Secret: A Country Romance

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

Carlos looked from the doctor to the young girl before slightly nodding and muttering "thank you" and doctor Paige smiled before walking out of the room.

Elaine followed Paige out of the room "doctor Paige" she called as she gently closed the door after her.

Paige turned to her "yes Elaine?"

"Do you really think he will recover his memory? I mean...we don't know him and if he is going to stay here till he recovers his memory, where is he going to stay?"

Paige looked thoughtful "that's indeed true Elaine. I would have offered him to stay here at the clinic but as you know, we don't have enough beds here for one to be occupied for months."

"Months? Isn't that too long?"

"Well, you never can tell. Although his memories will return but one doesn't know when so, it's better I leave it to that. Now, we need to find where he will stay till he does that. Do you know of anyone who will let him stay with them till he recovers his memories?"

"This is Folktown Paige, no one will. You should even be asking that people should not avoid him like a plague. He is a stranger who doesn't remember where he comes from. Who do you think it's gonna take him into their home?"

"Hmm. Well, now I need to see old Ben, he is in the next room, I will think about that one later."

"He is still sick?" Elaine asked surprised.

"Well, his family brought him in this morning so I guess he still is. The truth is, I don't even know if he will see winter this year but one can't tell him that, especially his wife" he chuckled with a shrug "talk to you later Elaine" he said and walked away while Elaine stared at his back before going into the room again.

Carlos' eyes snapped open when he noticed someone walked in "sorry, it's just me" Elaine said with a smile before sitting on the chair. Carlos' eyes never left her. Compared to the girl he heard her voice last night, she looks stronger and with the way she talks, something tells him she is not one to be trifled with. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he studied her. Her hair matches with her eyes, and he must admit, she is really beautiful, no not just beautiful, she is drop dead gorgeous and she looks really young, he will place her at her early twenties or possible, nineteen.

Well, he guess he should be grateful she found him last night, even though he was disappointed when he heard her voice to discover she was a girl but somehow, she still managed to bring him to the hospital, if you will call this one. He let his gaze travel the whole room. It's really small compared to the hospitals he usually go to when sick back at home but since it was able to save his life, it's okay. But where could this be, what did the doctor called it a while ago? Folktown, yes but, what kind of a name is that and why has he never heard of it before? Well, it doesn't matter as long as it is able to hide him from the men that wants to kill him. Thinking to that, he remembered something and his heart ached.

He might have survived but his friend did not, his heart weighs like a thousand bricks as he remembered that John is dead, a friend like a brother is dead and he died trying to save him. If he hadn't shouted out to him to run, the killers would not have heard him and wouldn't have shot him. His best friend is dead and that left him thinking, who is it that wants him dead? He can't remember having any enemy that will want him dead but one never can tell and that's why he will not trust anybody here.

Yes, it is for the best that he claims to loose his memory, at least this way, he won't have prying eyes. He is going to stay here till he recovers well, after that, he will go back home and he is going to hunt down John's killers, he will make sure they rot in jail, he owes his best friend that. His gaze traveled to the young girl in the room again and he was surprised to see her looking at him, what did the doctor call her again? Ella, Emma...he thought hard and still got nothing but he knew it was something El.

"Thank you for saving me El..." He said trying to get her to say her name again.

"It's Elaine" she reminded him.

Ah, that's right, Elaine. It's so uncommon but why does he feel like it suits her with her baby face? She reminds him so much of his little sister, a sweet smile curved on his lips as he remembered her hazel eyes very much like their father's. And to think that he would not have been able to see her again if he had been killed last night. He is very much sure she is crying now for not seeing him since two nights ago. His sweet little Angel, how he misses her face already. He looked at Elaine again to see his sister's face, only that Elaine was much older since his sister is only six years old and she has chestnut brown hair and dark hazel eyes like their father while Elaine has brown hair and brown eyes.

"So, Thomas. What is the last thing you remember?" He heard her voice in his mind and he woke up from his thoughts. Thomas? Who is Thomas? He wondered. Oh, that was the name he gave them which means he has to bear Thomas now right? He had to get use to it though.

"It's faint and not clear but I remember crawling next to a dumpster and someone asking me if I'm okay. Was that you?"

Elaine smiled "yes. I was just returning from work...oh my! That reminds me, I have to open the library today" she stood up immediately and looks at Thomas apologetically "I'm sorry Tom, but I really need to go now. I will come see you tonight when I dismiss from work" she walked to the door and turned to look at him "can I call you that?"

Carlos creased his brow as he can't tell where her question was gotten from "what?"

"Tom" Elaine said.

Carlos smiled "sure."

"Alright. See you tonight Tom" with that she walked out of the door with Carlos staring after her.

Elaine got home and had a quick bath before rushing to the library, she was late already. She met Mary Tucker on the way who grabbed her hand pulling her into a stop "good morning Mrs. Tucker."

"Elaine, what is James telling me?" Mary asked.

"What did he tell you?"

"That there is a stranger in town. He said he would have waited till he wakes up to know who he is but he was missing his sleep and so had to leave. I knew you will be the one to ask but I went to the library and you weren't there, I was just on my way to your house."

"Well, he has woken up but he can't remember anything about himself except his name. Doctor Paige said he has amnesia."

Mary covered her mouth to prevent her from shouting "oh my goodness" she said at last "how can he return to wherever he came from?"

"That is it Mary, doctor Paige and I are wondering about the same thing but Paige said he will recover his memory eventually but the question now is, when?" Elaine shook her head "I hope it happens soon because once he recovers, he will need a place to stay" she looked at Mary "do you by chance know of anyone who will let him stay with them?"

Mary shook her head "I won't lie to you darling but I don't think anybody will. No one knows him and you know how it is here in Folktown. It's either he find a place for himself or go to Countryside."

"I thought as much" she heaved a sigh "well, we will wait till then to cross the bridge I guess. I need to go now Mary, I'm already late in opening the library for the day."

"Yes that's true. See you later okay" Mary said and turned to walk away before stopping "that reminds me, I heard from Carol that Jasper will be returning to Countryside this evening. Don't you think you should try and see him before he does?"

Elaine rolled her eyes "he can rot in Countryside for all I care or better still, he should entertain himself by screwing all the girls there."

"Elaine..."

"Please Mary, I don't want to talk about Jasper this morning. I will see you tonight at the diner, if you will come over."

"No I won't dear. I will be cooking dinner tonight" Mary smiled.

"Okay then. Bye" Elaine waved and walked away quickly before Mary will remember something else and stop her.