The Lost Fisherman (Fisherman #2)(8)

I nodded slowly, preferring not to think about Angie and Fisher in bed. The last time I recalled her being in his bed, he was in the basement with me, and we were on the pool table doing very naughty things. Maybe the pool table was what they needed to show him.

Don’t be that person …

My conscience berated me and rightfully so.

When we pulled into the driveway next to Fisher’s work truck, I grabbed one of the bags from Rory, just to have something to do with my hands to hide my shakiness, my nerves.

“He got a new work truck?”

“Yeah, I think it was about two years ago,” Rory said, ringing the doorbell.

“Hi. Come in. This is so generous of you.” Angie took the bags from us as soon as we stepped inside.

Fisher was in a leather recliner, TV on, blanket over his legs.

“Hey, handsome. Welcome home.” Rory took the liberty of being one of the people he knew, and she kissed him on the head and patted his good hand. His other arm was still in a cast.

Fisher lit up like a child at daycare when a parent picked them up. Familiarity. “Hi. It’s good to be home.” He eyed me.

I smiled. “I saw Hailey the other day. She assured me things were fine. You need to just recover.”

“Hailey?”

“Hailey runs your office. Reese worked for you briefly. Remember? I told you that in the hospital. Reese stopped by to see Hailey.”

“Sorry.” He rubbed his forehead. “A lot happened in the hospital.”

“It’s fine. How are you feeling?” I asked.

“Pretty good. Can’t sleep well yet, but I’m tired a lot. I don’t like how the pain meds make me feel, but everyone seems to think I should still take them. I think they just want me to shut up and sleep while they pray my memory fully returns.”

Just as he said that, Angie appeared from the kitchen, and just as quickly, she returned to the kitchen. Rory gave me a look. “I’m going to see if Angie has any questions about the food we brought.”

I nodded.

“You can have a seat.” Fisher lifted his chin, signaling to the sofa.

“Thanks.” I eased my butt onto the edge, gripping my knees to keep my hands steady. Everything was so weird, so awkward.

“What do you do?” He caught nothing Rory said to him at the hospital.

“I just graduated from nursing school.”

His lips twisted. “Did Rory tell me that? Is that something I should have known?”

“I think she mentioned it, but it’s fine. You sent me a graduation card.” With a goofy, tight smile, I shrugged. “So … thanks.”

He chuckled. That was the Fisher I remembered. That soft chuckle accompanied by a slight head shake. “You’re welcome. Did I put money in the card?”

“No money.”

“Hmm …” He frowned. “Kinda cheap of me. Sorry about that.”

Okay, maybe he wasn’t the same Fisher. It was really hard to tell at that point.

It was my turn to laugh. “It’s fine. I don’t think college graduations are like high school graduations.”

“Maybe. Did I write something nice in the card?”

I found his genuine interest entertaining. As heartbreaking as his accident was, as his memory loss was, I couldn’t deny the new Fisher brought a smile to my face. “Yes, I believe you wrote something nice in the card.”

“Was it lame like, ‘The future is yours,’ or ‘Much success?’”

On another laugh, I shook my head. “No. If I recall correctly, you were way more original than that.”

“It’s funny. I’m trying to remember if I ever recall Rory talking about having a daughter.”

“Well, if you don’t remember me, then it’s unlikely you’d remember her talking about me.”

He stared at the television, but I sensed he wasn’t focused on the show. “Did you like working for me?”

Biting my lips together, I gave that careful thought. That wasn’t an easy question.

“You’re hesitating. Is that a no?”

“You were focused and driven. I was young and, honestly, a little clueless in my life at the time. You hired me as a favor to my mom, but I’m certain you had some days that you questioned why you made that offer.”

“Oh? Why do you say that?”

Before I could answer, Rory and Angie returned. Angie’s eyes were red. She’d clearly been crying.

“Everything okay?” Fisher asked, concern etched into his face. “Did I mess up again?”

Oh, Fisher …

It was hard to fully put myself in his shoes, but I tried. I tried to imagine a complete stranger coming up to me and telling me they were my fiancé. We were in love. And I simply didn’t remember. How does one navigate that? Would I have been able to play the part? Pretend to be in love?

It wasn’t that I didn’t see it from her side—clearly, he didn’t remember me either—but I kind of saw it from his side a little more. Probably because I wanted to see it more from his side.

“You didn’t do anything, babe. It’s just been an emotional few weeks. You’re home now. Life will start to feel normal again, and I’ll get past my silly emotions.” Angie kneeled on the floor next to Fisher’s chair and held his good hand, giving it a kiss and pressing it to her cheek.