Help Me Remember (Rose Canyon, #1)(38)

I would never hurt you.

I can’t tell her that. I can’t tell her anything. We weren’t together at that time, and I can’t even correct her.

“Maybe that’s true.” It wouldn’t be the first time a woman said that to me. My mother said it daily. I came around and ruined everything.

“I know you’re angry at all of this. You have every reason to be worried, but take a second to realize what just happened.”

Her blue eyes stare up into mine. “What?”

“You remembered something. You could see things, remember them, and feel what was going on. This wasn’t the taste of a cigar or finding a ring. It was an actual memory.”

I have to hold on to that. No matter what, she did remember something. It may not be what I wanted, but this is about her.

A tear falls down her cheek, leaving a black track behind it. “I just wish it was the right one.”





Chapter Thirteen





BRIELLE





“I’m going to miss you so much,” I tell Addy as I hug her again.

“I’ll be back before you know it.”

“It won’t be soon enough.” I kiss Elodie’s forehead one last time and hand her over.

So far today, I’ve done nothing but watch movies. If there’s one perk to memory loss, it’s this. I have no idea what I’ve seen before, so I get to watch everything that’s streaming for the first time all over again.

Addison leans in and kisses my cheek. “Be kind to yourself. You will get there. I have faith.”

“I am trying.”

“You have an appointment today?”

I nod. “Yeah. Holden’s friend from Seattle specializes in this type of trauma. He seems to have success with memory recovery, so I’m hopeful.”

“Is Spencer driving you?”

“No, Emmett is.”

Addison smiles and then turns.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing.”

“That wasn’t nothing.”

“It’s funny that you asked Emmett instead of Spencer.”

I’m not understanding what makes it funny. “I have other friends.”

“Yes, but not other guys you lust after.”

I glare at my sister-in-law. “You should probably get on the road. You have a long drive ahead of you.”

Addy barks out a laugh. “I’m saying that you have always had feelings for him.”

“Maybe, but he has never had feelings for me. I’m that annoying girl who followed him around with puppy-dog eyes. I have no disillusions about how he sees me.”

“I get it. I’m not arguing with you, but you have to admit that it’s funny.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s called self-preservation.”

Addison settles Elodie in her car seat and then stands outside the driver’s side door. “Isaac used to joke about how you would never find anyone because you were so in love with the idea of Spencer.”

“He never said that to me.”

“I threatened to chop his balls off if he did. It was better for him to feign ignorance about your crush since no one would’ve been good enough for you.”

“He was such a worrier.”

“He loved with his whole heart.”

I was really lucky to have him as a brother. “He did, and you took up the most real estate.”

Her smile is soft. “I miss him so much. All the dreams we had are gone, and being here is so hard.”

“Going to Pennsylvania isn’t going to make them go away or change, Addy. You’ll miss him there too.”

“I know, but I won’t have to see him everywhere I look. There isn’t a single place in this town that doesn’t hold a memory of him. I swore I heard him in the shower two days ago, humming to whatever song was popular with the kids. I was so happy because, for a split second, I was sure that my bad dream was over and he was here. When I realized I was hearing things, it broke me. I can’t do it. I have to give myself some time to settle my grief.”

“I really hope you can.”

“Me too. And if I don’t, I’ll be back here sooner than you think.”

“And if you do find that peace there, you’ll still come home?” I ask, only slightly joking.

Addison grins. “This is my home. You’re my sister, and . . .” Addison looks at Elodie in the backseat. “Isaac would’ve wanted us to be here.”

Isaac would’ve wanted her to be happy, regardless of the zip code she resides in. “Promise you’ll call?”

“I promise. Promise you’ll go to all your doctor appointments?”

I laugh. “Yes. I promise.”

“Good.” Addison pulls me in for a tight hug, and when she releases, we both have tears. “Love you.”

“Always.”

It’s what Isaac would say. He never replied with love you too or anything else.

I watch her drive away and my heart sinks. I know it’s what she needs, but I’ll miss her terribly.





“I’m Dr. Girardo,” says a tall, slender man as he extends his hand.

“Brielle, nice to meet you.”