The door opened just a few seconds after Joseph had knocked. Felicity appeared in the doorway and smiled upon seeing him. She looked fresh and pretty as always, in a smooth rosy-coloured dress.
“Hi honey,” she greeted, stepping back to allow him inside.
He stepped inside and revealed the yellow rose he had brought for her. It was their first anniversary and yellow roses were her favourite. She took the rose and smothered his greeting with a kiss. Felicity led him into the kitchen.
“You can have a seat,” she told him, “Everything is almost ready.”
Joseph remained next to her rather than sitting. “What are you making?”
Felicity was looking through the cupboard for an appropriate vase for her rose. “Steak,” she replied, pulling a vase out, “That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
Joseph smiled. “I do love your steak.”
When Felicity finished arranging her flower, she returned to the stove. The dinner she was carefully preparing was just finished and it smelled great even to her. Together they set the table and sat down to dinner.
As they ate their dinner, Joseph listened to Felicity’s lively conversation. “I went down to Bev’s today and they have lovely big flower pots. I was thinking about getting one for the porch. I also wanted to plant some garlic this spring.”
“Garlic?” he replied, raising a brow.
“I want to see how well it grows in my garden.” Felicity insisted.
Joseph chuckled. “Okay. I’ll help you plant garlic.”
“I think it would be fun to have fresh garlic of my own,” she continued, “How is your new project coming?”
“Fairly well,” he replied. Joseph was a cabinetmaker in a busy workshop.
After dinner, Joseph suggested they take a walk. It was cool and dark out, but the air was still and made no colder by any wind chill. They strolled the sidewalk hand-in-hand, in the gleaming moonlight, talking softly.
“I think I’d like to go to Italy sometime,” said Felicity, “Visit the Spanish Steps and eat real gelato.”
“If we went to Italy, we might see some good mountains,” Joseph replied.
Felicity smiled. “I also want to go to England and visit Jane Austen’s house.”
“Europe is full of beautiful places,” Joseph commented, “One city alone could have plenty of charms.”
“Then we’ll have to visit them all,” Felicity laughed.
Upon returning to the house, Joseph closed the door behind them and turned to Felicity. “Can we sit for a minute?” he asked.
“Sure,” she replied and chose a seat in the living room.
Joseph rested next to her and held her hand lightly in his. Looking down at their joined hands, he began to speak with a little hesitation. “Felicity, you know all those things we talk about doing together, all those places we want to see…” Felicity only nodded. “Well I’d really like to do them.”
“I would too,” agreed Felicity with a smile.
“With you,” Joseph continued. When he looked up, Felicity was watching him serenely. “Will you marry me?” The question came out before he could allow himself to hesitate longer.
“Yes,” Felicity said with a little laugh, “Of course.”
A smile spreading on his face, Joseph reached into his pocket and pulled out a navy velvet ring box. Felicity’s eyes lit up as he opened it to reveal a sparkling princess cut diamond set in a white gold band. Felicity smiled and let him slip the ring onto her finger. She kissed his face and looked down at her hand to admire the ring.
Joseph went home that night with his head in the clouds. He had planned and rehearsed his proposal for weeks, backing out on nervousness every time he thought he might try it. When it came down to it, his proposal came out differently than he had planned. In any case, Felicity was his and he was happy.
In the next few weeks, Felicity set her favourite date for their wedding and had a great time telling everyone that she and Joseph were engaged. She wasted no time in window shopping for all things wedding. Three weeks after they announced their engagement, Felicity’s sister, Cecily, threw her and Joseph an engagement party at home. It was an afternoon party, with barbeque and cake, immediate family and friends. The party lasted until late and Joseph was the last to leave.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, sweetheart,” he promised as he kissed Felicity goodbye.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she replied with a smile.
Felicity finally fell asleep that night after contemplating the evening’s events for a long time. She was awakened early the next morning as the phone rang in her room. She squinted at the clock on her bedside table before reaching for the phone.
“Hello?” she said groggily, hoping it was important enough to waken her at such an hour.
“Felicity? I’m sorry to wake you up like this, but I know you would want to know…” it was Joseph’s mother, Lina, “Joseph’s had an accident. He’s at the hospital now and the doctor hasn’t let us in to see him, but…”
“I’m coming right now,” Felicity assured her.
Felicity was out of bed and dressed in a minute. The sky was still dark, but the sun was showing its golden rays over the horizon. Felicity took little notice of this as she drove to the hospital. She only thought of Joseph. As Felicity entered the waiting area, Joseph’s parents were still there, his father, John, stroking his mother’s back as worry etched fine lines around her eyes.
Lina said nothing, but pulled Felicity into a hug.
“What happened? How bad is he?” asked Felicity as she drew away from the urgent embrace.
“According to the doctor, he has a broken femur. He was unconscious when last we saw him,” said his father, “But it’s been a while now since we talked to the doctor.”
Just as he spoke, a stately man of about thirty-five appeared around the corner into the waiting area, his white coat spotless, his stethoscope hanging from his neck.
Before they could ask after Joseph, the doctor spoke, “He’s awake now and, folks, I’m afraid he may be worse than we thought. He doesn’t remember what happened. That’s not terribly uncommon, but he also doesn’t seem to know where he is… or who he is.”
The three watched the doctor in stunned silence.
The doctor continued, “You can go in and see him. I’d like to see if he recognizes you. At this point, we’re not sure how temporary his memory loss is.” He turned to Felicity. “You must be Felicity.”
“Yes,” she mumbled, still thinking on his words.
The doctor held out his hand. “I’m Doctor Bateman,” he introduced as Felicity shook his hand. Then addressing all three, he spoke softly and soberly, “I am very sorry.”
Felicity, John and Lina followed Doctor Bateman down the corridor to Joseph’s room. Felicity stopped just outside the door.
“You go ahead,” she told John and Lina, “I’ll wait.”
They nodded solemnly and left Felicity in the doorway. As John and Lina entered the room, Felicity began to slowly pace the corridor. She gazed at the diamond on her finger, remembering good times she and Joseph had together, memories that had been wiped away from him. It was then that Felicity began to cry.
