Forgotten By You (Redeeming Love #2)

by Carlie Sexton

  With that, I whisked Kate out the door before my mom could invite her in for coffee or a piece of pie. I wanted our conversation to be just between us.

  “Your mom’s looking well,” Kate said politely.

  That was something I remembered about her. She was always classy and cordial. David is—shit—David had been so lucky to have her.

  “Yeah, she works at staying fit. She’s at the gym for hours some days.”

  “Well, all her hard work is paying off.” We were approaching Kate’s car. “I thought we could go to my house. We can relax, talk, have coffee or tea. I’ve got all kinds of snacks. How does that sound?”

  “That’d be great. I need a quiet environment right now. Restaurants can be so loud.”

  On the drive over to Kate’s, we engaged in small talk. She told me about her wedding, even though I had been there. It seemed so bizarre to me that she was married to someone other than David. I just couldn’t picture it. Any of it. But I wanted to hear what she had to say. Actually, I needed to hear it. Kate knew everything that happened over the last seven years.

  “We’re here.”

  “Wow, Kate. Looks like you’ve married well.”

  “Neil is wealthy. We bought this house right after we got married. It’s taking some getting used to, since I was raised in a small condo. He’s so good to me, Mitch. I’m a very lucky woman.”

  We walked through the intricately carved double doors into the main room. I could see straight through the house to the ocean view.

  “We can sit in here and I’ll open up the terrace doors if you like. It’s a beautiful afternoon. We’ll be able to hear the ocean.”

  “Yeah, I like that idea.” I sat where she directed me while she went into the kitchen to get us coffee. By the aroma, I could tell she’d made it before leaving to pick me up.

  Kate placed a tray with coffee, cream, and sugar on the coffee table. She sat beside me and we both added in our favorite sweeteners to our coffees.

  “So, how are you feeling, physically?” she asked.

  “I’m feeling good overall. I have a headache now and then, but I take my meds and it goes away.”

  “That’s good. I’m sure you want things back to normal as soon as possible.”

  “Yeah, whatever normal is. I need you to shed some light on my life, starting with David.”

  Kate nodded and took a sip of her coffee. “It seems like a lifetime ago, but I will tell you everything you wanna know.”

  “I was pretty blown away when Garrett told me David had died. I kind of know what happened, but I really wanna hear it from you.”

  Kate had a grave expression on her face as she was readying herself to tell me. “David and I had decided it was time in our relationship to get married. We loved each other so much. You and Charlie were very supportive of our decision. He’d rented an apartment near San Diego State so we could finish school and work our jobs. He was such an old-fashioned kind of guy, so living together was out of the question. We had a plan to get married at the Justice of the Peace. You and Charlie were meeting us there to be our witnesses. No one else knew about our elopement.”

  Kate stopped for a moment to catch her breath. She swallowed hard and her eyes glistened. I reached out and put my hand on hers. “It’s okay, take your time.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s taken me years to let go of what happened. To accept it.”

  “Years, huh?” I asked, wishing I were caught up with everything.

  “We were all devastated by what happened. For a long time I blamed myself.”

  I continued staring at Kate, willing her to go on, giving her a slight nod.

  “David was running late and I was growing impatient. Finally, I texted him to find out when he’d be picking me up. I was an anxious bride, waiting for my groom. In the middle of him texting me back, he hit the median and his car flipped several times. He was dead before the ambulance could get him to the hospital. I found out what happened when a nurse pried David’s cell from his hand and she called me. I thought it was some sick joke at first, but it was real. David was gone.”

  Tears welled up in my eyes. “I hate this, not remembering and having to relive what I’ve already accepted. I can’t believe he’s gone. We were so close…since elementary school.”

  “I know. Some days I still wake up and for a brief moment I think about calling him. Until Neil came along, I didn’t let anyone get close to me. It felt like a betrayal to be with someone else, even though I can’t go back and change anything. I spent a lot of time in therapy to let go of the guilt I felt over his accident.”

  “So, you felt like it was your fault…that he died?”

  “Yeah, if only I hadn’t texted him. David would still be alive and we’d be together.”

  I thought about her statement for a moment. When my mom blamed Kate earlier this morning, I felt some anger toward her. But now, just compassion. “Kate, it was an accident, just like me falling off the ladder. No one made it happen. It just did.”

  Kate looked at me with such gratitude in her eyes. “You said basically the same thing back then. You never blamed me even though you could have.”

  “David would want you to have a great life. He was so crazy about you.”

  “I was crazy about him too. You know, back then, I couldn’t have gotten through this without you and Charlie.” Kate wiped some tears away from her eyes.

  “I hope talking about this isn’t too much for you. We’ve known each other for a long time and other than family, you’re the only other person who can fill in the blanks.”

  “Of course, Mitch. I wanna help you any way I can. I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be to not remember.”

  “Yes, it is. I feel like I’ve made impulsive decisions because of my memory loss. Without even thinking, I broke up with Charlie and went back to Heather. I’m not even sure how it happened. It’s like a tidal wave has crashed over my life and I’m holding onto a raft, trying not to drown.”

  “Well, you’ve made decisions based on what you know. But, you’re missing a lot of information…important information.”

  “Okay, so why did Heather and I break up? Can you tell me that?”

  “You never fully disclosed what happened between you two back then. You just kept saying what she did was unforgivable. That you were moving forward and never looking back. I assumed maybe she cheated on you, but I never knew for sure and as far as I know, you didn’t tell David either. You were very angry though and you told her to stay out of your life for good.”

  “I guess I need my brother to fill me in. I would imagine I told him exactly what happened. He and I have been on the outs, which I didn’t know, so I’m not sure how much help he’ll be.”

  “All you can do is ask him. Maybe he’ll surprise you,” Kate said.

  “Maybe. So, how do you know Charlie? Is she a good person? I guess that’s a stupid question. I wouldn’t be with her if she wasn’t a good person.”

  “Mitch, Charlie is the best person I know. She’s been there for me through everything. We were friends in middle school, but not high school because she moved. We became friends again the summer before our freshman year at SDSU.”

  “Okay. Tell me about Charlie and me together.”

  “Your relationship is the strongest one I know. You adore her, and Mitch, she loves you something fierce. You two were meant for each other from the moment you met.”

  I couldn’t help but smile at Kate. She was how I remembered her and she was in my corner. Her love and support for me was oozing from her pores. “How did we meet?”

  “We all had a class together and you met her on the first day of school. She was dating some terrible guy named Eric, who she wanted to get away from, but of course he’d signed up for the same classes she had. He was controlling and manipulative, but you got in his way. Charlie broke up with him after class and you were there to make sure it stuck. I watched as you did what you do best. You protected her from a bad guy and I think
she loved you from that moment. You two have been inseparable since then.” Eric. Obviously not the Eric I met at the pharmacy. He’d said we were friends.

  “Wow, so you could see we were meant for each other on that first day?”

  “Yes, the way you looked at each other was like watching a movie, the characters having an unspoken connection. You two have that. She’s the one for you. You believed that so much you proposed to her and you’re supposed to be married in a few weeks.”

  “I know. She showed me the proposal on her phone. I could see how happy she was to say yes.”

  “She was beyond happy. I know you remember Heather, but is there any way you could spend some time with Charlie, get to know her before you make decisions that change everything? What have you got to lose?”

  Heather came to mind. I could lose her if I spent time with Charlie, but everything Kate was saying made sense. I had asked Charlie to marry me. Obviously, I believed she was the one. And obviously, at some point before I met Charlie, I’d realized Heather wasn’t. “You’re right. I’ve been rash. All I can remember is Heather. But if I broke up with her once, it would’ve been for a good reason. And you say I said it was unforgivable? Then cheating sounds about right. I don’t have the last seven years’ worth of adult understanding to apply to this, but it feels as though my mom is trying to control me or manipulate me in some way. Both she and Heather were opposed to me talking with you. It’s confusing, Kate.”

  “Mitch, you’re not the kind of guy to be controlled. Do you want them to run your life or do you want to decide for yourself what’s right for you?”

  Kate sat there waiting for my answer. I knew she was right and some hard decisions were ahead of me.

  “Kate, you’re right. I don’t wanna be controlled. Does Charlie ever try to control me?”

  Kate giggled. “No, I’d say Charlie’s a very strong woman, but she lets you be the man. Her personality complements yours; that’s why you put a ring on her finger. Before this accident, there wasn’t anything you two wouldn’t do for each other.”

  I put my hand on my forehead, recalling what a douche I’d been to her when I went over to get my things.

  Kate put her hand on my shoulder. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “I was a cruel ass when I went over with Heather and picked up my stuff, breaking up with Charlie.”

  “She’s gonna forgive you. She knows you’re not yourself right now.”

  “You think?”

  “I know. She loves you.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, I saw it in her face when she visited me in the hospital.”

  “So, what are you gonna do? You have two choices. You can go back to the safe haven of the past, or you can take a risk on what I know will be an amazing future.”

  “You’ve given me a lot to think about. I don’t know what I’m gonna do right now, but thanks for this afternoon. I’m probably gonna need more days like today.”

  “I’m here for you. Anything you need, anytime you need it. I want you to be happy and I believe in my heart your happiness is with Charlie.”

  The afternoon had faded and early evening was settling in. Kate was driving me home when I realized I wanted to see Charlie. I wanted to spend some time with her and I didn’t want my mom or Heather to interfere.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Charlie

  I’d spent most of my day attempting to wrap my mind around what’d happened with Garrett. I had cheated on Mitch and that was worse than him not remembering me. How was I going to face him? Would he understand if I told him? What if Garrett told him first and Mitch never forgave me? The bleakness of the situation shrouded me in darkness, but I had…I had to figure this out. I had to get Mitch back and it was time to stop being pushed around by Lillian and Heather.

  My mom had called me to check in. I couldn’t face her either with what I’d done. I told her I was planning on staying at my place and just taking some time for myself to sort through things. She seemed to understand and made it clear I could come home any time I wanted. I loved her so much. She’d always been there for me and had a way of letting me make my own decisions without interference or judgment. Occasionally, she gave guidance, but she was confident in the job she and my dad did raising me. We had a great relationship.

  I hadn’t eaten all day and had virtually no food in the house, so I decided to go get some Mexican food. I drove down to a local place to get a chicken burrito. As I walked into the restaurant, I felt a familiar presence in the air. An evil presence…Eric. He was standing behind me in line; I could tell by his cologne. Knowing there was no way around this, I glanced back and sure enough, there he was.

  “Charlie, it’s so good to see you,” he said in a delighted voice.

  “Hi Eric,” I managed. I was less than enthusiastic to see him. My skin was crawling and my appetite was plummeting.

  “How are you and Mitch doing? I saw his mom at the pharmacy a few days ago.”

  So, Eric had found out Mitch and I were no longer together. He’d already found me and was swooping in. Typical…and unnerving.

  “Well, all relationships go through challenges. We’re working it out.”

  “Oh, then the girl I saw him with is out of the picture?”

  It was my turn to order, so I didn’t have to answer Eric’s question, thank God. I placed my order and moved out of the way to wait for my food. Please God, let them make it quickly.

  Within seconds, Eric was standing next to me waiting for his food too. “So, what are you up to nowadays, Eric?” I asked, attempting to steer the conversation away from me and Mitch.

  “I’m a pharmacist at Walgreens. That’s where I saw Mitch, his mom, and his girlfriend.”

  “I see,” I said, nodding slowly.

  “You know, Charlie, I’ve really changed since we were together. I went to anger management classes and I don’t have to control women anymore. I’m really sorry for everything I put you through back then,” he said with a sincerity I didn’t quite believe. Control and abuse were in his nature and him breaking free of that would’ve taken a miracle.

  “Thank you for the apology, Eric. I really appreciate it,” I said, with a forced smile.

  “Do you think there’s any chance we could go out for coffee or something?”

  “I don’t think so. I have so much going on right now; I’m not up for getting together. I hope you can understand.”

  “Oh, sure. Maybe down the line when things settle down for you.”

  “Maybe.” They called my number and my food was ready. I’d never wanted to get out of a place so much in my life. Just standing in his presence gave me the chills. And there was no way on God’s green earth I was getting together with him. Ever.

  “Well, I’m gonna go. Have a good evening.”

  “You too, Charlie. I’m sure we’ll be seeing each other around.”

  My heart was heavy when I entered my townhouse alone. My plan was to eat my dinner and watch some mindless TV so I wouldn’t have to think about…anything. Especially what I’d done with Garrett. I took a few bites of my food, but thoughts of what a horrible person I was kept flooding my mind. Wishing I could rewind time, I put my burrito in the fridge so I could eat it tomorrow. I’d lost my appetite thanks to my own blatant selfishness.

  I knew Natalie would be back in a few days from her honeymoon and I hoped she and Kate could maybe spend an evening with me devising a “get rid of Heather” plan. All sorts of things were going through my mind when I heard a knock on my door.

  I got up quietly and looked through the peephole. I didn’t like to answer the door when I was home alone. To my surprise, it was Mitch on the other side.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked as soon as I opened the door. Kate was standing next to him with a compassionate look on her face.

  “I spent some time with Kate today and decided I wanted to see you. Can I come in?”

  “Of course,” I said, beginning to shake on the inside. I hoped Mitch
couldn’t see it or hear it in my voice.

  “I’m gonna take off. I just wanted to make sure you were here before I left. Can you take Mitch home?”

  “Absolutely,” I said to Kate. Then I mouthed “Thank you” to her. She nodded and left. I guess I was going to find out if Kate had gotten through to him.

  “Make yourself comfortable. Do you want something to drink?” I didn’t know what else to say. My guilt was making me rigid…nervous…freaked out.

  “Water would be great.”

  I walked into the kitchen to get water for each of us. I didn’t know if I should be ecstatic or scared to death he was here. I returned with the water and sat beside him.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “I wish I knew. It seems like I don’t know…I’m in unchartered waters trying to find my way.”

  “I’m so sorry you’re going through all of this,” I said, attempting to be cognizant of what I said. I didn’t want to do or say anything to scare Mitch away. Then my mind flashed back to this morning. I hated myself for what I had done.

  “After talking to Kate, I realized we are going through this. Not just me.”

  I took in a deep breath, hoping this was the beginning of our way back to each other. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but I decided to wait. Maybe he’d take my hand. A girl could hope. “This is a lot to go through.” I sighed.

  “It is, but I treated you pretty badly yesterday when I came over with Heather.”

  “It’s okay. She’s who you remember,” I said, my stomach in knots just thinking about him breaking up with me.

  “I think it’s more than that. I felt riled up for some reason. Everything’s just distorted right now. But being here with you has a familiar feeling.”

  “It does?” I asked, trying not to leap into his arms. Hope was beginning to well up inside me.

  “Yes. It’s easy to be with you. I don’t feel like I have to put forth a lot of effort.”

  I nodded, too choked up to say anything. Mitch put his hand on mine and all I could do was just stare into his eyes. Then he picked it up and looked at the ring he’d given me.