by Anne B. Cole
A warm hand touched his back, bringing him back in focus. “If you need anything, I’ll be down the hall.” Ruby left the room as Claire sat in the chair next to Gretta’s bed, popping open her can of soda. The sound reminded Sam of the Sprite.
“Here, a peace offering.” Sam dug the can out of his sling. Gretta’s eyes lit up.
“I’m dying of thirst.” She touched the can, but Sam held tight.
“Forgive me?”
“You haven’t done anything wrong, except that you’re keeping me from that Sprite.” She tugged harder.
“Please.”
“Okay. You’re forgiven.” Cool fingers curled around his, lingered, and then jerked away. Her cheeks glowed red. He guided her hand back to the can and wrapped her fingers around it.
“I need you to hold this for me.” Sam popped the tab. Gretta took a long drink before setting it down.
“Thanks.” Her face clouded as she stifled a burp. “Sorry, I usually don’t belch on a first date.” Gretta stole a glance at her mother, who thankfully had fallen asleep.
Sam moved closer. “Well, if you count being pinned under the tree our first, I suppose this would be our second.” Gretta wasn’t different. She was perfect.
“Were you released?” She eyed his hospital wrist band.
Sam nodded. “Ruby kicked me out. Did they give you any idea how long you’ll be here?”
“The doctor said I’ll have another scan in the morning. If all looks good, I may get to go home in a day or two. I have to tolerate solid food. Lunch didn’t go well. That’s my dinner.” She pointed to two bags hanging from the pole beside her bed.
“Beautiful,” Sam murmured.
Gretta looked to the flowers on the bedside table. “They’re pretty. The daisies are from my parents. I don’t know who the yellow roses are from. There wasn’t a card.”
“Probably fell out.” Sam pretended to look, knowing there wasn’t a card to find.
Gretta nodded then twisted the ring on her right hand. She adjusted it with her thumb so that the stone rested straight on her finger.
Sam’s heart raced. “Pretty ring.”
“It’s very old. My grandmother gave it to me.” Gretta’s eyes became distant, unfocused.
“Gretta?”
“Sam, it didn’t work. Lorenzo died, and you—”
Sam grabbed her hand. “We’re back. You’re safe.” Gretta’s eyes rolled back into her head. Sam punched the call button. Within seconds, Ruby bounded into the room, followed by Caroline. Gretta’s eyes refocused, widening at Sam and then at her mother.
“Mom?” Gretta turned to Sam. “We have to go back.” Tears welled in her eyes.
“I’ll get the doctor.” Caroline left the room.
“Mom, why are you here?” Gretta tried to get up. Tubes attached to her body tugged back.
“Step outside, Sam.” Ruby held Gretta down by her shoulders.
“Don’t leave me.” Gretta cried, pushing against Ruby’s grip. Sam grabbed her ice cold hand. Caroline returned with Dr. Levi. “We have to go back!” Gretta screamed.
“Take him out,” Ruby ordered. Caroline dragged Sam into the hall, depositing him into a chair. Another nurse scrambled into Gretta’s room.
“How long were you two stuck under the tree?” Caroline asked, blocking his view of Room 207.
“I’m not sure. I was out for part of it. An hour, maybe longer. What’s happening?” Gretta continued to cry out for him.
“Hard to say. Head injuries can be complicated. She may remember being trapped. What was it like?”
Caroline’s question caught Sam off guard. “I don’t remember much.” His mind was not on the tree. It was on the ring. He knew exactly why Gretta was upset. She was remembering. The second nurse rushed out, disappeared down the hall, and returned carrying an IV bag and a handful of small items. “I have to get back in there.” Sam attempted to stand.
Caroline placed a firm hand on his shoulder, sending a searing pain throughout his body. “Sorry, you’re stuck with me.”
After Sam slumped back in the chair, Caroline turned her attention to a computer monitor on the desk. Sam’s thoughts raced. What does Gretta remember?
Ruby opened the door. “You can come back in.”
“Is she okay?” Sam scrambled to his feet.
Ruby sighed, “Head injuries. She’s showing typical symptoms: confusion, anxiety, irritability—”
“Irritability?”
“She was pretty upset when we made you leave the room.” Ruby held the door for Sam. Dr. Levi was talking to Claire. He ignored them and walked straight to Gretta’s side.
“Hey.” He touched her cheek without thinking.
“Hey,” Gretta replied. She immediately looked down at the ring on her finger. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I just freaked out. I can’t seem to remember.” Evidence of tears stained her cheeks.
Sam’s fingers brushed sweaty hair from her face. “Maybe it’s good not to remember.”
Gretta paused for a minute then shook her head. “They think I am crazy, gave me something to calm me.” She pointed to the IV pole. A third bag hung, dripping liquid into the tube that connected to her arm.
Dr. Levi approached, causing Sam to step back. “Gretta, try to get some sleep.”
She shook her head. “I’m afraid I’ll forget where I am again.”
The doctor turned to Claire. “When will your husband arrive?”
“He should be here any minute.”
“I’ll speak with him.” He turned to Gretta. “If you forget, your parents will be here to explain. Someone will always be with you. It’s okay to sleep.”
“Where’s Dad?” Gretta asked.
Claire took a deep breath and glanced at the doctor who nodded approval. Ruby and Dr. Levi left the room.
“Honey, your father is on his way back from Richmond. He went to see Grandma.” Claire swallowed hard. “He was here all night and most of the morning. Grandma had a stroke.”
“Is she okay?” The grip on Sam’s hand tightened. He couldn’t remember taking her hand but didn’t let go.
“She cannot talk. That’s expected. I’ll go see her after your father arrives, if it’s okay with you.”
Gretta nodded, grabbing a tissue off the table for her mother. Claire sighed, sinking down in the chair.
Ruby poked her head into the room. “Mrs. Dobbs, an officer is down in the lobby. He wants to speak with you.”
Claire’s head snapped up in frustration. “What do they want? I thought I made it clear that we’re not pressing charges.”
Ruby turned to Gretta. “I’m on break. If you need anything, Caroline is here.”
Claire touched Gretta’s shoulder. “Honey, I better go. Sam, will you stay until I return?”
“Of course.” His response sounded too eager, so he pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll let my father know. Can I call here?”
“Go ahead,” Ruby replied. “I’ll walk you downstairs, Mrs. Dobbs.”
“Thank you, Ruby.” Claire waited as Sam talked on the phone.
“Pop, I’m gonna be a while.” He explained the situation and then told his father that Gretta was doing fine. He turned away and lowered his voice. “Yes, Pop. She’s very pretty.” Sam hung up and stuffed his phone into his pocket. “My father just arrived. He’s a police officer from Petersburg. I’m sure he can help straighten things out for you, Mrs. Dobbs.”
“Thank you, Sam. I’ll be right back.” Claire kissed Gretta’s cheek then left with Ruby.
Sam took the chair that Claire had vacated. “I guess you’re stuck with me.”
Gretta fidgeted with her hair. “I don’t mind as long as you don’t ask me what day it is or who is president.”<
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Sam laughed. “Promise.”
She grinned and leaned back into her pillow. “I think I remember everything.”
“Everything?” Sam’s chin dropped.
“Well, everything except talking to you. I still can’t remember that.” Gretta’s gaze fell to her hands, to the ring.
“Of course you can’t remember. You were out cold.” Sam instantly realized his mistake.
Gretta tilted her head up and eyed him. “They said I talked to you, that you knew my name.”
“I did? I don’t remember.” Sam continued, uneasy with the fib, “I remember the tree falling and a branch clipped me in the back of the head. Everything is a blur.”
Gretta nodded. “I suppose it’s okay if we both can’t remember.”
Sam leaned closer, reaching up to push a stray hair away from her face. Before he could touch her, a loud beep startled them. Sam struggled to get the phone out of his pocket.
“Text from Pop.” Sam’s face lit up. “It says, ‘Stay with Gretta. Be back later.’ Pop’s on call for an officer whose wife is extremely pregnant. It must be baby time. Is it all right if I hang out here?”
“You promised my mother you would.”
“Parental consent on both sides.” Sam tossed his phone on the table next to her bed. He noticed that her eyes were blue, as blue as his own were when he was with Lorenzo and he had Anya’s deep brown eyes. He found his hand had made its way to hers and was gently rubbing her fingertips.
“Sorry.” He let go.
“No.” She reached up, snatching it back. “I really am tired.” Fear crept into her eyes. “I won’t be scared if you’re here.”
“I won’t leave. I promise.” Sam held her hand securely within his.
Gretta appeared confused then drifted to sleep. He slowly raised her hand and kissed it gently. The cat leapt out of his sling, gracefully landing by Gretta’s leg.
“Hey, if you’re in there, Roxana, don’t wipe my memory,” Sam whispered. “I can help Gretta if she starts to remember. I can also make sure Pop doesn’t use you for target practice.”
The cat began pawing the blanket alternately with her front claws. She found the perfect spot right against Gretta’s leg where she curled up into a tight ball and closed her eyes.
Sam gazed at Gretta and thought back to Katarina’s warning to keep a safe distance from her. All he could think about was how he could spend time with her and how much he loved her. Breaking the curses could wait. Love and longevity would give them a lifetime together.
Gretta stirred. Sam rubbed her hand within his then closed his eyes. He thanked God that Gretta was all right, that they were both back home and, more than anything, that he was able to be with her if she started to remember.