“Did I do something bad?” she asked.
“Why would you think that?” Randall asked.
“The face. The broken bones. The head-on collision with a car you told me about. It kind of makes me think I did something wrong.”
“You don’t need to worry. These men, they’re not here to hurt you.”
“Hey, baby,” the one on the right said.
“Baby?”
“You’re my daughter.”
“Oh, hello … Dad.” The word didn’t sound right on her tongue.
“The name’s Bear,” he said.
“If you’re my dad, does that mean you know my name?” she asked.
Should she feel anything? Some connection to this man? Nothing made any sense to her, and it freaked her out.
“Can I tell her her name?” Bear asked.
“I don’t see why not. She needs to know it.”
“I’m sitting right here. I want to know my name,” she said. What she didn’t like was being spoken over as if she didn’t exist. She was right here for them to see. Hello!
“I know, sweetheart, but it’s also important for us not to overwhelm you.”
“I need to know my name, though, right? I need to know what to respond to.” She hated not knowing. She rubbed at her temple, feeling the start of a headache.
“Are you okay?” Randall asked. “What kind of pain do you have?”
“I … it’s fine. I can handle it. I need to know everything.”
“Let’s start with your name.”
She wanted to tell him no, to tell her everything, but she settled on her name.
“Robin, your name is Robin Rose … Keats.”
“Why did you hesitate on my last name?” she asked. Something was going on, she knew it deep in her soul.
Again, Bear looked toward the doctor.
“I’m sitting right here.” Tears filled her eyes. “I just want to know what is going on. Do you have any idea what this is like?”
“I know, sweetheart, but you’ve got to give this time. There’s a lot that happened to you. We haven’t seen you in a long time.”
“How long?”
“A long time,” Randall said.
She wiped the tears away and sniffled. “I … I’m sorry.”
“You’re not to blame.” The man who hadn’t spoken until now stepped forward.
She lifted her head, staring at him, hoping for some kind of memory to trigger. In the back of her mind, it was like she was desperate to know the truth. It was important to her to know every single little detail of what happened.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“I’m Preacher,” he said. He held out his hand and she stared at it.
It was a big hand, firm, strong-looking. She lifted her hand, not the injured one, and took his hand.
No memories surfaced but as he touched her, she felt … safe. Was it possible to feel safe with a man she’d never known?
“My name’s Robin Rose Keats. You’re my dad, and you’re my …”
“I’m your friend,” he said.
“Friend?”
He nodded.
It didn’t feel like a friendship, but she kept her mouth shut.
Looking from her dad to her …friend, she knew something wasn’t right.
“What about a mom? Do I have a mom?” she asked.
Bear and Preacher looked at each other then at her.
“Your mom passed a long time ago. You don’t need to worry about her.”
“Why would I need to wor—”
Someone gasped at the door and she turned to see a young man. He looked a little like Preacher but not entirely so. He smiled as he stared at her. “Robin, it is so good to see you awake.”
“Bishop, I don’t think you should—”
“Who are you?” she asked, talking over Preacher.
“I’m your husband,” Bishop said.
****
Preacher wanted to beat the living shit out of his son. Robin didn’t get up from the bed and run to him, nor did she look at Bishop as if he was a gift from the gods. No, she stayed in the bed and looked at him.
“We’re married?” she asked.
“Yes. You and I, we’re married and have been for about three years now,” Bishop said, stepping closer.
He wanted to warn Bishop, but he couldn’t say a fucking thing. Yes, Bishop and Robin had been married but only to keep him out of jail and to avert a fucking crisis. Robin didn’t love Bishop.
Does she even love me?
No vows or promises were whispered to each other and now, he felt like a fucking prick for not telling her he loved her.
Robin stared down at her hand. “I’m not wearing a ring.”
Bishop reached into his pocket. “I have it here. We had a bit of a fight.”
“Did you cause this?” she asked, pointing to her face.
“No, I would never hurt you. You know this.”
“I don’t know anything. I don’t know who you are.” When Bishop took a step toward her, Robin jerked back. “Don’t come any closer.”
“We’re together. We’ve been friends for life.”
“I don’t know who you are.”
“You can trust me.”
“Please leave,” she said.
The machines beeped.
“Bishop, leave,” Bear said.
Preacher stayed perfectly still, watching his son. Bishop’s shoulders slumped.