Chapter Forty Five

Stephen

The second Trinity’s eyes met mine and she uttered the word “Jamaica,” my heart plummeted. This was the worst-case scenario I’d been dreading.

She was waiting for my response, while Mia was on the brink of tears. Clint was holding her hand, trying to comfort her.

Our twins were clinging to their mother, who, despite her confusion, was still able to give them the comfort they needed.

Clint came over to me, whispering that he’d go fetch the doctor and explain the situation. I just nodded, sitting down next to my wife and our children.

Jay was fussing over Mia, so I reached out to take him. Mia handed him over, and he practically leaped into his mother’s arms. I watched, anxious to see how Trinity would react. But, thankfully, her nurturing side kicked in and she hugged him.

Trinity - Hi cutie, what's your name?

Olivia - Momma, that's JJ. He's my little brother.

Trinity looked at me, confused.

Stephen - Baby, these are our three children.

Trinity - Stephen, I think I would remember if I had given birth. What's going on?

My heart was breaking. For my wife, for her confusion, and for our children.

Doctor - Trinity, how are you feeling?

I was relieved when the doctor walked in.

Trinity - I'm good. Some of Stephen's friends and their kids came to visit.

Doctor - Would you mind if I had a few minutes alone with you and Stephen? Your friends can wait outside and come back in shortly.

Trinity - Okay, sure. Does this mean I can go home soon? I feel fine, and my roommate is probably worried. Have you called Luke, Stephen?

Doctor - Everything is under control. We'll go over everything, and then we can call anyone you need.

Trinity just nodded. I got up to take the twins.

Stephen - Livy, Nate, can you go with Aunt Mia and Uncle Clint for a bit? The doctor needs to do some tests.

Olivia - Bye, Mommy. Love you.

Nate - Love you, Mommy.

Trinity - Bye, cuties. Nice to meet you.

After Clint and Mia left the room with the kids, I sat back down next to Trinity. She smiled at me and reached out her hand, which I took.

Trinity - Sorry you had to wait around for me in the hospital. I'm sure you have more important things to do. Maybe Luke could come up?

Stephen - That's not necessary, beautiful. I'm not going anywhere.

Doctor - Trinity, we have your test results. But before we go over them, I need to ask you some questions. Is that okay?

Trinity - Of course.

The doctor asked a series of questions, and when she asked Trinity the year, I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

Trinity - 2015.

She smiled at us, waiting for the next question.

I couldn't stop the tears from falling. The doctor looked at me, then at Trinity, and pulled her chair closer. Trinity turned to me, and I saw the concern on her face. It gave me hope.

Doctor - Trinity, what I'm about to show and tell you might be alarming. But I need you to stay calm and focused, okay?

Trinity - Okay, I guess.

The doctor handed Trinity a newspaper.

Doctor - Can you read the date at the top for me?

Trinity looked at the date, and her eyes widened.

Trinity - Is this a joke? What's going on? Stephen, you're acting weird, talking about us having children, and now this.

Doctor - Trinity, I need you to stay calm. I'm going to explain everything, and then I'll answer any questions you have.

By this point, I couldn't stop the tears. I'd never cried when I lost my parents, but the thought of Trinity not remembering our life together was tearing me apart.

Trinity - Stephen?

She touched my cheek, and I held her hand tightly.

Stephen - I'm okay. I'm sorry. Please, listen to the doctor. I'm so sorry.

Trinity - Sorry for what?

Doctor - Trinity, you understand you had an accident, right?

She nodded.

Doctor - During the accident, you suffered a severe head injury, which caused swelling in your brain. We operated to reduce the swelling and put you in an induced coma to help your body and brain recover.

Trinity - Well, thank you, I guess.

I squeezed her hand.

Doctor - I've spoken with your husband here...

Trinity - Oh, no, we're just dating. We've been on a few dates, but we haven't defined what we are yet.

She looked at me, questioning.

Stephen - We're perfect, baby. That's what we are.

I kissed her hand softly, and she blushed.

Doctor - After discussing with Stephen what happened, we believe that due to a stressful situation and the fall, you have what we call retrograde amnesia.

I hadn't told the doctor about all our stress, just about Luke and Todd.

Trinity - Are you saying I lost my memory?

Doctor - Lost is a strong word. I believe you're blocking memories to protect yourself while you heal. This type of amnesia is usually temporary, but we can't say for sure when your memory will return.

Trinity - What? So... this is a joke, right?

I saw her start to cry, and I reached out to touch her shoulder. She flinched slightly, so I pulled my hand back.

Trinity - What year is it really?

Doctor - As the paper says, Trinity, it's 2020.

Trinity - Did you get the doctor to go along with your joke, Stephen? If so, you're freaking me out. Can we stop, please?

Stephen - Baby, I swear, I would never be this cruel to you. You have to know that.

She looked at me for a moment.

Trinity - No! No, this isn't true. This isn't happening. Please, I'm begging you, stop the joke. I don't like it.

I watched as she broke down sobbing. I sat up on the bed next to her and pulled her into my chest. She gripped my shirt, sobbing.

Trinity - Please, Stephen. Please, don't joke like this. Make it stop.

Stephen - Shhh, baby, I've got you. I've always got you.

Trinity - How? How do I know this is all true?

I’m sitting across from the doctor, our eyes locked.

Doctor - “Trinity, I have some test results I’d like to share with you.”

She begins to explain, but I can see Trinity struggling to comprehend. When I feel her tears start to fall, I ask the doctor to pause. I have a different approach in mind.

I pull out my phone and open our family album, filled with photos of our kids and our wedding.

Stephen - “Trinity, sweetheart, look at me.”

She sits up and I gently cradle her face in my hands, wiping away her tears.

Stephen - “I want you to look at something for me, okay? It’ll help, I promise.”

She looks at me, her eyes vacant.

Stephen - “I love you, my beautiful girl, always.”

I softly kiss her hand and hand her my phone.

Her eyes widen as she opens our wedding photos and starts scrolling through them, zooming in and out, examining every detail. She even zooms in on Luke to make sure it’s not a prank. She moves on to the photos of our babies at birth, Christmas, birthdays, holidays. When she gets to the photo of us sitting with Luke, Todd, and our babies, she looks up at me.

Trinity - “Oh my god! How could I forget my family? What kind of woman am I?”

Trinity - “What kind of wife am I? What kind of mother? Are you sure?”

Doctor - “I’m going to give you guys some time, okay? If you need me, just buzz.”

I thank the doctor and watch her leave, shutting the door behind her. I see her stop to speak to Clint and Mia, hopefully explaining the situation.

I feel Trinity’s hand on mine.

Stephen - “Hi, beautiful.”

Trinity - “Hi.”

Trinity - “This is all real?”

Stephen - “It is, sweetheart. You’re my wife. From the moment I first met you, I knew you were the one.”

Trinity - “I know it’s been a long time for you, but do you still remember when we met?”

Stephen - “Like it was yesterday. The moment you ran into me at Gilhooleys and those beautiful big brown eyes stared up at me, I was already yours.”

Trinity - “Why?”

Stephen - “Why what?”

Trinity - “Why me?”

Trinity - “I forgot our family. What kind of person does that?”

Stephen - “Someone who didn’t have any control over this, sweetheart. And when you’re feeling better and your memory comes back, you’ll understand.”

Trinity - “Will you help me?”

Stephen - “Oh, sweetheart, I’m not going anywhere. From the moment I met you, I had no intention of leaving your side. You are my soul, Trinity.”

Trinity - “And you . . .”

Stephen - “I what?”

Trinity - “You . . .”

She’s struggling to ask something.

Trinity - “You . . . love me?”

The moment she says it, I turn her towards me and hold her face in my hands.

Stephen - “I love you, I’m in love with you, I love you for our children, for our family.”

I see her start to sob again, trying to choke back the tears.

Trinity - “How . . . how could . . . I forget you?”

Stephen - “Shhh, you didn’t, sweetheart. You just reset our story. Look at it that way. We’ll get our love story back, I promise. And I’ll help you every step of the way to find it again.”

She leans forward, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her head on my chest as I stroke her hair off her face.

Stephen - “Sweetheart.”

She looks up at me.

Stephen - “Kiss me, Trinity.”

Stephen - “I want you to feel comfortable with me. I want you, I wanted you the moment I looked into your eyes at Gilhooleys, but I won’t kiss you, not until I know you want me to.”

Stephen - “So if you feel this too, kiss me, please, show me you feel it too.”

I see recognition in my wife’s eyes hearing that, and it brings me some of the comfort I so desperately need in this moment.

I feel her lean forward and when her soft lips finally touch mine, I feel tears fall from my eyes as I feel Trinity’s tears mix with mine.