Chapter 2

Larry walked into Rebecca's room later that afternoon with a vase of flowers. Kevin was checking her vitals. Larry put them on the side table.

"You're the guy from the restaurant," Rebecca said.

"Yes, my name is Larry Newman."

"Do you remember anything else?"

"No. I just remember seeing him at a restaurant."

"It's a start," Kevin said. “I will let you visit. Mr. Newman, would you have me paged before you leave?"

"Of course, Dr. Rogers," Larry said. Kevin walked out.

"Do you know who I am? I don't know myself."

"The only thing I know is that you told me that your name was Rebecca," Larry said. "Dr. Rogers called me when they found my business card on you."

"Why did I have it?"

"I paid for your breakfast. I gave it to you."

"That must be why I remember you in a restaurant."

"Don't worry. Your memory will come back."

"Did you visit me when I was in the coma?"

"Yes. I read you a book."

"Why? I mean, why did you visit me if you don't know me?"

"For some reason, that I can't explain, I felt the need," Larry said. "Even at the restaurant, I felt the need to help you."

"Did I look like I needed help?"

"You were looking through your bag for your wallet. You kept looking towards the door."

"What else can you tell me?"

"Nothing much. I took your bill and paid for it. I handed you my card. You thanked me, told me your first name and left. Later that night, Dr. Rogers called me."

"The police said I was beaten up and thrown in a dumpster."

"That's what I heard."

"Why can't I remember?" Rebecca asked then started to cry.

Larry went closer to the bed and touched her arm. "It will be all right. It just may take some time."

"How do you know?"

"I don't but you have to believe." He reached next to the bed and got a tissue. He handed it to her. "You're still alive. That is what matters."

Rebecca wiped her eyes. "What if I remember everything and I don't like it?"

"Then we can figure it out then."

"You will help me?"

"I will do anything I can do," Larry said.

"Thank you," Rebecca said. "So, tell me about yourself."

"Well, I am thirty-two years old. I've never been married."

"What do you do for fun?"

"I have been known to hike, play sports, mostly enjoy the outdoors, but not for quite a while. I been busy with work.

"What kind of work do you do?"

"I buy and sell properties. Mostly large land deals or companies or purchase them for my own company. We are working on a deal right now."

"Am I keeping you from work?"

"No. I needed a break. It's almost over with and maybe I will take some time off."

"How long have you been working on it?"

"I've been working on it for over a year."

"That's a long time."

"Yes," Larry said. "There have been many problems but I have ironed most of them out."

"That's good. I don't know what I do for a living. Or if I am married or anything. It's all so confusing."

"I can understand how that might be confusing."

"I think I need to rest. I am tired."

"All right. You get some sleep and I will come back tomorrow."

"You will?"

"Yes. I will be here," Larry said. He pulled her hand up and kissed the back of her hand. He smiled then walked out the room.

Larry waited for Kevin in the waiting area. Kevin walked over and sat down in the chair next to him. "Mr. Newman, I just wanted to let you know that since Rebecca woke up, there's no reason to keep her here. Her incision is healing and her brain swelling is gone. So, medically speaking, I am going to have to release her."

"When? Where is she going to go since she doesn't even know who she is?"

"I can hold off for another day. There is half-way houses and women shelters she can go to. I just wanted to let you know."

"I appreciate it. I have hired a private investigator, but so far he hasn't come up with anything."

"I will do what I can for her medically to try to get her to remember, but usually that takes time."

"Thank you, Dr. Rogers."

"Have a good evening Mr. Newman." Kevin said as he stood up.

"You too," Larry said. Kevin walked off. Larry sat there for a few minutes then got up and left.

Larry walked down to Rebecca's room the next afternoon. Rebecca was sitting on her bed watching television. She looked over at him and smiled. Larry walked over to the bed. "How are you doing today?"

"I feel fine. I still don't remember much," she said. "I took a walk up and down the hall."

"Well, that's good."

"I guess. Dr. Rogers told me I am being discharged tomorrow. He's getting me a list of shelters to go to."

"No. You are coming home with me." Larry said then turned and looked out the window. He took a deep breath then turned and looked at her. "I didn't mean it to sound like that. You are welcome to stay at my place. I have extra bedrooms and it's quiet."

"You have been so nice to me, but I can't do that. A shelter will be fine."

"Shelters are filled with drug addicts and criminals. You wouldn't be safe there. I wouldn't feel right if I didn't at least offer. You can make that choice."

"I will think about it."

"Thank you," Larry said. "My place is quiet and nobody will bother you so you can recuperate fully. There's no strings attached. You won't have to repay me in any way."

"I said I would think about it."

"All right." Larry said then sat down on the chair next to the bed. "So, have you remembered anything?"

"I get brief pictures in my mind. I get feelings, but nothing clear."

"What kind of pictures?"

"I was looking out across grass with walls around it," Rebecca said. "I don't know what or where it was."

"Maybe it's where you lived."

"I had a feeling I didn't belong there. I do know I am not a mother, though. I asked the doctor to check."

"That's good. I guess."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Don't worry. It will come back to you."

"Maybe."

Larry reached over and took her hand. "It will, Rebecca. I promise. You need to stay positive. It won't happen overnight. Everything takes time."

"I feel like I don't know myself. Which I don't, but I don't have memories of anything. No childhood, no family, no nothing."

"Sometimes I wish I couldn't remember some things from my past."

"Like what?"

"Well, like my mother passing away for one. I was ten years old."

"I'm sorry."

"It was hard for me, but I came back and I'm doing good now."

"That's good."

"Just like you will come back from this."

"All right. I get it," Rebecca said. "I looked at that book. It was like I read it before."

"That's the book I read to you while you were in the coma."

"It's a relatively good book."

"It was all right."

"Where did you get it from?"

"I got it from a friend as a gift. She thought I might like it."

"Oh." Rebecca pulled her hand away. "Does she mind you being here?"

"Do you think we're seeing each other."

"You said she was a friend. I figured she was your girlfriend."

"No, we are just friends. I am not in any kind of relationship with anyone," Larry said. "My last relationship lasted a month. I was accused of being married to my work."

"So, did that change any?"

"I still work a lot, but I do a lot from home. I go into the office only for an hour or two a day. Unless I have meetings that I have to go to."

"Well, that's good. And maybe you will take some time off."

"Maybe," Larry said. His phone rang. He pulled it out and looked at the screen. "I have to get this." He said then answered it. He spoke a little then hung up. "I have to go. There is a problem I need to take care of."

"All right."

"If it's not too late, I will come back but if I don't, I will be here in the morning to take you where you want to go."

"All right," Rebecca said. "I'd appreciate that."

"Get some rest and stop trying so hard to remember something." He said as he touched her shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow." Larry walked to the door. He looked back at her then opened the door and walked out.