Part 16 (1/2)

In the end, it was something as simple as food. The eight-year-old Jackson had forgotten his lunch. Seeing his predicament, she'd shared her sandwich with him. Such generosity had overcome his shyness, and he thanked her.

Unconsciously pulling the letter close to her heart, she longed to know the next step in their friends.h.i.+p. Had they gradually grown closer over the years? Had they become more than friends?

At this point, she forced herself to stop. It wasn't wise to look too far ahead. Right now she had the very real problem of what was going to happen when she left the hospital. No one seemed to have an answer to that question. Where had she been living before the accident, and why couldn't she simply go back there? None of it made any sense.

Jackson's steps automatically quickened when he recognized the man standing by his truck. The situation he'd hoped to avoid had finally caught up with him. What should he do? No matter how much he disliked Mitch.e.l.l's involvement with Hannah, he couldn't allow his emotions to dictate his actions. And as much as he'd like to see Mitch.e.l.l disappear, he couldn't lie to make it happen.

When he got close enough, he asked, ”What can I do for you, Mitch.e.l.l?”

”You know why I'm here. I'm looking for Hannah.”

Jackson nodded. ”She was in a car accident last week.”

Mitch.e.l.l's face paled. ”That's why I haven't been able to reach her. Where is she now?”

”In the hospital. She was in a coma for four days. Right now, she doesn't seem to remember anything prior to the accident.”

”How long is that supposed to last?”

”They're not sure. In the meantime, we have to be careful how much we tell her. She's confused and gets upset easily.”

”When can she leave the hospital?”

”I haven't been given a date yet.”

Mitch.e.l.l bit his lip. ”I have to be back in New York tomorrow.”

That was fine with Jackson. He didn't want Mitch.e.l.l to stick around. ”I'm sorry I don't have better news for you.”

”You're not sorry. You can't wait for me to leave, and I understand why. I hope you're not depending on Hannah's loss of memory to save your marriage, because when she does remember, she'll come back to me. She always does.”

Jackson's fingers clinched into fists. He'd love to wipe the satisfied grin off Mitch.e.l.l's face, but he wasn't going to get into a brawl in his work parking lot. Fist fighting was for teenagers, not grown men. ”Once Hannah is recovered, she's free to do whatever she wants.”

”Since I'm here, I'd like to see her.”

”She's at St. Francis Hospital, room 410. It's down the street a few blocks. If you care about her at all, please be careful what you say.”

Mitch.e.l.l turned away. ”Thanks for the info and the advice.”

Jackson watched Mitch.e.l.l's car until it was out of sight. Then he got into his truck, but he didn't make any move to turn the key. The ambiguous and uncertain nature of this situation galled him. His hands were tied both by the circ.u.mstances and his own conscience. Why did he feel so torn about Hannah seeing Mitch.e.l.l? And why did he want to protect the woman who'd left him? Was Mitch.e.l.l right? Was he hoping that her reason for being here had something to do with him?

Bowing his head, he prayed, ”Father, please don't let Mitch.e.l.l upset Hannah. I know it's selfish to think this way, but she's vulnerable right now. He can tell her anything, and she'll believe him. I don't want her to leave again without knowing why she came.”

A knock on the window of the pa.s.senger side of his truck brought his head up abruptly. Feeling embarra.s.sed, Jackson put the window down.

”Hey, Colton.”

”Anything wrong? You look upset.”

”Mitch.e.l.l is on his way to see Hannah.”

”He showed up, huh? I don't think he's going to get the reception he's expecting.”

Jackson smiled faintly. ”She might remember him.”

Colton leaned against the truck. ”There's a chance she might, but it's a very small one. According to something Dr. Koutoucki said, the immediate events leading up to the accident that caused the amnesia usually take longer to resurface. Once Mitch.e.l.l realizes she doesn't know him, he won't have any reason to stay. He's found out what he wants to know and from what you've told me, he's not the type to hang around when times get tough.”

”He mentioned that he had to get back to New York.”

”That doesn't surprise me at all. He's at a disadvantage here, and he knows it. I'll run over to the hospital and see how the reunion is going.”

”I was hoping you'd do that, but didn't want to ask.”

”I'm good at reading minds. Just ask Laurel. I'll see you at the house. This won't take long. Tell my beautiful wife not to start dinner without me.”

”I will and thanks, Colton.”

Hannah was finis.h.i.+ng a bowl of vanilla pudding when a man walked into her room and approached the bed. Her eyes took in the coal-black hair, light blue eyes and stubble of beard. Her heart started to pound in her chest. Was this Jackson? She hadn't pictured him as being so good-looking or so intimidating. He hadn't smiled yet.

”h.e.l.lo, Hannah. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner. I just found out about your accident.”

She held out her hand. ”You'll have to tell me who you are. I'm having trouble remembering.”

”I'm Mitch.e.l.l Staverly.”

Hannah was relieved to find out he wasn't Jackson. He didn't fit her mental image of the man capable of writing such wonderful letters. ”It's nice to meet you, Mitch.e.l.l. Do you live around here?”

”I live in New York. I've been there almost two years now.”

”So I knew someone who lived in New York. That's amazing.”

”You really don't remember me, do you? It's hard to believe. I've known you for a long time.”

”I don't remember anyone really. I get brief flashes from time to time, but nothing I can put together. The doctor says I'll probably remember more when I get out of here.”

”Where are you going? To Jackson's?”

His question hardly registered. ”Do you know Jackson?” she asked eagerly.

”I knew him in high school. I hadn't seen him in years until today.”

”I'm curious about him.”

”Hasn't he been to see you?”

Hannah tilted her head to the side. ”I think he came while I was in the coma. He's been writing me letters.”