Full Circle Love (A Four Part Anthology of Cat & Zach Stories)

by Lori Leger

  He shook his head and cleared his throat. “No. I’ll get the doctor.” He turned and rushed out of the room.

  “Zachary?” Ellen McDaniel, Cathryn’s mother, rushed to meet him, carrying two cups of coffee. “What’s wrong? Is it Cat?”

  “She’s awake, Ms. Ellen. She’s awake, but—” He paused, not sure exactly how to finish.

  “But what?” She placed the cups on a nearby table and headed for the room before he caught her arm.

  “The doctor’s examining her right now. She seems to be fine, physically, but…”

  Ellen’s voice rose to a shade or two from hysteria. “What, Zachary?”

  “She keeps asking for her Chris. I don’t think she remembers our wedding in two weeks, or even us being together.”

  Ms. Ellen’s eyes grew wide as full understanding took hold. “Oh, Zach. Oh, I’m so sorry, surely it’s temporary. Surely, it’ll come to her. She’ll get it all back.”

  He shook his head slowly. “I don’t know. She keeps asking for her ex-fiancé. I think she still believes she’s engaged to him.” He slapped a hand tightly over his mouth to keep from screaming at the irony of the situation. He waited for her all this time. And now this?

  “Oh. Zachary, I can’t even imagine how you must feel.” Ellen placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “The doctor warned us about a possible memory loss when she came to, but he also said it would most likely be temporary, too. You remember him saying that, don’t you?”

  He managed to give her a nod.

  “Now you pull yourself together. Cat has loved you as long as you’ve loved her. She’ll remember that, eventually.”

  “What if the injury destroyed that part of her brain, Ms. Ellen? That one part of her memory bank containing everything about me? About us?”

  Ellen smiled and placed her hand on his chest. “Honey, you’ve been in her brain a long time, but you’ve been in her heart even longer. There is nothing wrong with her heart, sweetie. She’ll remember, don’t you worry.”

  They waited together, speaking in quiet whispers until the doctor came out of the room. He pulled them away from the door to discuss his diagnosis.

  “There is still swelling in the brain that’s causing mild retrograde memory loss. That would be memories from before the accident. She seems to have lost approximately the last year or so of her life. Now, I’m reasonably certain this loss is temporary. As the swelling recedes, bits and pieces of her memory will come back like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Don’t push her because that can be just as traumatic for the patient as the actual memory loss. She’ll need time to fit the pieces back into their correct order.”

  “How long?” Zach clenched his jaw as he waited for an answer.

  The doctor raised both hands and dropped them, shaking his head. “Could be a day or two, it could drag out for a month or longer. In extremely rare cases, the memory never returns. Let me reiterate that those cases are extremely rare. I’d say we should know something in a week or so.”

  “A week. See, that’s not so bad, when you’ve waited this long for her.” Ms. Ellen patted his shoulder.

  “Here’s the deal, Doc. She still believes she’s with her ex-fiancé and they are planning a wedding. But, she broke it off with him earlier this year, and we’ve been together for three months. We have a big church wedding planned for a week from Saturday. But…” He held up a hand to keep the doctor from cutting in. “I married that girl no more than fifteen minutes before the accident. She’s already my wife.”

  Ellen’s voice broke through. “You did what?”

  Zach turned to his new mother-in-law. “We couldn’t wait. She didn’t want to wait, Ms. Ellen. We weren’t going to say anything, just go through with the church wedding in a couple of weeks and no one would be the wiser.” He looked down, shook his head. “I lost the marriage license in the accident; I don’t know what happened to it. There were pictures on her phone but I don’t know what happened to that either.”

  “How about her camera?” Elaine asked. “She never goes anywhere without her camera.”

  “She forgot to pick it up in all the excitement. I guess it’s a good thing, or she’d have lost that too, along with everything on it.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “God, what if she never remembers? Maybe she won’t want to be married to me. We should have waited. I should have been stronger. If we hadn’t gone to Elton to get married, this wouldn’t have happened!” He stared into Ellen’s dark eyes. “What if it’s God’s punishment for not waiting for the church wedding?”

  Ellen put her hands on his shoulders and gave him a good shake. “Stop that, Zachary! God doesn’t punish people for trying to do the right thing.”

  “But, Ms. Ellen…”

  “No! I don’t want to hear that. I must admit I’m a little disappointed that the two of you planned this. On the other hand, I’m ecstatic that you were so adamant about showing her the respect she deserved that you went to this length. It’s every mother’s dream that the man her daughter falls in love with treasures her the way you do Cathryn.” She placed her hands on Zach’s face, made him look at her. “This is no one’s fault. Sometimes things happen to test our resilience, our strength, our love for each other. You have to have faith. Believe it will all work out for the best. Now, I want to see my daughter.”

  He nodded, watching her disappear behind the door to Cathryn’s room, with one thought ringing through his mind.

  What if God’s idea of what was best for Cat was a life without him in it?

  Cat turned toward the opening door, risking the pain in her head to see her visitor. “Mom!” She held her arms out to embrace her mother.

  “Oh, Cat.” Ellen burst into tears. “It’s so good to see you awake and hear you talking. We’ve been so terrified.”

  “Who else is here, Mom? I’m so confused. Why am I in the Jennings hospital? Was I down for a visit? Was Chris with me?”

  Ellen wiped her tears and sat back, staring at her. The poor woman looked every bit as confused, as Cathryn felt.

  “Oh Lord, this is going to be tricky. What exactly did the doctor tell you, Cathryn?”

  “Something about retrograde amnesia and partial memory loss. He said I lost some time, Mom. What did he mean? How much time?”

  “What’s the last thing you remember?”

  Cathryn pushed past the pain in her head to concentrate, trying to bring up something that would give her a sense of time. “Chris and I just got back from our ski trip to Colorado the second week in January. I came home to a letter saying I was a finalist in a photography contest. They liked my stills portfolio. They were picking a winner the first week of June. I’m waiting on the edits to come back for book four of the latest series. Oh, and Chris and I finally set a date; we decided on a spring wedding, May of next year, the 4th, before it gets too hot. He wanted to make it this May, but I wanted at least a year to plan my perfect wedding. Where is he, Mom? Is Christian here, or is he in Dallas? Did anybody call him?”

  “Oh, dear Lord.” Ellen stood up to pace the room, wringing her hands. “I don’t have the slightest idea how to go about this. I thought I did, but I don’t.”

  At a complete loss as to how her normally calm, cool mother could be so distressed, she pointed to the door. “Go get Zach for me. He’ll let me know what’s going on.”

  “Sweetie, you don’t understand. Zach is terribly, terribly upset right now. I don’t know if he’s the one to talk to about this. Not just yet.” She took a deep breath and sat on the bed, next to her daughter. “You were supposed to be getting married in twelve days.”

  “Twelve days! Is it April already? You mean I lost fifteen months of my life?” Her breath escaped in a rush as her mom’s face grew even paler.

  “It’s not April, we’re in the last week of June. The wedding is set for July 6th.”

  Cat pressed both hands to her eyes, trying to fight back the tears. “July 6th? What happened to the May wedding? Why did we switch to July?”

/>   “Sweetie, look at me.”

  Cat dropped her hands to gaze into her mother’s eyes; somehow sensing her entire world was about to be set back on its ass.

  “You called off the wedding to Christian in February and moved back home to Lake Erin, in March.”

  Cat blinked, and blinked again. “That’s impossible. I love Chris. Why would I call it off?” She took several deep breaths to calm herself, to keep her thudding heart from beating right out of her chest. Completely befuddled, she turned to her mother. “Mom, do you know? Can you tell me why I called off the wedding?”

  “You tried to love him, Cat. You truly did. Or at least that’s what you told me.” Ellen fidgeted with her nails, a sure sign she was a bundle of nerves. “Christian is a nice man, but you never loved him the way you should have loved the man you were going to marry. He didn’t quite measure up.”

  Cat pictured Chris: generous, kind, tall, good-looking, hardworking, great in bed, trustworthy, one of the brightest, most successful architects in Dallas, and a man who treated her like a queen. “Measure up? To what?”

  “Mm. Not to what, but rather, to whom.”

  “Okay, he didn’t measure up to who or whom…the flipping Prince of Persia? And who the hell was I marrying in a week and a half?”

  A thick, heavy silence hung in the air like a dense fog, saturating the surrounding space.

  A deep, rich, baritone broke through from the doorway.

  “Ms. Ellen, you mind if I take a stab at this?”

  Cat didn’t have to see the face. She’d known Zach far too long not to recognize his voice. She dropped her head heavily against the pillow and closed her eyes, trying to shut it all out. “I feel like I’m losing my mind.”

  “You’re not.” He spoke, keeping his voice soft and low. “Just part of your memory, but it will all come back to you.”

  She opened her eyes as he stepped inside the room.

  Ellen’s gaze went from Zach, to Cathryn, then to Zach again. “You have the biggest stake in this, so it’s only fair.” She stood, relinquishing her seat on the bed, and patted his arm as she brushed by him. “Good luck, Zachary.”

  His gaze followed her out the door, and then landed on Cat as he pointed to the bed. “Mind if I sit there?”

  She moved her leg to make room for him. “Not at all.”

  He sat, folding, unfolding, and refolding a long white envelope, as though to keep his hands busy. Eventually, he put it aside and took her hand in his, and gently rubbed his fingers along her bruised knuckles. “Do these hurt?”

  She looked at the scrapes and scratches on her hands. “They’re a little sore, but it doesn’t hurt—you doing that, I mean.” She flexed the opposite hand and found it didn’t hurt at all. “What did I hit?”

  “My truck’s side air bag deployed. It bruised you up some.”

  “Your truck? What was I doing in your truck?”

  “You were with me, and we were running an errand. Your injuries are pretty minor compared to what you would have sustained without that airbag and the seatbelts.”

  “Oh God, it was that bad?”

  He nodded, unable to stop the shudder that came over him. “I could have lost you, Cat. I nearly did. That damn Hummer didn’t even slow down. The driver was an eighteen-year-old girl in her daddy’s vehicle on her way to a party. No trace of alcohol, but she’d picked up four of her friends, on the way, so you know there were serious distractions.”

  “Dear God! Were any of the girls injured?”

  “I think one of ‘em scratched her eye pretty bad with some kind of make-up brush. Other than that, no. It’s a Hummer, and the damn thing is decked-out with a heavy-duty grille and brush guard. Son of a bitch had minor damage.”

  “Typical teenage girl stuff. Got to touch up the mascara on the way to wherever you’re going. I nearly ran a light a couple of times, myself, with a car full of girls. I’m sure they’ll all be more careful after this.”

  “Yeah, they were pretty shook up about it. The driver came by with her dad a couple of times to apologize and check on you. I called him earlier to let her know you’re awake, so don’t be surprised if she comes by later.” He picked up the envelope again.

  “What’s that you have there?” She pointed to the envelope, now bent and creased.

  “It’s something the nurse just gave me that may help you to remember. Check it out.”

  She squinted, seeing her name on the envelope, along with the hospital logo. She reached inside, pulled out a small yellow envelope. After emptying the contents in her hand, she picked up the platinum and solitaire bridal set. “Somebody messed up somewhere. This set is gorgeous; just what I would have chosen for myself, but it isn’t mine.”

  Zach almost looked sick, hesitating several seconds before taking the rings from her. Slowly, he placed them back in the envelope, she assumed to get them back to their proper owner.

  “Okay, then. Do you need anything—water, some broth, something more for pain? Are you hurting or hungry?”

  She shook her head, hearing the same kind of nervous rambling in his voice that her mom had exhibited. He was putting off telling her something.

  “Zach?”

  “Yeah?”

  “What aren’t you telling me?” She waited patiently as he struggled to speak.

  “It was me, Cat. You were marrying me in less than two weeks. You’re in love with me now. Not Chris.”

  She blinked, tried to swallow, but her mouth was suddenly bone dry. “Really?” She coughed, reached for the plastic cup containing ice water and took a big swallow.

  He let his gaze fall on hers, and gave her a sad smile. “Does it offend you that much?”

  “I wouldn’t say offend, but it sure as hell surprises me.”

  “Why?”

  “Because we’re friends. You’re my best friend, and we decided eons ago not to mess that up.”

  “Yeah, yeah—the friendship pact, I know. What a load of bullshit.”

  “Zach—”

  “I love you, Cat. I’ve always loved you, and it turns out you feel the same way. You were certain enough about it to call off your wedding and agree to marry me. So please, whatever you do, if you have the slightest bit of compassion, you won’t talk about Chris to me.”

  The image of his face—pale, sad, sick with worry, flashed through her mind. One of the first things she’d done was to ask about Chris, ask if he was all right. If this was true, it must have been devastating for poor Zach to hear those words from her mouth.

  “All right. I won’t discuss him with you. I’m sorry, Zach.” A thought came to her. “Those rings. They’re mine, aren’t they?”

  He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, as though trying to control some heavy emotions. “Yeah, they are.” He moved from the bed to the chair, looking every inch as disheveled and exhausted as he must feel.

  “They’re perfect. I’m sorry I don’t recognize them.”

  “Stop apologizing, Cat. This is not your fault.”

  “How long did you say I’ve been in here?”

  “It’s Monday, I think, and you’ve been here since just before midnight on Friday night. So, two and a half days, or something like that,” he murmured.

  “You haven’t been here the whole time, have you?”

  What was she saying? Of course, he had been. Even as friends in high school, he’d stayed through her reconstructive knee surgery the summer after her junior year. He’d worked with her diligently, encouraged her through painful physical therapy until she was 100% ready for her senior year of varsity softball. He’d also been there to watch her catch at every game.

  As more than friends, of course he’d have been that much more attentive.

  “I don’t have any other place I’d rather be, Cat.”

  “Look, Zach. The doctor said I’ll be in here another couple of days at least. Go home, take a shower, eat a decent meal and get some rest. Who knows? Maybe by the time you get back, I’ll remember what the hell is
going on in my own life.” She nearly laughed aloud as he assumed the position of stubborn mule—arms crossed, jaw locked, and chin jammed down into his chest. “Now there’s something I remember.”

  “I don’t want to go.”

  “Don’t be a stubborn jackass.”

  “I’m not going, and don’t call me a jackass.”

  “Yes, you are and I’ll stop when you prove me wrong, Jackass.”

  “Cathryn…”

  “Zachary…”

  He lifted his gaze, revealing the tiniest flare of hope, a soft sparkle of humor in his eyes.

  “What?” she asked, more than curious to know what put it there.

  “It’s nothing. I’m just remembering the last time you talked me into something.”

  “Did it work?” Though he didn’t smile outwardly, she did see another hint of it in his eyes.

  “Yeah, it did.”

  “What did I talk you into?”

  He studied her for several seconds, leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, hands clasped tightly.

  “Zach?”

  “Nah.” He shook his head slowly. “You don’t want to hear about that right now. This isn’t the time or the place.”

  “Okay, but answer one question for me, please.”

  “It depends on what it is.”

  She pursed her lips in surrender. “Fair enough.”

  “What’s the question?”

  “Have we—did we? You know…” She faltered, suddenly shy around her old friend.

  He raised one brow in a humorous display. “Have we gone to the movies recently, and did we enjoy ourselves? Yes, and yes.”

  She sent him as much of a glare as she could muster, considering how drained she suddenly felt. “Must you be such a smartass?”

  He nodded. “Someone told me once it would be genetically impossible for me not to be.”

  Cat covered her eyes with one hand to block out the brightness of the overhead light. “Humph. I’ve told you that dozens—no hundreds of times since high school. You probably sprouted from your mother’s loins, cracking wise-ass comments.”

  He snorted. “Oh great. That she remembers.”