Chapter 73
791 Words
Just over four hours later, Jax ran – quite literally ran, and flat-out – down the hall to Sarah’s room. Mac was waiting outside, and Jax skidded to a halt, panting.
“She’s OK?”
Mac nodded. “Mostly.”
“What’s that mean?”
“The right side of her lower body’s pretty numb and non-responsive in terms of reflexes, so she’ll need some intensive physical therapy. She’ll have to relearn how to walk, most probably, and those muscles will need some time to strengthen.”
“No problem,” Jax said; all he cared about was that she was awake. “I’ll pay for the best private physical therapist in the state to take Sarah on as a client.” He moved to open the door to Sarah’s room, but Mac stopped him.
“One more thing, man.”
“OK. What?”
“She’s having some trouble with her memory.”
“No big shock there, huh? The woman did have her head beaten in two weeks ago.”
“I know. Right now, she has no memory of the attack, at all.”
“Well, that’s good.”
“Maybe. But she’s also struggling to remember some other things. Things about you.”
That made Jax stop. “What things?”
“I’m not sure. She knows who you are, and that you’re important to her, and that she cares about you. But she doesn’t remember much more than that. She isn’t sure why you mean something to her.”
“Wait.” Jax felt cold. “She’s forgotten our whole relationship?”
Mac sighed. “Big parts of it, yeah.”
Fuck me.
“Will she ever remember?” His voice was quiet, hurt.
“I don’t know.”
“Do people usually remember?”
“Truth?”
“Yeah.”
“They rarely recover their full memories. Most people have gaps for the rest of their lives. In Sarah’s case, all her childhood memories are intact, but her more recent memory is missing huge chunks of time, and it’s not just you. She has no memory at all of having Lemongrass as a client, for example.”
“Can we do anything to help bring it back?” Jax felt a sense of desperation rising in him.
Mac sighed. “In my experience, the best way to jog the buried memories is through the senses, mostly taste, touch, and sound.”
“OK, so… I give Sarah a Cosmo, and she remembers our first date?”
“Maybe, and it can’t hurt to try. But Jax, it’s not an exact science. What may work with some of her memories may have no effect on others. She needs time, man.”
“Time.”
“Yeah. You have to stay calm, and let her take things at her own pace. You get me?”
“I get you.”
“So, you going in to see her or what?”
He took a breath. “Yeah.”
Mac swung the door open, and Jax stepped into her room. He saw Annie and Noah’s delighted faces, saw Sarah half-sitting up in the bed. He stared at her, took in her beautiful eyes that were wide open and gazing over at him.
“Jax, Jax, Jax!” Noah said, excited. “Sarah woke up!”
“Jax…”
He thought he’d never hear his name spoken in her sweet voice ever again, and at its sound, he felt a wave of emotion crash over him. The urge to grab her up, take her home to his bed, hide her away from the whole world, never let her go, was huge. He’d make love to her so slow and deep, she’d come screaming his name.
But she doesn’t even remember kissing you. Goddammit.
“Sarah.” His own voice was rough. “How you feeling, Red?”
Her brow furrowed. “‘Red’?”
Jax’s heart plummeted. God, if she can’t even remember that much…
“Yeah. That’s what I call you sometimes.”
“Do I like it?”
“You do.”
She smiled at him now. “OK.” She paused. “And what do I call you?”
“Stud.”
“I do?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Do you like it?”
“I do. A lot.”
Annie interjected now. “Honey, I think you and Jax need some time alone.”
“Yeah,” Sarah said. “That would be good.”
Annie and Noah left with Mac, shutting the door behind them. Jax stood there in the middle of the room, without a f*****g clue what to do or say.
Sarah held out her hand. “Come here.”
- Writer
