Once Found: The Pocket Watch Chronicles (6 page)

Elsie sighed. She was absolutely certain Elizabeth still loved him. “I hope so. I’m willing to believe God’s blessings come in unexpected ways.”

That was true. Not only had Elizabeth saved Elsie’s life by choosing to exchange souls, she was in a place where she could use her knowledge to help Lady MacKenzie. Elsie had no such skills and had been certain she had nothing to offer Elizabeth or anyone else in this century. Perhaps
this
is what she could do for Elizabeth. Elsie could bring her close to Gabe again so that when she returned, Elizabeth would have this lost love in her life once again. Then Elsie would go home to the man she was beginning to love and make sure they never parted.

Gabe didn’t believe he had ever thanked the Almighty for a snowstorm, at least not since he was a kid and had prayed for snow days, but this one could only have been a gift. Although there had been accidents, no one had been killed or even very critically injured. While he wished that Elizabeth hadn’t been injured as badly as she was, he wouldn’t have found her again otherwise, and he never would have known the deep feelings she still held for him—feelings that mirrored his own.

He had only fallen in love twice. Once when he had been young and stupid and had fallen for a girl he could never have. The second time was with Elizabeth. It turned out he was still pretty stupid then, too. When Elizabeth, suffering profound amnesia, had not only recognized him but said,
I think I love him
, he had prayed this was his second chance with her. He wasn’t going to blow it. She was alone and frightened, and she needed him. He would be there for her. Dr. Sweeny had only called Gabe in as backup. Things were quiet now, so in the brief time Gabe had left Elizabeth to Jennifer’s care, he’d received clearance to sign out. He would have the next six days off.

Christie Harper returned after she had spoken to Elizabeth’s father. “Elizabeth, your parents are very concerned about you. Your father would have liked to speak with you, but I told him you weren’t really up to talking. They will be coming up from Baltimore as soon as possible, but I doubt that will be before tomorrow morning.”

“Is Baltimore far?”

Christie shook her head. “No. About two hundred miles.”

“Two hundred miles
? How long will the journey take?”

“Under normal conditions, without traffic, a little over three hours. But in bad weather, it could take much longer.”

Elizabeth looked a little amazed and very happy, but said nothing.

“Dr. Levi has written orders and there is a bed available in the neuro step-down unit, so we will transfer you there shortly. I think Jennifer was trying to get a dinner tray sent up for you in the meantime.”

The tray arrived a few minutes later. Elizabeth’s brows drew together. She cautiously explored the contents. The first item to draw her attention was a white bowl of some sort with a lid. “What is this bowl made out of?”

“It’s called Styrofoam. It keeps things warm or cool. Take the plastic lid off: there is soup in it. Sadly, it may be the best thing on the tray. Hospital food isn’t usually very good.”

She tasted a spoonful of the chicken noodle soup and smiled. “I like this, but what are these slippery worm-like things?”

“Those are noodles.”

“I like them.”

“Wait until you try my mom’s homemade pasta. That’s another word for noodles. You used to love it.”

“If it’s even better than these, I’m sure I still will.”

When she finished the soup, she removed the cover from the plate. “What is this?”

“Chicken, rice pilaf, and green beans.”

She scooped up a little rice with her spoon, tasting it. “Since those things are green, this must be rice pilaf? It isn’t bad.”

“You don’t remember rice?”

“No, what is it?”

“Rice is a grain.”

She nodded. “Like barley?”

“Yes, like barley.”

She tried to scoop up a green bean with her spoon.

“It will be easier to pick them up with your fork.”

She picked up a utensil. “Is this a fork?”

“Yes, it is.”

She attacked the green beans with the fork. “These are a little odd.”

“They are better when they are fresh.”

The holes in her semantic memory were bizarre. She clearly knew what a spoon was, but not a fork. She knew what soup was, but not noodles. She didn’t know what rice was, but she understood that it was a grain and compared it to barley.

She had eaten a few bites of everything when she looked up at him. “I feel…I feel…I don’t feel right.”

Gabe became immediately concerned. “What’s the matter? Are you having any trouble breathing?”

“No, it isn’t that. I feel…sleepy and a little light-headed.”

He smiled. “The pain medicine you took is starting to work. It has that effect on most people. How is your pain?”

“It’s better and I’m thankful for that, but I don’t think I like feeling like this.”

“We’ll talk to your doctor about it.”

His puzzlement only grew when they were finally ready to transfer her from the ICU. She had no memory of elevators and as they rode in one, she had a death grip on his hand that might have been appropriate on a roller coaster. In fairness, Elizabeth didn’t like roller coasters, either.

When she was settled in the new room, the oxycodone made her even drowsier. “This bed is nice.”

“Really? Most people don’t find them overly comfortable.”

“I’m having trouble staying awake.”

“Then don’t. You need plenty of rest anyway.”

“You won’t leave?”

“No, I won’t.” Gabe moved the recliner closer to the bed and took her hand.

She held on tightly. “I’m sorry I’m not braver. I will try harder, but everything here is so peculiar and I don’t like to be alone. It scares me.”

“I won’t leave you alone, and you’ve nothing to be sorry for. I know how disorienting it is to be in a strange place, and I understand that you’re afraid. Everything will be okay, sweetheart.”

She sighed. “I think it will be. I want to remember it all when I go back.”

Gabe had no idea what she meant by that, but assumed the narcotic had muddled her thoughts.

As she drifted off to sleep, although she continued to cling firmly to his hand, she looked relaxed and peaceful, a small smile resting on her lips.

He smiled, made himself as comfortable as possible in the recliner, and gave in to sleep.

~ * ~

Everything will be okay
. Elsie wasn’t sure why she so firmly believed that. The events of the day were almost too much to comprehend. At first, it seemed to be a dreadful nightmare, but now she was opening herself to the adventure. What had changed?

She smiled as she realized two things that helped her embrace this opportunity. First was Gabe. Not only did she feel safe when he was with her, she felt a sense of completeness she had only just begun to experience with Geordie. Elizabeth was a lucky woman, but Elsie believed the same depth of emotion would be hers as well when she returned to the man she was beginning to love in her own time.

The second thing was the chance to experience the love of a family again. Perhaps it was silly; after all, she’d lost her mother and father so long ago and she was a grown woman now, but the chance to feel the loving embrace of parents once more was beyond enticing.

Until recently, Elsie had existed in a world filled with duty and perhaps kindness, but not love. Today had been more frightening and overwhelming than anything she had ever experienced, but even in all its strangeness, a part of her was excited by the possibilities the next few days or weeks held. As she drifted off to sleep holding Gabe’s hand, she knew she had been given an extraordinary gift. She would partake freely.

~ * ~

Several hours later, Gabe woke as people came into the room. He opened his eyes to see Elizabeth’s parents.

“Who are you?” her father asked.

Gabe stood, but didn’t let go of Elizabeth’s hand. “Good evening, sir. I’m Dr. Gabriel Soldani.”

“I remember you. You went to medical school with Elizabeth. You were the only friend she introduced us to the day she graduated,” said Elizabeth’s mother.

“Yes, we’re friends. It’s nice to see you again. We weren’t sure you’d be able to get here before morning.”

“As soon as the storm stopped, we flew by helicopter,” explained Mrs. Quinn.

Dr. Quinn frowned. “Don’t you think it is a bit unseemly for a doctor in this hospital to be sitting holding my daughter’s hand while she sleeps?”

The conversation was evidently penetrating Elizabeth’s slumber. She blinked and looked around as if trying to get her bearings.

“I’m a pediatrician, Dr. Quinn. I am only here as a friend.”

“Well, we’re here now. You can leave,” said Dr. Quinn.

Wide awake now, Elizabeth’s jaw dropped. “No!” she said vehemently, reestablishing her death grip on his hand. “I don’t want him to leave. Who are you anyway?”

“I’m your father, Elizabeth. We are going to have you transferred to Hopkins. We’ll go by helicopter tonight.”

Elizabeth couldn’t have looked more shocked. “You’re my father? I…I…I want to stay here.” She looked scared.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll come with us to Baltimore.”

She turned terror-filled eyes to Gabe. “I don’t want to do that.” She glanced again at her father before asking Gabe, “Is what Dr. Levi said true? Do they need my permission to do this?”

“Yes, but Elizabeth, your parents are worried about you. Your father is on staff at Hopkins, so I’m sure he would be more comfortable with you there.”

“But they need my permission?”

“Yes.”

“Then I don’t give it. I want to stay here.” She looked at her father. “Please don’t ask this of me. I don’t know you yet.”

“You don’t know anyone,” said her father.

“I know Gabe.”

“Darling, we know your memory is foggy, but we only want what’s best for you,” said her mother.

“Is there something at this place…this
Hopkins
…that is certain to bring my memory back?”

Her father stood, clenching his jaw but her mother said, “Of course not, but it is a stellar hospital in Baltimore, close to home.”

“I thought I lived in a place called
Cincinnati
.”

“You do, but our home, your childhood home, is in Baltimore.”

“Then, forgive me, but it seems it isn’t necessarily what’s best for me. I know it might be more convenient for you—”

“Elizabeth, you are being exceedingly thoughtless. You know I have a busy surgical schedule. Your mother has important clients. Why would you choose to make things difficult?”

Elizabeth visibly recoiled as if she had been struck. “I’m sorry.”

Gabe had remained silent during this exchange. It wasn’t his place to interfere, but his heart fell when he heard her apologize and appear to capitulate. He reckoned this conversation was very like the heated discussion she had appeared to have with them after graduation.

Her father nodded. “I’m glad you see things our way. This is for the best. I’ll make arrangements to have you transferred immediately.”

Just like that, she was going to be gone from his life again.

She shook her head. “No. You misunderstand me. I’m sorry that my choice to stay here will make things difficult. But you have no idea what I’m going through. Everything is strange enough already. I don’t know anyone there, and I don’t remember you.”

“As I said before, you don’t know anyone here, either,” countered her father.

“I know Gabe. I know we were friends—close friends. I have fleeting memories of him and a deep sense that he is important to me. I understand you have things you must do. Don’t feel as if you need to stay here with me.”

Gabe was speechless.

Her mother sat on the bed beside her. “My darling, it will really be better if you come to Baltimore. However, if it would make you more comfortable to delay moving a little, I’ll arrange to stay for a day or two.”

Her father frowned. “No, Charlotte. She has profound amnesia and is not mentally capable of making this choice. I will see that she has a psychiatric assessment and then we will move her to Hopkins. I’ll call Howard Jacobs and have him put me in touch with the chief of psychiatry here.”

“James, I’m sure when she’s had some time, she’ll come around.”

“She’ll have tonight. Considering how late it is on a Sunday evening, I expect it will take until tomorrow anyway. I’ll get us a suite at the Fitzwilliam.” He strode out of the room without another word.

Tears filled Elizabeth’s eyes. “Can he do that, Gabe?”

“If he believes you aren’t mentally capable of making a decision, he can attempt to have you declared incompetent. But he can only take the decision out of your hands if another doctor determines that you aren’t able to make sound choices.”

She blinked, clearly trying not to cry, but her lower lip trembled. “He must hate me.”

“No, Elizabeth,” said her mother. “Your dad doesn’t hate you. He just thinks this is best and, really, it is.”

The tears finally spilled down Elizabeth’s cheeks. “He thinks it’s best to make me so unhappy? He thinks it’s best to move me from the only place where I know anyone?”

“He doesn’t see it that way. He just wants you in his hospital, where he can—”

“—control me?”

“Elizabeth, that isn’t fair. We’re your parents. You make your own decisions. We are only advising you on what is prudent. Surely, you understand that.”

“If I make my own decisions, then I should be able to make this one.”