Johanna looked around the room and headed down the stairs as she glanced at the wall clock. The sitting room was sparkly clean and the walls were neatly polished. The TV was on and a song was playing softly. She saw Snuggles in between one of the chairs and shouted.
“Challis, Challis! How many times have I told you to put this teddy away?” she removed it and saw Challis walk into the sitting room slowly. “Nicola, have you finished what I asked you to do? And where is your brother? He needs to get in here and mop this place up this instant,” she yelled as Challis quickly took her doll and disappeared from sight. Nicola understood why her mom was so icky this morning. She quickly finished up and cast a satisfied look at the kitchen. Her dad was coming home today for the first time since he had been hospitalized. Johanna had told the kids that their father still didn’t have a recollection of who they were but that he was doing better and needed to be in a familiar environment, to help with his memory loss.
“I just need one more minute,” Nicola yelled. She knew if she told her mother she was done cleaning, she would come around and point at something that still needed a scrub.
Challis came back into the sitting room, a drawing in her hand. She gave it to her mom.
“It’s for daddy. I know he will feel better once he sees it,” she said with a cute smile, which spread across her face. She had on her teal gown. Unlike most girls her age, she loved teal compared to pink. Nicola had her hair tied in a bun with a fancy teal ribbon to match her outfit. Crisp, white shoes adorned her feet as she looked up at her mother who took the drawing, on which she had drawn five figures with hands and legs. Johanna hurriedly placed it in the center of the dining table, as she heard a vehicle pull up in the driveway.
“They are here,” She announced. Dominic was God-sent and she couldn’t thank him enough for accompanying her husband on his discharge from the hospital. Even though he was totally in love with her, he had been nothing but supportive of her and Brandon. She was grateful.
“Children,” she called “Please be on your best behavior, okay?” even though she knew she was the one acting oddly. She opened the door and a cute little dog dashed into the room.
“Mom, we got a dog?” Martino asked in an excited tone. Without awaiting a response, he ran towards him and picked him up and began petting him. The dog, in turn, licked his face and wagged his little tail. Martino laughed heartily. It warmed Johanna’s heart to see him laugh even though she knew she didn’t get a dog.
Dominic and Brandon came inside and after they had all exchanged pleasantries, Johanna gave Dominic a knowing look as she glanced at the dog to him. She needed to hear an explanation and he knew he had to give her one fast before she gave him a verbal thrashing.
“I know. I know. The dog’s name is Ginger and he is a recovery dog. He is here to help with Brandon’s healing process. And he’s also here because the kids would love me more than they already do,” he said and smiled softly at her.
“Great, another child to take care of,” she thought to herself. Which choice did she have?
“Ginger!” called Johanna, as she watched the dog slide out of Martino’s hands and run towards her. She bent down and rubbed his fur gently. He began to lick her and she laughed lightly at the tingly feeling. The laugh caught Brandon’s attention and he watched her with interest. Her smile was captivating and he felt drawn to the woman in front of him. Her laughter filled his confused heart with some ease. He was lucky to have such a beautiful, caring and nurturing woman by his side, guiding him through his recovery. He had done a little research on her and the kids with Dominic’s help. She was a thirty-two-year-old woman with three kids. She had a slender yet lean figure, which was unusual to see for a nurse that worked several graveyard shifts and juggled being a mother to three children. Brandon looked at her as if she was the most beautiful woman on earth. He looked deep into her smoky eyes with interest. They were beautiful and had an intense impact on him. She was taller than the average woman and he loved it. Beautiful, dark brown, auburn hair fell down her shoulders. He was glad she didn’t tie her hair back like most stiff women. He could not believe she was his wife. He felt lucky and a little sad at the same time that he couldn’t remember her or the children. At that instant, he made a promise that he would do everything in his willpower to recover, and if he couldn’t, he vowed to make new memories with his family.
Johanna got up and looked around only to find Brandon and Dominic staring at her with dreamy eyes. It was discomforting for her to notice the look in both of the men’s eyes, and she looked at the kids uneasily to see if any one of them had noticed. She was glad to see they were too occupied with the dog to notice.
Dominic, on the other hand, mesmerized Nicola. She seemed to have a little crush on him, as she stared at him for a moment lost in thought. He was a handsome nurse with dirty blond hair and green eyes, which had a piercing stare. He looked posh and very admirable, like a dreamy superhero. His masculine voice made her melt every time she heard him speak. She believed he had that effect on every woman. And above all, he was the sweetest man ever. Dominic was so caring and sincere, it almost seemed as if he was flirting with every woman. He was sweet to a fault, and on many occasions women even purposely hurt themselves and would wait in line for Dominic to attend to them. Only his hands seemed to soothe their pain.
“Would you like to go upstairs or stay in the sitting room, while Dominic can help you get up the stairs?” Johanna said cutting into Nicola’s thoughts.
Brandon looked at Dominic, as if searching for some sort of assurance or answer from him before he spoke. “Can we set up a bed down here, so we can all hang out here as a family and maybe talk about old memories?”
Johanna was just as shocked as Nicola, who felt tears well up from inside her. A tear found its way out and she wiped it quickly before anyone noticed. She had wished for something like this all her life. She always wanted to share family moments together. She was glad.
Nicola felt the need to leave the room and give her parents some privacy. She called to Martino, “Let’s go and show the backyard to our new friend,” Martino jumped at the offer, carried the dog and led the way out.
“Your turn, Challis. We need to leave.”
“I’m not going. I want to stay here with mommy.”
Nicola didn’t argue with her and she turned, leaving the room with Martino.
Johanna, on the other hand, nodded in agreement to Brandon’s request and asked Dominic to help her with the mattress. Challis hopped into the chair near her dad and sat down in it. Her teddy bear was back in her hands. Her blue, dreamy eyes stared at him and he stared back at her. She smiled at him and he smiled back. She thought of peculiar it was to see her father smile and avert her eyes. He beckoned her to move closer to him and she did. “What is the name of your friend?” he said, pointing towards Snuggles.
Challis looked down at her bear in a confused state. She then remembered Uncle Dominic had told them that dad couldn’t remember anything but it wasn’t his fault. She looked up and replied.
“His name is Snuggles. Mommy got him for me so that I wouldn’t be scared at night. He is really shy so he might not say hello to you just yet,” she said.
“It’s alright. Can I hold him for a bit?” asked Brandon, stretching out his hands.
Challis reluctantly gave him her teddy bear and stood in front of him, as if she was trying to protect the bear. Johanna came down the stairs with Dominic just then, carrying a mattress. She was glad to see father and daughter bonding and having fun. It was because she knew Challis never let anyone have her bear and it never got out of her sight for more than a minute. Brandon was busy with Snuggles. He kissed the bear on the head.
“Thank you for taking good care of my baby girl when I wasn’t around. I’m glad you are her friend,” he said to Snuggles, as he returned the bear back and looked up to see Johanna struggling with the mattress. Dominic was at the top of the stairs and Johanna was already down the stairs.
“I’m going to change into my favorite pajamas for the living room sleepover now,” Challis said in excitement and left Brandon smiling at her warm personality. The smile didn’t last for long, as he felt a sharp pain in his head.
“Ouch!” he winced in pain, lifting his left hand to touch his head. Johanna dropped the bed instantly, leaving Dominic to struggle with it as she rushed to his side.
“Are you alright? Does your head hurt? What time did you take your last medication?”
“I’m not exactly sure,” he whispered.
“Dominic, when had Brandon last taken his medication? He has a headache, can he take his next dose?” she yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
“It was earlier this morning. He can take them now, but only after he has had something to eat,” he called back.
Johanna set the tray on the stool in front of him. She had prepared a bowl of minestrone soup, kale salad and freshly squeezed orange juice she got at the market that morning for him. The food was light, but healthy and it was good for someone with his health condition.
Dominic placed the mattress down and had just returned with some blankets and pillows. “Is there anything else you might need?” he asked.
“Hmm, not that I can think of,” Johanna replied.
“Alright, I’ll be here later tomorrow morning to check up on you. If you need anything, I’m just a phone call away. Please, don’t hesitate to call me. I have to be on my way now. Have a pleasant night, Brandon,” Dominic said, as he headed out. Johanna walked him to his car and hugged him tightly. His arms were always so welcoming, warm and loving.
“Thank you so much. Thanks a lot for taking care of him when I couldn’t do so,” she said, as she pulled away.
“You are very welcome. You know I will always be there for you.”
“I know. But do you think he will regain his memory?”
“Perhaps, all he needs is love, care, and support. Be patient. Make him feel welcome and above all start with happy memories, not sad ones.”
“Okay then. Have a great night and drive safe.” She helped him close the door to his car and waved goodbye as he drove off.
When she got back inside the house she met Brandon eating his meal and Challis sitting next to him. Her special blanket, as she called it, was spread across her legs. He was feeding her from his bowl of soup and she was enjoying it. They had never bonded like this before. He really was the second husband. He was like a blank slate and he was sent back to them to make things better. She then asked herself if she ever wanted him to regain his memory. She joined them on the bed and gave Brandon the poster Challis had drawn for him, while they all laughed, bringing up different ideas of what the drawing signified.
Nicola and Martino slept on the couch while Challis slept on one side of the bed with Snuggles under her chin. Johanna, although feeling a bit uncanny, reluctantly slipped into bed beside Brandon on his right-hand side. She was conscious enough not to let their bodies touch as she crawled under the sheets. Brandon was fast asleep. He occasionally moaned, which was most likely from the painful headaches he would experience from time to time. Johanna saw Ginger, the little dog staring at her from the other chair. She beckoned him and he obediently came running happily to her. He lay beside her on the mattress, turning around a few times to give her some licks with his wet tongue, while Johanna stroked his soft furry head. It didn’t take so long for him to fall asleep, snoring away. Johanna looked one last time at the kids; they were all fast asleep, as well as Ginger. She then slowly turned around to face Brandon, whose face was inches from hers. She used her finger to stroke a strand of his long brutish hair aside. He really needed to get a haircut and shave. She stared at him and was starting to feel less guilty about the accident. The accident was like a blessing in disguise. It was what was bringing their family together and she was almost glad it happened.
She then closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, forgetting her hand was on Brandon’s head. He opened his eyes and saw her sleeping soundly. He slowly and quietly raised his head and saw all the kids fast asleep, including Ginger, who was at Johanna’s side. He then kissed Johanna on her forehead and closed his eyes. Maybe it was the accident, but he did not seem to dream at all. All he saw was darkness. But when he opened his eyes and saw his family, he saw a light. He just wished he could remember them. He wished he could remember himself. He wished he could remember how much fun he had with his family.