For Better, For Worse

“If you want my opinion, you won’t have any problems, not looking the way you do.”

“Beneath this facade, I’m terrified.”

“I know you are. I would be, too.”

“Do you have any advice?”

The nurse cocked her head. “You obviously love him, so show him that love in every way you can. I know that doesn’t sound very professional, but in his case there’s no guideline to follow.”

Kit nodded and started for his room, so nervous that she couldn’t stop shaking. She’d only seen him once, that first morning after the operation. Since then, both doctors had asked Kit to be patient while they ran tests and learned as much of his history from her as possible. The rest of the time they talked with Rafe to work him through the first stages of accepting his memory loss.

To help pass the time, she ate most of her lunches and dinners with Diego in the hospital cafeteria. The chaplain joined them when he could. Diego stayed at a motel near the airport and, to Kit’s everlasting gratitude, acted as the go-between for her and the Mendez family, regularly advising them of Rafe’s progress. His kind words of encouragement and the chaplain’s compassion were all that had sustained her through the long week of waiting, but now it was over.

When she entered the room, Rafe was sitting in bed in his hospital gown watching a television program. He looked perfectly normal. In fact, from her vantage point near the door, she couldn’t see anything but a small patch of white bandage where the incision had been made. His luxuriant black hair covered most of it. He was more attractive than ever and certainly showed no sign of having undergone anything as serious as brain surgery.