Abiding Love -- Part Two

As Felicity wandered near the nurses’ station, one of the nurses approached her with a tissue box. She said nothing, but gave Felicity a sympathetic smile as Felicity took a tissue from the box.

“I’m Holly,” she introduced, “Would you like to sit down?”

Felicity nodded and sat in a chair next to Holly behind the nurses’ station counter. Holly was a young nurse, probably not much older than Felicity, with kind blue eyes. The other nurse behind the counter looked a little older and rounder. She had a friendly countenance.

“That your guy in there?” asked the older one.

Felicity nodded while she dabbed the tissue under her eyes. “My fiancé. The doctor says he doesn’t remember anything.”

“Oh, honey,” said the nurse.

The sympathy of the nurses was all Felicity needed to relax in their presence. She sat back in her chair, drying her tears with the tissue. “His parents are talking to him now, I guess. I didn’t want to overwhelm him.”

“That’s fine,” said Holly, “I know it’s hard. You can sit there for a bit. But you should go in and talk to him soon. Are you Felicity?”

“Yes…” Felicity turned confused eyes to her.

“He mumbled when they brought him in. He asked for Felicity,” said the older nurse. “When you go in there, just know he needs people who love him even if he doesn’t remember you.”

Felicity only nodded.

Holly rose, smiling at Felicity. “You can sit there as long as you like. We’ll be around.”

“Yeah, we’ll be here all day,” said the older nurse.

As the nurses went back to work, Felicity repeated her thanks and looked toward the door to Joseph’s room with sigh. She did not know how long she waited, lost in her thoughts. When John and Lina emerged from Joseph’s room, Felicity rose immediately to meet them.

“We’ll see you soon, Felicity,” was all they said.

They spoke to the nurse behind the counter for a few brief minutes, but Felicity heard none of the conversation. She was on her way to Joseph’s room. She drew in a deep breath and let it out just as she entered.

“Joseph?” she began softly, stopping just past the doorway, “May I come in?”

He turned his gaze toward her and looked her up and down. “Sure,” he replied. He looked at her blankly, as though he expected her to speak.

“How are you feeling?” she asked as she approached the bed. He had hardly a scratch or a bruise on him, but he lay prostrate on the bed.

“They tell me my leg is broken,” said Joseph, “and they must have given me something strong because I just don’t feel much. I’m just tired.”

Felicity nodded. “That’s the painkillers. And you’ve had a rough night. I don’t mean to keep you up, I just… wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“Thanks,” said Joseph, although looking slightly confused, “So if I fall asleep on you, I’m sorry.”

When Joseph smiled at her, Felicity felt a flush of delight and smiled in return. Her lingering sadness lessened just a little in light of his openness.

Joseph spoke again solemnly, “You’re probably someone I’m supposed to know.”

Felicity nodded. “Yes. I’m Felicity Terrence. I’m your fiancée.” She smiled reassuringly, remembering what the nurse had said about people who love him, and trying not to looked discouraged.

After a few moments, Joseph repeated, “My fiancée…”

He sighed gently, and Felicity looked into his eyes to see an inexplicable expression of confusion and dismay. She worked to keep the smile on her face. Joseph did not continue, he only looked at her.

“Well, I should let you rest,” said Felicity, moving hesitantly toward the door.

“Felicity,” Joseph spoke before she could walk out, “When is our wedding day?”

“September twelfth.” Felicity hoped he would be curious enough to want to talk with her longer.

“You’re looking forward to it, I presume,” he continued with a little smile.

“Of course,” Felicity assured him, “You were too. We’ve been engaged for about three weeks. We had an engagement party last night at my house. You had an accident on the way home and spent the night in Emergency.”

Joseph’s brow drew in in concentration. “I don’t remember the accident or the party. Was it a good party?”

Felicity almost laughed at his choice of questions. “It was a great party.”

“So if I had died from my accident, at least I went out having a good time,” he replied, to Felicity’s surprise.

“That’s terribly morbid,” she admonished, although still smiling.

“But it’s true,” he insisted, “You know, you can stay. I’m not that tired.” He patted the chair by the bed, the chair which his mother had occupied just a few minutes before. “Talk to me.”

Felicity perched on the chair. Talking to Joseph was almost surreal. He spoke to her as though she were someone he had just met, and in his memory, she was. He watched her closely and placidly as she spoke.

“What do you do for a living?” he asked.

“I’m a receptionist at a medical office,” she shared, “And you work with wood.”

“Yeah, I make cabinets.”

Felicity smiled. “Yes. You remember that?”

He shook his head, deflating Felicity’s momentary joy. “My parents were just in here and they told me that. They made it sound like I do a good job with the wood. But they’re my parents; parents are supposed to say things like that.”

“Oh, but you do wonderful work with wood,” Felicity assured him, “You even make wood carvings. It’s fairly new to you, but I think you’re coming along well. You made me a carving for my last birthday.”

“When was that?” he inquired.

“July thirtieth. I’m twenty-three.”

Joseph raised a brow in surprise. “You don’t look it.”

He watched her and Felicity simply smiled at him. She was beginning to miss the admiration with which he usually looked at her. His gaze now was curious at best, and sleepy.

“Joseph,” she said softly, “Your leg needs to heal and you’re going to be here for a while. Can I come back

to visit you?”

He nodded slowly. “I might like that.”

When Felicity left Joseph’s room, the painkillers were taking their toll on him and he was drifting off. She whispered a goodbye as she stepped out of the room. Pausing just outside the room, Felicity breathed, “Thank you, God.”

Felicity did not see Doctor Bateman again before she left, only the nurses. Stopping by the nurses’ station on her way out, Felicity gave them all a little smile.

“Are you going to be okay?” asked the older one.

“Yes. Thank you,” said Felicity, “I’ll be back to see him again soon.”

In spite of the ache in her heart that he was not the same Joseph, Felicity left the hospital feeling relieved that he would be well soon enough and pleased with his response to her. She drove home in the morning sunshine and determined to do what she could to help him remember.