Lightening booms, causing us to jump apart, so I take her hand and say, “Come on, let’s go on into my house.”

“Before you left we thought you might be pregnant,” I grind through my teeth.

“We what?” she yells.

“You missed your period a couple of weeks before you left.” I drop my head into my hands and groan.

“I don’t understand. We don’t have a baby,” she chokes up.

“We didn’t know for sure.” I whisper through my hands.

“Did we tell anyone?”

Yes, we just told your evil mother! “Your mom—”

“My mom knew? Oh, this is just priceless. I wonder how much more she is keeping from me. I am so laying into her at my doctor’s appointment.” She slaps her hand over her mouth.

At the mention of a doctor’s appointment, I look up. Of course, I look up. She is in remission. “What doctor’s appointment Ev?” I know my voice came out harsher than I wanted it to.

“It’s just my six month checkup. It’s not a big deal really.” She waves her hand as if it’s nothing.

I don’t give a shit if it is a small deal or a big deal. She should have told me, but really, when has she had the chance? I mean, seriously, she has been back in my life for three days. I can’t be too upset.

“When is it?”

“Tristan, it’s really not that big of a de—”

“Again Evelyn, when is it?” I ask, cutting her off.

“Three weeks from tomorrow,” she sighs.

“Okay, I’m going.”

“Do you really think that’s necessary? I have literally been to the doctors hundreds of times. Tristan, I’ll be fine.”

Why can’t she understand what she means to me?

“Look Ev, I understand that you can’t remember us, but I can. I can remember everything Ev. I still love you. Can’t you understand that fact so can we get over this?”

She smiles and laughs.

“Whatever. I’m telling you, it is boring and they will just run tests. They always do. So just don’t let that freak you out.”

I grin because I won. I really didn’t expect her to give up so easily.

She points her finger at me. “Don’t go after my mom. I’m laying into her myself when I see her.”

Damn it! “No, I can’t agree to that. How does this sound? You lay into her first and then I get to have a go at her. She deserves it Ev,” I growl.

“Were you always this way?” She asks me this with a big grin on her face.

No, but I ain’t telling her that. If she knew, she could get away with so much more. Who knows what kind of grief she would cause me.

“Come on babe, we need to get you home to rest.” I throw some bills on the table.

“Home.” She repeats.

“Yeah, home. It’s there whenever you want it babe,” I say, kissing her temple and wrapping my arm around her shoulder. I quickly have to pull back because her skin is like an open fire. I stop her and put my hand to her forehead. Shit, she is burning up, yet she doesn’t even act like it is bothering her.

“Baby, you are running one hell of a fever,” I say as I drag her out of the restaurant and quickly over to my Jeep. “Did you know you were running a fever?”

I can’t believe she didn’t say anything. Why didn’t she tell me she was more than just tired?

“Yes,” she whispers.

YES? “You knew and didn’t say anything?”

She crosses her arms and lays her head against the headrest. “I knew.”

“Why didn’t you say anything Ev?”

She closes her eyes and turns her head away. I know this secret trick of hers. I know I am pissing her off but right now, I don’t care.

“I probably just have another cold. I still get them easily.”

This is some nerve-wracking stuff. I groan. “Let’s get you home so you can rest.”

“Thank you,” she whispers, already half-asleep.

14

I stir awake as I feel Tristan carrying me up a flight of stairs. I crack my eyes open and notice we’re already in his condo. He lays me down on the king size bed, covering me with only a thin sheet. I guess he does this because I am sweating and he doesn’t want me getting hotter than I already am.

“Evelyn baby, are you going to be alright while I’m gone?” There is a hesitation in his voice, as if he doesn’t want to leave me.

“I’ll be all right. I just need rest and maybe a cold cloth.”

I feel the bed dip a few moments later and a cold cloth pressing against my forehead. I crack my eyes open and smile at his worried expression.

“Tristan, just go. I’ll be all right, I promise.”

I can tell what I am saying isn’t working, so I guess I am gonna have to get mean. “Go!”

“Ev,” he whispers.

“Tristan, don’t make me mad please. I need rest and you have work to do. The faster you get it done the faster you can get back to me.”

Maybe that will work.

“Yeah, you’re right. Your purse is on the nightstand and so is your cell phone. Call if you need me Ev, please,” he begs.

I tilt the washcloth up and stare into his beautiful green eyes. I reach up with a weak arm and cup his cheek with my hand.

“I promise. Now go,” I say while my arm ungracefully falls back to the bed.

My temperature is rising and I already know I need to call an ambulance. I want him to go first; he doesn’t need to see this. I don’t want him to see me like this. He just needs to go.