomorrow morning, as long as nothing comes up. Will you pick me up?" he questions me hopefully.
"Sure", I say and smile mischievously. 'Rest as long as you can, as soon as you are home, you'll meet the princess of darkness, who reads you the riot act.' I think to myself. After lunch I stand up and give him a peck on his cheek and say goodbye. I leave the hospital and let out a huge breath. Day one managed. So I'm positive for the days that will follow.
When I come home, Kate and Tommy are trying to play the old piano in the living room. Apparently, Kate can play at least a few nursery rhymes.
"Where is Andy?" I ask while heading for the couch and plopping on it.
Kate looks up and smiles. "He's taking a nap. Heeeeeey, Ana Santana, you're back! How did it go? Tell me everything!"
"I'll pick him up tomorrow morning", I sigh. I'm exhausted and don't know how some people can lie 24/7.
"Great! I told you it would all work out." She stands up and announces cheerfully: "Time for your bath, Tommy!"
The two go to the bathroom and I follow them. Kate sets up the bathtub and while Tommy sits in the tub playing with his toys, Kate and I are speaking in low voices.
"What was he like?" she asks. Yay, and here it comes, the famous Katherine Kavanagh Inquisition.
"He was rather intimidating, you know", I say fearfully.
"Never fear! His bark is worse than his bite", she interprets assured.
"Probably. Look, could you excuse me for an hour? I need a nap, too. After that I'll cook dinner, ok?" I beg.
"Sure thing, Annie", she says and gives me a quick hug.
I go to my bed and try to take a nap. Grey eyes are haunting me in my dreams.
Nobody mentioned the other movie quote from chapter 2, so the rug, which tied the room together is a quote from the movie "The Big Lebowski" No other movie quote in this chapter, but in the next, there are three! I'm curious, if you'll find them!
Here's a little love note from my baby girl for you all: "+©ddd5t4 h-. y≈å≤VBNMBqa4SA" She just loves my keyboard ;D
hettyblue, thompson1996 - Thanks for your review!
janeellove - I love that movie too and yes, the story is finished, but not edited by now ;)
ashley . mercer . 16 - I think I don't have to answer the question, if Ana manages it to get Christian to like her ;D It's just a teeny tiny, very regional, apparently bad TV channel. As for the family or staff: Ana's asking herself the same, but as this story is in her POV, she maybe or maybe not will find it out, but sure not yet. Let's see what will happen ;)
sweetsub75 - Thanks for you encouraging review. I wrote the story in advance, so I'll just stick with it ;) If you keep asking for his POV I'll make you the same offer as to ashley - that in the end you may choose one chapter and I try to write it in CPOV ;D. I'm updating every Sunday (GMT+1), because there are two beta readers, who edit my story and there are 2 kids under 3, which need my attention too, so once a week is a pace, we're all able to deliver ;)
Christian618, Guest - Yeah, I know it's insane, so let's see how it will work out.
Grey Steele fan - As for now, I don't plan to expand my one shot. English is not my mother tongue, so I wanted to practice to write a sex scene, because those are not exactly the words you learn at school ;D. But never say never - maybe some day I will have a flash of inspiration and will write a whole story.
Pielietje - I'm sorry you don't like her. I hope, the following chapters can change your mind, but we'll have to see.
annabaker71 - She moved to Montesano (where she grew up in the books and didn't knew CG either ;D)