Kisses to Remember (8 page)

“Now that Mr. Lancaster is awake, he can authorize his release to you.”

“Ah, the loophole. I see.” Johanna paced again. Going to the hospital to pick up a man you didn’t know was ridiculous, but she couldn’t leave the poor guy there. She couldn’t. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

“Thank you, Ms. Ware.” Dr. Sakala hung up before Johanna could ask any more questions.

She shut off her phone and ran her hands through her hair. Her red hair that Holden Lancaster remembered.  

“Storm’s coming. Cows are in the barn.” Ted’s voice made Johanna jump. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.” He stepped deeper into the room, Miles slipping in behind him.

“Not your fault.” Johanna put a hand to her chest, trying to quiet her beating heart. She kneeled down and gave Miles a vigorous scratching until he rolled around on his back in doggy bliss. “Are you going to be around for a while?”

“Aren’t I always around?” Ted raised his eyebrows.

“Yes, and I thank the heavens for it.” With her own parents gone and Alex in jail, Ted and Kam were her only family. She thought about not being able to remember them, and a shiver rippled through her body.

When she stood, Ted hugged her, then held her at arm’s length. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She stepped out of Ted’s hold. “The hospital called.”

“About that pilot?”

Johanna nodded. “He’s awake, but has amnesia due to a concussion.”

“That’s temporary, right?” Ted sat on the small loveseat in Johanna’s office and stretched out his legs.

“Yes, but they can’t find any family for the guy, and Donovan Electronics says he doesn’t work for—”

“Wait a minute.” Ted got to the edge of his seat and leaned his elbows on his knees. “Are you thinking about taking him in, Johanna?”

“I can’t leave him there, Ted.”

“Yes, you can. You don’t know him. The company says he doesn’t work for them. He and the other pilot could have stolen that plane and done God knows what with the real pilots. He could be planning to sell smuggled electronics or worse. He could be a criminal.”

As soon as the word left his lips, Ted dropped his gaze to the floor.

“A criminal. Like Alex,” Johanna whispered. “Guess I could be a magnet for them. This farm could be a criminal vortex.”

“That’s not what I meant, Johanna.” Ted stared up at her. “I just want you to be careful. I’ll never forgive Alex for what he did to you, to Kam, to…her.”

“Alex didn’t mean for any of that to happen.” The sting of tears burned in Johanna’s eyes.

“It could have all been avoided if my son used his goddamned head.” Ted got up from the loveseat. “We lost Kallie because of him. Innocent, beautiful Kallie.” Ted’s voice got scratchy, and he heaved in a shaky breath.

“I don’t want to talk about this right now.” Johanna headed for the door with Ted right behind her. “I’m going to get Holden Lancaster and bring him here. We have plenty of room, and I think I can handle an injured amnesiac.” She opened the hall closet and pulled out Kam’s baseball bat. After setting it on the kitchen island, she retrieved her purse and dug around for her keys.

Ted placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him. “The plane is gone, Johanna.”

“What?”

“The crash site. It’s all cleaned up. The field has been tilled, the dirt all overturned so the trenches carved by the plane have disappeared.”

“Did you—”

Ted shook his head before Johanna could finish asking her question. “I didn’t take care of it. I went back there this morning with the intention of telling you I’d get someone to remove it, but it’s already gone. I checked with the police, but they don’t know a thing about it.”

Shrugging, Johanna pushed past Ted. “We’ll deal with that later. Right now, I’m going to get the pilot. You’ll watch Kam for me?”

“I’m going to be watching everything and everyone, Johanna. Especially that pilot who may not be a pilot.” Ted folded his arms across his chest, looking fiercer than she’d ever seen the usually gentle grandfather.             

Johanna left Ted in the kitchen, standing beside the baseball bat, and found Kam stretched out on his bed in his room. “I’ll be back in a little while, Kam.”

He looked up from the comic book he was reading. “Where are you going?”

Johanna debated about telling Kam what she was about to do.
No secrets
. Secrets were what had destroyed her family. “That was the hospital on the phone.”

Kam swiveled around to sitting on his bed. Looking at Johanna with Alex’s bottomless brown eyes, he asked, “Is the pilot okay?”

“He’s awake, but is having a little trouble remembering things.”

“That stinks.” Kam closed his comic book. “Can we help him remember stuff?”

Johanna grinned. “I can always count on you, can’t I, Kam? You’re a great kid.”

“A great kid who deserves a fantastic birthday gift next week?” Kam sent her a devilish little smile.

Johanna pulled him into a hug. “Maybe I already bought you a fantastic birthday gift.”

Kam pushed away from her. “You did? It’s here? In the house?” He slid off the bed and headed for the bedroom door.

“You’ll never find it, kiddo.” She stood and rested her hands on Kam’s shoulders. “And if you go looking for it, I’ll ship it off to some needy child in Africa.”

“Okay. I can wait until next week.” His shoulders slumped, then he flopped back onto his bed.

“I’m going to the hospital,” Johanna said. “I’m bringing the pilot back here. Right now, he can’t remember if he has family, so he’s going to stay with us and rest. We’ll keep an eye on him. Is that okay with you?”

“Sure,” Kam said. “Maybe he likes Legos.”

“Maybe he does.” She tapped Kam on the nose, then kissed his forehead. “Pep is here. I’ll be back soon.”

“I can clean the spare bedroom and bathroom for the pilot.” Kam popped up and headed for the closet where they kept the cleaning supplies.

“Great idea.”

Johanna followed Kam out of his bedroom, gave a nod to Ted who hadn’t moved from his spot in the kitchen except to pick up the baseball bat, and left the house through the front door. She used a broom from the garage to sweep off the front porch, straightened the flowerpots full of bright red geraniums lining the walkway, and scooped up a “present” Miles had left near the mailbox. Standing at the curb, she surveyed her farmhouse, wanting it to appear welcoming to Holden Lancaster, possible pilot, possible criminal.

“What are you doing?” Shaking her head, she got into her car and started the engine.

You’re having that adventure.
She only hoped it didn’t turn into a tragedy.

****

Holden stared at the food on the tray the nurse had plopped in front of him. She’d said it was roasted turkey, broccoli, and mashed potatoes, which he knew. He hadn’t forgotten what that food looked like.
But do I like roasted turkey, broccoli, and mashed potatoes? That’s the question.
  

He just couldn’t remember. Before lunch, he’d been trying to recall details about himself, about where he lived, where he worked, people he knew. Nothing was coming back to him aside from his name and birthday. If he hit his head again, would the memories come rushing back? It was almost worth the risk of more injury to find out. This empty, not knowing feeling was making him crazy.

After shoveling up a forkful of mashed potatoes, he held it under his nose and sniffed. Smelled okay. He slid the fork into his mouth and let the potatoes sit on his tongue for a moment. The gloppy texture wasn’t wonderful, but the buttery taste was tolerable. He swallowed and decided he was hungry enough to keep eating them.

He tried a little of everything on his plate, and while none of it impressed him, he was full. Did everything taste like this? Just okay? He pushed away his tray, closed his eyes, and rested his head against his pillow.

“C’mon, man. Remember just one food you like. Just one.” He waited for a delicious meal to pop into his head, but his mind was a blank screen instead. “Dammit.” He slammed his fist down onto the table holding his tray causing the silverware to rattle and some of his beverage to spill. “I’m useless.”

“I’m sure you’re not useless,” a female voice said.

Holden looked to the doorway of his room where a tall, slender woman stood. Faded blue jeans with ragged cuffs covered long legs ending in flat, brown sandals on her feet. A pale green T-shirt with a picture of a heart-shaped, red rose on the front fit her torso perfectly, and a pair of dark sunglasses on top of her head held back wavy, red hair. She offered him a smile, and Holden felt more at ease than he had since waking up.

“Mind if I come in?” She gestured to the interior of his room.

“Are you Johanna?” He shifted to sit up more in the bed and smoothed the front of his hospital gown. He wished for regular clothes, but couldn’t remember what style of clothes he usually wore.

“I am Johanna.” She lifted her right leg and let her foot wiggle into the room. Her sandal dangled from her toes. “Does being Johanna gain me access?”

“Oh, sorry. Yeah, come in.” Holden waved her in then pushed his lunch aside.

Johanna stepped into the room and surveyed the contents of his tray. “Ick. Hospital food is the worst.”

“So all food doesn’t taste like that?”

“You mean like microwaved socks? Nope. This here,” she pointed to the remains of his meal, “is total shit. Food on the outside is much better. Hell, dog food on the outside is much better than this.”

“Good.” At least that was one thing he could look forward to.

“How do you feel?” Johanna set her purse down at the foot of his bed, and Holden liked the personal look of it there. As if she had truly stopped by for a visit because she knew him.

“I feel as if I’ve been abducted by aliens.”

“And it’s not as fun as you thought it would be, is it?” Johanna folded her arms across her chest, wrinkling the rose on her shirt.

“Not at all.” Holden motioned to the corner of the room. “Grab a chair.”

She slid the chair over to the bedside and sat. She gave off a comfortable air, but the way her fingers drummed on her kneecap suggested she too found this situation a little awkward.

“Look,” he said, “I’m sorry you’re getting dragged into my problems here, but I didn’t—” He stopped when Johanna held up a hand.

“No need to apologize. You were in an accident. It’s not as if you planned to crash into my field…right?” She arrowed deep blue eyes at him and waited.

“Not that I remember. Why would someone crash a plane on purpose?”

“I don’t know.” Johanna shrugged. “Maybe if a person hijacked the plane for evil purposes but didn’t know how to fly it properly.” Again, her gaze cut into him.

“I’d love to say I didn’t hijack the plane, but I can’t say that for sure. I don’t feel like a bad dude with evil purposes, but I guess I could be one.” The pseudo-lunch he’d eaten churned in his stomach.
What if you are a bad dude?
Maybe he was better off not remembering who he was.

“I’d love to say I can tell if a guy has the potential to engage in questionable behavior, but my past experiences indicate I don’t.” She pulled her sunglasses off her head and stowed them in her purse. That red hair flopped back around her cheeks like a lion mane. “Let’s agree to assume you’re an okay guy, all right?” She held out her hand as if making a deal.

Holden took her hand. Her fingers were thin and smooth, but her grip was solid. The skin on the back of her hand was silky under his fingertips. Was every inch of her skin like that?

She let her hand slip from his. “The doctor tells me you’re ready to clear out of here. Not sick enough to take up a hospital bed.”

“I don’t feel sick,” he said. “Just confused and a little sore.”

“You want to stay with me?”

Holden was surprised by her bluntness. No easing into this conversation. “You’d just take me in like that?” Why did he want her to take him in?

“I’d hope someone would do the same for me. I can’t imagine not remembering the details of my life, or the people in it.” She cleared her throat as if she’d gotten choked up a bit.

“The doctor said it should be temporary.”

“Well, rest is the best thing for a concussion. My farmhouse has a nice guestroom and guest bathroom that my soon-to-be-ten-year old son, Kameron, is currently cleaning for you.” The look she sent him now was full of warning, her blue eyes icy. “Kam is my universe, so if you do turn out to be a bad dude, you’re out. If you so much as look at my son wrong, a concussion will be the least of your problems. I don’t look like I can kick anyone’s ass, but mess with my kid and I’ll let the fierce mama bear out. Got it?” She stood and put her hands on her hips.

“Got it.” She was his only link here in Nebraska. Hell, she was his only link period. If she tossed him out before he remembered things, he’d be without any help at all. The thought of flopping around in an unknown state alone made his heartbeat speed up. God, he felt like a fucking child. Was he always this afraid?

“I’m going to grab the paperwork from the desk. Be right back.” Johanna shouldered her purse and exited the room.