Second Chances Chapter Thirteen
Grace
After a tentative knock at the door, a beautiful red-haired woman entered the room. Harold expected some kind of reaction when he first saw her, as he had waking up to John standing over him, but no, there was nothing. She was a perfect stranger to him. He felt nothing towards her.
Harold just didn’t know what to do. How do you react when you have no idea who someone is, feel absolutely nothing when first meeting them and that person is obviously very emotional being with you? She was his fiance and… a complete and absolute stranger.
Tears began running down the woman’s face, the moment she saw him. “Harold?” her voice trembled, “It really is you?”
Grace slowly walked over to the bed and was reaching out to touch him when she quickly pulled her arm back. Maybe it was because Harold involuntarily flinched at the unexpected attempt from her to touch him. Or was it an involuntary action on her part when she saw close up the damage to his face from the accident?
“I’m sorry.” Grace apologized.
Harold didn’t know if she was apologizing for trying to touch him or for her reaction at seeing him up close.
“No need to be. It’s all right.” It really wasn’t but how can he expect her not to blanch at the sight of him when trained professionals did.
Grace took a seat in the chair John had vacated, all the while trying to get her emotions in check.
“I don’t know where to start or what to say to you. I still can’t believe it’s you. What do you say to someone you thought was dead, who you never stopped loving and has absolutely no idea who you are?”
Grace went on, staring at the monitors above his head, avoiding looking at him, “I was angry and hurt at first when John told me you were alive, but now I just want to help you, if you will allow me. I know you don’t remember me or what we had, but I want to talk to you or show you everything about us.”
“The doctors say anything could trigger your memory. I want to help you Harold, please, I do love you. I know it’s going to be hard, but if you’ll just let me try.” Grace finished with eyes still brimming with tears, as she finally looked at his face, at him.
Harold wasn’t sure what to do. He believed what the woman was telling him. But how do you tell that person that you are so very mixed up right now and the only one you want help from is not her? The only reason you weren’t freaking out at her even being in the room was because John had sent her in.
Harold didn’t want to hurt her, but he couldn’t help how he felt right now. That she could leave and never come back and he would be fine. As long as he had John he could cope.
So trying to spare her any pain he replied best he could...
“I’m sorry. Miss Hendricks, is it? I don’t remember any of what John has already told me about you and I. But I must have hurt you terribly and for that I do apologize. And I am sorry that I do not remember us or anything about us. I am very confused right now about, well, everything. I don’t know if you can help me, but I am willing for you to try.”
“Thank you Harold. I can see I’m upsetting you by being here so I’ll leave now. I’ll be back tomorrow if you are still here. I overheard John and your nurse talking earlier and I think they will be releasing you soon.” She was looking away again.
When Grace got up to leave she touched his hand. When he didn’t pull away this time, she bent over him, closed her eyes, and kissed him lightly on his forehead.
She then walked towards the door, and as she opened it to leave. She turned her head and told Harold, “Goodbye, I do love you.”
She stiffened a bit when Harold’s only response was to ask her, “Is John still here?”
“Yes of course, I’ll send him back in. Goodbye Harold.” And with that went out the door.
Harold had to admit to himself he had handled that badly. Grace was his fiance after all. He did love her, right? He should have felt something besides unease with her even being in the room. And Harold did notice that this had hurt her. He could have been more welcoming.
But at least Harold thought he had been truthful. He would accept Grace’s help. He was confused and if Grace helping him to relive their past would make things clearer, then he would spend some time with her.
Besides, it seemed to be what John wanted.
Harold had to laugh at himself inwardly. Confusion was an understatement.
John was also a complete stranger to him, but from the moment Harold first looked up at the visitor in this frightening new world of his, he trusted the man, needed him somehow. Yet Grace was his fiance, the one Harold should recognize instinctively to trust, to need; Harold had had to force himself to even allow her to be in his room.
Well confusion then jumped to a whole new level when John came back into his room. Harold’s breath caught, he could have sworn his heart rate sped up. Harold couldn’t deny it; he was attracted to John, very much.
The amnesia, Harold couldn’t remember his life before, people in it, even his own name because of it. But could he really forget what kind of person he was? A man with a fiance shouldn’t be feeling what Harold was feeling now, yet he was.
Harold would spend time with Grace; let her remind him of the way things were between them. If somehow he regained his memories, loved her again, then so be it.
Yet looking at John now, Harold wasn’t thinking about a ‘what if?’ with Grace. Harold was thinking about a ‘what now?’ Now he wanted to be with John, was attracted to his strength and gentleness, felt something for man with the piercing blue eyes and his ruggedly handsome face.
Yes Harold would do what John asked of him; he would allow Grace to help. It seemed to be what John wanted him to do, what he wanted for Harold. Maybe it was right for the ‘Harold’ he had been. But what about the man he was now?
The ‘Harold’ that he was now did not want Grace, had no interest in the woman at all. Harold wanted John. He couldn’t deny that, wouldn’t even try.
But what could he do? Harold didn’t want to hurt this wonderful woman who obviously cared for him, but he couldn’t deny how he felt either. He wanted and needed John…
~*~
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen