Of Body And Soul (16 page)

“So you think it’s a boy, also.” Grayson smiled and rubbed his shoulders. “The doctor said the baby should be fine. The
y will have to do an ultrasound to make sure, but for now the doctor is in no rush to do the procedure.”

“Did Andrea tell you we had an
argument?”

Grayson nodded. “She told me when she had called and asked if she could come to the
Inn. She didn’t go into details.”                           

“I will do anything to make what I
said right. I love Andrea more than life itself and I know I can change. I will change.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

The next morn
ing, Andrea opened her eyes to a basket of indigo violets and a handsome man sitting at her bedside. He held her hand and his head rested on the bed. By the sound of his breathing, she knew he was sleeping. The older woman, who was there before, was also sound asleep.
Who are they?
She thought and drifted off feeling safe and secure.

"Andrea. Andrea.
Wake up," Kurt said softly. "Your breakfast has arrived." He touched her gently as he pulled the table over to the bed.

She opened her eyes
. The handsome man with deep blue eyes was talking to her. She reached for the violets, but the intravenous bottles and tubes kept her reach limited.

He ran his fingers through his hair and looked down at her.
He brought the back of the bed into position.  "Come," he said, and lifted her into a sitting position. She moaned with every move. "I'm sorry, but there's no other way to get closer to the table." He removed the silver cover off the breakfast tray.

"You have to eat to build your strength."

She gave him a hard look. His movements were familiar. "The violets are lovely. Who sent them?" she asked her voice barely audible.

"They had them down in the gift shop. I thought you'd like to see flowers when you woke up."

"I just love violets," she said. "Thank you. Hmm. I don't know your name. Are you my nurse?"

Kurt went rigid
and took a deep breath. "My name's Kurt. You might say I'll be looking after you for a while."

"And I'm Grayson. I was here the other night," the older woman said
, walking toward Andrea. "We're friends and I have a place here. When you're released, you'll spend time with me until you recuperate and you are able to return to New York, if that's okay with you." She smiled, warm and bright. As the two women talked, the doctor appeared at the door. 

"Sir
, may I talk with you outside?" the doctor asked.

Kurt stepped out into the corridor.

"Mr. Purcell, I’m Doctor Reynolds.” The two men shook hands. “I know you have a lot of questions.”

“Andrea doesn’t know who I am? She thinks I’m her nurse.” 

“
You know her amnesia will be temporary," the doctor stated as a matter of fact. "The baby is fine, and I feel it's about time we tell her she's pregnant. Of course, I don't want her doing anything strenuous. I want her on complete bed rest for about two weeks. The cast will come off in about five weeks and by that time, her cuts and bruises should be healed completely.

And then," he patted Kurt on the back, "You can take your beautiful wife home."

Grayson said she told Andrea she was pregnant, but I guess it never registered. Are you sure she's going to be all right?" Kurt asked, concerned.

"Mother and child will b
e fine. But you," he laughed, "are another story. By the look of concern and love that escapes from your eyes, I know you'll have a happy wife and a healthy child."

"When will we be able to take her to Wyndemere?"

"Not for five or six days. I'd like to do some neurological testing, and then possibly she can go to Mrs. Garrison’s home to recuperate."

"Doctor, there's something
you need to know."

"What is it?" he asked, touched by the sadness he saw in Kurt's eyes.

“The accident occurred because of me. Andrea and I had an argument over her pregnancy. I told her I didn't want any children. I lied to her before we got married. I told her I'd like to wait at least two years, knowing full well that I never wanted children at all. And when she told me we would have a child in June, I walked out on her."

"My God, Kurt. I can't believe this. I don't know you, but from what I've seen, you adore her. You seem to worship the ground she walks on."

"I do, but. . . .”

"But what?"

"I was an abused child. I don't want to do the same thing to my child. That's why I don't want a family."

"If you feel that strongly about it, get counseling."

"I had counseling when I was younger, and there wasn’t any indication that I've been affected by the abuse."

"Then what seems to be the problem?"

"I guess I'm afraid. I love children. But the question is, will I love my own?"

"I have no doubt about that, but if you feel there's a question, I have a colleague who specia
lizes in cases like yours. You plan to stay here until Andrea's fully recuperated, don't you?"

"I have to stay. Andrea thinks I'm her nurse and I'll be taking care of her at La Wy
ndemere de Taos."

Doctor Reynolds gave him a troubled look. "Why haven't
you told her you're her husband?"

Kurt sh
rugged his shoulders. "I guess I don't want to see any more hurt in her eyes.”

"I'll get you an appointment with Phil Correo. He's a good friend of mine. I know you'll like him and I'm confident he'll set you straight."

"Thanks, Doctor Reynolds." Kurt shook his hand. "Can you give me directions to the police station? I need to find out where they took the rental Andrea was driving." 

"Why?" T
he Doctor looked at him bewildered.       

Kurt smiled at him. "I need to get something out of the trunk which may jog her me
mory."

While Doctor Reynolds and Kurt stood there talking, a nurse approached Kurt with a me
ssage. Kurt read the note. "Oh damn, my sister Emily is snowed in at JFK Airport. She may not get here until tomorrow and I need to call her. Thank you for all your help. I'll talk to you later, Doctor."

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

"I think you'll be coming to
Wyndemere de Taos in four or five days," Grayson said, as she spooned hot chicken soup into Andrea's mouth.

Tears formed in Andrea's eyes.
“What is Wyndemere . . . ?”

“It’s an
Inn with a lovely restaurant and beautiful scenery. Right now, the mountains are covered with snow.” Grayson paused. “It will be a great place to recuperate.”

“You take care of me as if I were
your daughter.”

“You’re the daughter I
never had.”

"Oh, there's so much you'll ha
ve to tell me.” Andrea said crying. "I don't even know if I have parents."

"I'm sorry, dear, but both your parents are
gone,” Grayson said sympathetically. "They were my best friends. My husband, Charles and I spent a lot of time with them and you."

Andrea
felt numb, as if her feelings were paralyzed. "I thought they were, but I wasn't sure," she whispered.

"I'm going
to take care of you. Don’t worry about your future. I will be here for you no matter what happens." She held Andrea's hand gently in her own.

"Why is everyo
ne so solemn?" Kurt asked, entering the room carrying a large wooden box.

“
Oh, we were discussing Andrea's future. I'm sure between the two of us, we'll be able to get her strong and healthy once again," she smiled.

"Andrea, you'll be happy to know your best friend, Emily
, will be here sometime tomorrow from New York."

"Emily."
Emily had a vague familiarity but it was a common name
. It disturbed Andrea that she couldn't put a face to the name. She turned away and tried to choke back her sobs.
Who am I?
What kind of person am I? Was the accident my fault? Was anyone else hurt? Or was I the victim of someone else's neglect?
She rested her head back and closed her eyes. She racked her mind and found nothing. Panic seized her and she wanted to scream.
Give me back my life.

Kurt had seen all types of human frailty during the war, but there was nothing so fearful or so bizarre as he watched his wife live through this blank turmoil.

He walked over to the bed and looked down at her. "Andrea, the police found this in the trunk of the rental car. I took the liberty of bringing it in to you. Do you want me to open it for you?"

"I’d like that,
" Andrea said.  A small recollection nagged at her when she saw what was in the box. "Am I an artist?" she asked, looking at a small canvas, brushes and tubes of paint.

"Yes," Grayson answered.

Her eyes grew huge and her lips began to tremble. "I can't remember," she cried.

"This is
only temporary,” Kurt replied. “ Dr. Reynolds said you should be back to normal in a few weeks, a month at the most."

"I don't know if I can tolerate this nothingness for that long," she moaned. "Tell me who I am
, and why I'm in Santa Fe if I live in New York?" she whispered, falling against her pillows in defeat.

"Turn over and I'll give you a back massage," he said lovingly.

She looked at him through blank eyes. "Did I know you before?

"Why? Am I familiar to you?"

"Yes, no . . . I don't know. I feel as if I'm in a dream." She stared at Kurt. For all that her memory held, she could have sprung into existence right here in this hospital bed. But someone knew her! Grayson.

Grayson stepped close to Kurt and touched his arm.
"Kurt, we better leave now. I think Andrea should get some sleep. She needs her rest."

"Please, not yet. Kurt said he would give me a back massage first."
Andrea turned on her side as far as her injuries allowed. At first touch the cream was cold. As she felt his fingers knead her muscles and his hands run across her back, she was horrified to feel her body respond to his touch. "What's wrong with me?" she wondered. She drifted off to a dreamless sleep that not even fears could stop.

She awoke with a start.

A nurse stood above her injecting, medication into her intravenous bottle.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

"Good morning," N
urse Hansen said. "How are you feeling?"

"I seem to hurt more today,"
Andrea moaned, when she tried to turn over on her side.             

"You've had a nasty time of it, but this should make you feel better in a few minutes."

"Thank you."             

"You remember
me from yesterday?"

Andrea smiled. "I guess I do." The moment passed and the urgency of the present overtook her. She looked around the room and saw the basket of violets. She remembered the male nurse had brought her the violets. She searched for his name
, but couldn't draw it out of the maze which clouded her mind. She closed her eyes as the medication did its job.

"Andrea, wake up. It's lunch time."

"Lunch time? It can't be. I just closed my eyes."

"You must have been dreaming,” the nurse announced.
“You were calling out to someone, but I couldn't make out the name." 

She stared at
the nurse.

"D
o you remember something?" Nurse Hanson asked, excitedly.

Andrea lowered her eyes. "No," s
he lied. But, she did remember.

She saw herself in a lovely suite. In another room of the suite, she could hear doors sla
mming and glasses clinking. Someone was with her. Who? When she walked into the adjoining room she could see a man. His figure stole away in a mist. He seemed to be pouring himself a glass of something. He was just about to turn around when Nurse Hansen gently woke her.

"Where's the other nurse?"

Nurse Hansen looked at her. "Who, Kurt? He stopped in while you were asleep." 

"Will he be back?"

"Yes, I'm sure he will. He was talking with some lady."

Andrea turned and watched the snow fall in thick white clusters. She wished she could be out there. For a moment, she saw a flash of light. "Oh, God." She closed her eyes and held her breath.
                                         

Nurse
Hansen leaned forward a little, watching Andrea, seeing the light in her face. "You do remember something!" she said.

Andrea couldn't explain it wasn't memory that changed her, but a dissolving of fear in one of the sharpest forms.

The nurse looked intently at her.