Chapter 37

Jake

“ Then why aren't you trying to make me remember you?”.

I dropped my fork. “ Avery, don't push it. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. If I try to make you remember me , You can end up back in the hospital. The doctors already warned us against it”.

“ Okay”.

I stood up and walked out of the house. I heard the footsteps behind me. I know she was there.

“ Jake?”. I turned around and looked at her.

“ I'm sorry, I just don't know how. I mean all I remember was going to school a few days ago and walking home. Then imagine waking up and finding out that months have gone by and your entire life has changed. You're married and finally free from your crazy family. You have people around you who care for you. You're different and have a different standing in society. It's really confusing”. She said quietly.

I walked over to her and hugged her and suddenly I was overcome with a Wave of nausea. I pulled away from her and looked at her. I held her Once again and this time I noticed I didn't get the usual smell from her skin and I was nauseated.
I pulled away and walked away.

“ Just give it time, you'll be fine “

“ Do we ?. Did we umm. Did we sleep together?.” She asked. She should know, it was her body, wouldn't she be able to tell if she was still a virgin.

“ What do you think?”. I asked her.
She shrugged her shoulders.

“ Why don't you go back inside and get some rest. I need to go somewhere”.

I grabbed my helmet and got onto my bike and rode out and went back to the hospital. I walked in and headed up to Landon's room. The minute he saw me he tried sitting up. His wife and daughter were there.

“ Boss?”.

“ It's fine Landon”.

“ You remember wife Andrea and my daughter Cassidy.”.

“ Hello Mr Woods”.

“ Hello ”.

“ Come on Cassy, it's already late. Let Daddy rest. We'll visit him tomorrow”. She said holding the little girl. She came over to me and looked at me.

“ You're handsome “, her little voice said. I couldn't help but smile. “ Thank you”.
She grabbed her mother's hands and they left.

“ I'm sorry Boss. Sherry told me. They came out of nowhere. The road was clear; it was six in the afternoon. It's like they were waiting for us. The minute I saw them I made her wear her seatbelt and bend her head down. When the third SUV pulled up I knew we were sitting ducks. I tried but then that last SUV pulled up. They were tinted, heavy Duty SUV's, No license plate”. He said with a sigh.

“ When the car flipped the first time, I… I didn't tell my wife or Shawn, but when I realized the car would flip. I.. I took my seat belt off and Got into the back seat with her and shielded her body. I'm sorry Boss''.

“ It's okay Landon. You're both alive and that's all that matters. Take care of yourself and get better soon”. I left the hospital and headed to the police station,as I was heading in I saw James.

“ I was just about to head over to your place “. He said leaning against the car.

“ Something feels off. You've known her all her life right?”.

“ Yea I have. What do you mean?.

I explained what Landon said really happened and explained what I felt. He looked like he was thinking hard.

“ Okay. It's already late. I'll be over tomorrow and we'll see what happens “.

I left him and headed straight back to her house. When I walked in she was sitting in the living room.
“ Why aren't you in bed?You need to rest”. I said looking at her. She stood up and walked over to me.

“ I couldn't sleep. My mind is working overtime. I'm trying to remember but can't”. She came up to me and wrapped her arms around me and I had that same nauseous feeling. I removed her hands and looked at her.

“ Don't. Just try and get better soon. Let me help you back to your room”. She started walking but stopped.

“ Princess. You used to call me princess and now you call me Avery “. She said quietly. I didn't answer her.

“ Let's go”. I helped her up the stairs and into her room. I was about to leave when she grabbed my hand.
“ Stay with me, please”. She said quietly. Even the way she said it was different.

“ I can't. I need to take a shower and get some work done. I left a meeting halfway. Goodnight Avery “.

I walked out and locked the door. I got to my room and for some insane reason I locked the door. I stood under the water longer than necessary. For the life of me I couldn't understand why I was reacting to her like that.

I love her , I love her with everything in me. There were days when I couldn't wait to get home just to see her and just hold her close, Every single time I looked at her I wanted to fuck her senseless and now I couldn't stand being touched by her. Just being too close to her made me feel disgusted and nauseous. There were no sexual thoughts whatsoever. What the fuck was happening here.

I didn't sleep that night. I stayed awake just thinking about the hours we spent together before I left, before our entire world was turned upside down. When Six Am came I was still awake. I grabbed a shower and headed down. I was having a coffee and Irene was looking at me.

“ Go ahead Irene,say it”. She sat on the other side of the island.

“ Something is different ”. I looked at her immediately. “ I've known her since she was born and there's something missing. Even if she forgets you. She would still act the way I've always known her to act but. I don't know what to make of this”.

I was about to reply when I saw her coming down the stairs. She came over and stood looking at us. “ I lied”. She said quietly.

“ What do you mean?”. I asked cautiously.

“ I lied that I remembered you. Honestly. I don't know Who any of you are. Irene, you seemed so happy, I…. I didn't want to let anyone down. I don't remember anyone. I don't even remember the father or the family you told me about “. She said through tears.

I put my cup down and looked at Irene. That's the missing piece. “ Have your breakfast and we'll go and visit the doctor“.

“ Okay”.

I headed to my office and called Shawn and told him what happened. He said he would go with her. I didn't want to be there. I had just walked out when I saw James. I pulled him aside and told him what she said. He nodded and went over and sat down. I took a seat on the couch within hearing distance.

“ Hey Snugs “, he said, grabbing an Apple.

“ Who are you?. Well I know you're a police officer from your outfit but are we friends or something”. She said,I heard the tone of her voice and didn't like it . That was a tone of contempt. He walked over to me and sat down.

“ Avery, go get dressed, we're leaving in five minutes “.

“ Okay”.

The minute she was gone he looked at me. “ Woods either that accident screwed her up so badly that she's completely forgotten everything about herself and everyone or that's not Avery. I'm leaning more towards the Accident. She would have to completely forget everything in order to speak to me like that. Pretending to be someone is not child's play, it's identity theft and a serious crime. Looks like Avery is about to Learn about herself all over again “. He said, shaking his head.

I sat back in the chair and looked at him. This can't be fucking real. This can't be happening. “ She was almost three months pregnant but she lost it “. I said quietly.

“ I'm sorry”.

We left for the doctor and Shawn went in with her so Did Irene because she asked Irene to go with her. I was waiting in the car. Four hours later I saw them walking out. The minute she got into the car she started crying. I wanted to hold her but I couldn't move. When we got back home she went straight to her room.

Shawn and I were in the office. “ She doesn't even remember her own name. Let me put it in this term. Factory reset that's what has happened to her”. He said pacing.

“ Look. This may seem hasty of me J, but you've worked hard to get Zion to where it is right now and I care about Avery but, I think you should make her sign a prenup because this can go south”.

“ She already signed one. She forced me to make her sign it after the shooting incident . She said the same thing I worked hard to build Zion, it's like she knew something like this would happen. She wanted me to protect myself from her”.

“ Shit. What are you going to do now J?”.

“ I honestly don't know Shawn“.