Chapter Nineteen

Isaac

I followed Tatiana most of my morning, and part of my afternoon. She wasn’t up to anything shady that I could see, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t. In my line of work, I learned quickly that things are not always what they seemed.

Beth pulled my arm hard, guiding me into my office as I returned from my day of surveillance.

“You can’t let this go on,” she hissed.

Her dark eyes were black as coal, and her red lips stretched so tight they nearly fell from the side of her face.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, even though I knew exactly what she was talking about.

“Her memories are getting stronger,” she warned.

Yeah, tell me something I don’t already know. That was partly why I hadn’t told her yet. I wasn’t ready for this to end, and I couldn’t bear to see her go back to Rob, the man who would only hurt her again and again.

She didn’t have any other close friends because of him so when he hit her again, who would she run to, and where would she go?

“I have the trip planned for Portland after Christmas,” I insisted. “As long as I can break this case for Mr. Gallo before then,” I added.

“Christmas is in three days,” Beth snapped.

And her real birthday in only five. We’d be in Portland on her birthday, probably right when she realized I’d lied to her all this time.

“If there’s no break in the case, I’ll handle it; you can’t push this back any longer,” she demanded.

I agreed and smiled. “I appreciate your concern, but I have it handled,” I convinced.

Beth shook her head and sighed. She obviously didn’t think I had it handled at all. “Maddie said she wanted to have lunch with you soon. She was very appreciative of the way you helped her the other day,” I interjected.

“That’s sweet. I’d like that,” Beth beamed.

“But, you have to promise me you won’t tell her anything,” I ordered.

“You know I wouldn’t do that to you,” she promised. “But, you have to promise me you’ll take her to Portland right after Christmas as planned, no matter what,” she added.

I didn’t want to make that promise. I wanted the excuse, just in case. What if something happened between now and then? Anything could happen. Her memories were becoming stronger and clearer. What if her memories allowed her to remember the love she had for Rob, and not the fear, disgust, or anger? Would all the texts, emails, and phone calls from her call log be enough to stop her from going back to him. I assumed she’d deleted texts and emails between me and her to avoid being busted before she was able to get a ticket and fly out here to me.

“Promise me,” Beth demanded, her lips pursing together.

“I promise,” I caved again.

“Have you found her anything for Christmas yet?” I nodded; I had, and for her birthday as well. Beth’s eyes lit up with excitement, waiting on me to show it to her. “What is it?” she pleaded.

Being a detective, I knew she hated surprises and being left out of anything, just like I did. But, these were two very special gifts. The one for Christmas would offer Maddie a connection to her past she’d been craving, and the one for her birthday would offer a link to her future, should she choose to be with me. I was pleased with my decisions, and I knew she’d love them both. The only problem with her birthday was, we’d be in Portland, and she may not want to speak to me ever again, or accept any gift I had to offer.

“You’ll have to wait,” I smirked, know it was killing her.

Beth rolled her eyes in frustration as she gave up on pushing for details any further. She knew I was a stubborn man, and she’d never get it out of me. “I’ll take over the Gallo case tonight,” she offered.

“Thank you,” I smiled. I was eager to get home to Maddie and to take her out to a musical. She was in the school theater group in high school and even minored in theatrical drama in college. I knew she’d love it, and it would make an amazing surprise. It could even create more triggers from when we were in school and allow her to feel the emotions that led to her love for me. That was worth sitting through a ridiculously long, hard to understand, and overrated musical.

At home, Maddie was dressed in a long red gown, one she’d chosen when we shopped together earlier in the week. She was stunning, absolutely stunning. I couldn’t wait to take her out and show her off on my arm.

She ran to me as I entered the house, her arms gripping me tightly around the neck as her feet lifted from the ground. The scent of her perfume wafted under my nose, nearly buckling my knees. “Damn, girl,” I roared, squeezing her tightly against my chest. “You look and smell amazing,” I sighed.

I’dt dressed in the office, choosing the nice suit I wore to the country club to scout out Gallo’s newest woman, but I was still underdressed to be seen with such a beauty.

Our lips met with an electric attraction that neither of us could deny. She may not have remembered her past, and I knew it still bothered her, but it was obvious she was happy. She was happy with me.

“Are you ready?” I asked, setting her back on her feet and taking her hands in mine. She nodded, her beautiful red lips painted to perfection, and her eye makeup thick and seductive.

The look in her eye and the parting of her lips told me she wanted to say something, but couldn’t, or wouldn’t. I longed to hear those three little words, but I knew it was too much to ask for so soon. She was just starting to become comfortable in her own skin. The doctors were so impressed with her progress, not only with her memories, but her ability to make herself a home in a world she felt so unattached to. She had me to thank, she told the doctor on her last visit. That made me proud and ashamed in the same moment.

The musical started early and would end with just enough time for a drive I’d selected for us to watch the sunset together. I’d taken her there on her first trip to Miami, hoping to have the strength to make my move, but I’d let it pass. This time, I knew things would be different, and I planned to make the best of our possible last moments together. So, when her memories returned, mine would be filled with moments that I would cherish for the rest of my life.

The valet took my keys, and I walked to the passenger side of my truck to let Maddie out with my help. Her hair flowed down her back, her blue eyes sparkled, and the low-cut, silky dress flowed from her body so elegantly that every man that noticed her stared with envy. She was the most beautiful woman there, and she was mine, at least for now.

The musical was tough to follow, but Maddie seemed to be having no trouble. Her eyes filled with tears as the woman sang in Italian, and she laughed with the crowd as if on cue, and gasped in all the right places. I was impressed with her, so fucking impressed. She wasn’t only hot, but smart, sophisticated, and had a smile that could melt a glacier.

My eyes were on Maddie the entire play, not once looking towards the stage. She giggled when she caught me staring at her, her cheeks turned a bright red, and she whispered that I’d miss the best part. Her beside me, happy: that was the best part, and I didn’t plan on missing a thing.

Once the show was over, we stepped out into the lobby where people all raved about the performance. “Maddie,” a voice called out, causing us both to turn in the direction it came from. “Maddie Stewart, oh my God, it’s been years,” the tall, dark-haired man greeted her with an extended hand.

She looked confused as she shook the man’s hand. “Don’t you remember me? Ian Mills,” he blurted.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

“From Bradley; we were in the same dramatic arts class,” he trailed, obviously disappointed by her rejection.

“I-I was in an accident recently; everything’s still a bit fuzzy,” she admitted with a forced smile. I could tell she was embarrassed to feel so rude to someone so friendly, someone she obviously should’ve known.

“I’m so sorry,” the man apologized.

“Isaac Lewis, Maddie’s fiancé,” I extended my hand to introduce myself.

“Nice to meet you. I hope things get better,” he smiled, and then rushed back to his wife.

I watched them talking and looking over their shoulders in our direction. Maddie’s eyes began to tear up, her face turned pale, and I knew it was only a matter of seconds before she had a full-blown meltdown. He called her Maddie Stewart, not Maddie Grubbs, and I knew that would be a trigger, one I may not be able to disable.

My arm slid around her waist and guided her out of the lobby. I handed the valet my ticket and waited for what felt like weeks for him to finally deliver my truck. I helped Maddie inside and drove off, headed to the secluded place I’d chosen to watch the sunset. It was the place I was certain would offer us an amazing evening, but now I wasn’t so sure.

“Why did he call me Maddie Stewart?” she whispered loudly as we drove up a winding road.

“He may have just gotten your name mixed with someone else. I’ve done that before,” I chuckled, trying to blow the incident off as a total accident.

“Maybe,” she sighed. “But, I should have remembered him if we were in college together, and especially if we were in the same class, right?” she questioned.

“Not necessarily. Maybe he had a crush on you, and so you stood out to him. If he wasn’t someone you were interested in, or friends with, you might have just forgotten him,” I explained.

She seemed to ponder this, but said nothing.  She turned her head away from me and sighed.

“I mean, do you honestly think you’d recognize everyone you went to college with, even just those in your classes?” I questioned with a smile.

“No, I guess not,” she agreed. I could tell by her tone that she believed me, and that maybe, just maybe, she’d let the Maddie Stewart thing go.

If she decided to check on the name, using my computer, she’d find her page; she’d find Rob, her engagement photos, and the truth about her past. She find out I’d lied to her, but she wouldn’t find anything that would tell her why.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

I turned and offered a smirk. “Somewhere we’ve been before.”

Her eyes lit up with excitement. I knew she loved anything that could trigger a memory or an emotion. I was hoping for a good one, and after fuckwad Ian nearly ruined my night, my life, I deserved one.