Chapter 15
Irish up and out of bed, with a clean bill of health. The doctors just wanted
her to take it easy and be careful for another week. Her body was sore and a little bruised. She agreed as she was given papers
to sign, releasing her and her clothes. She handed the papers back for them to process as she put her clothes on and waited.
When she walked out of the room and to the desk, she was given her papers, free to leave. She was in the wheelchair
being rolled out toward the lobby door as the nurse asked her did she have a way back. Irish didn't think that far ahead
and was about say no, when a voice spoke for her. "Yes, she does. I `m taking her." Irish looked in front of her as
the nurse looked up and saw Justin in a brand new brown suede jacket, over a tan turtleneck and tan jeans. She looked down
as the nurse talked to him and handed her papers to him. Justin silently, rolled Irish to Cherokee 4x4 jeep outside. He
helped her in and then got in himself as they buckled up and he drove away. He asked for the jeep because it would get
them both safely to her place or the lodge without any problems. He didn't want a driver this time, though his mother
had to be reassured more than once that everything would be fine.
Justin knew she would treat him different. Not
because he has his memory back, but because he had to leave her life and it would break her heart. They finally arrived
at her house. Silence still surrounded them as the snow was mush around her home and the only sound was drops of water
falling off the half-melted icicles hanging from the trees and roof. She unlocked her front door and turned on a few
lights as Justin walked in and closed the door. He looked around the bright living room and sighed. He felt like he was
coming home in a way. Irish went to make her a hot drink as Justin followed. He tried to gather up courage to tell her
what they both were scared to deal with when he was just Justin with no memory.
Irish stirred her mug of hot apple
cider as she kept her back to him and began to speak. "You know Justin; I forgot to tell you that you and Britney broke
up because she was pregnant." Justin's mouth dropped as his face was full of shock. "What?! Irish, that isn't true!
Britney has never been pregnant with my child. She and I broke up because of-." Justin stopped talking as he figured out
what she was doing. She turned around looking into the cup as she carefully sipped the hot liquid. Her eyes were filled
with tears that didn't fall. "When did you get your memory back?" She quietly asked him. Justin walked up some and answered
question with a question. "When did you know I got it back?" Irish quietly finished the hot liquid as the last drop
heated up her throat. She swallowed once more before answering. "I wasn't sure. But you seem different that when you
didn't know who you were." Justin sighed as he slowly stepped to her. "I saw you gasp and the ice cracked and you fell
under. Instinct took over and I went after you. I tried to grab you and pull you up, but the weight of your clothes
plus other things I began to almost pass out." He closed the distance and eased the hands on her shoulders and turned
her to face him. "Then I began to see flashes of my whole life. It all came back to me, Irish. So, I am finally over
that hurdle. One more hurdle to go over." "A-And what is that?" She stuttered as the tears won the battle to fall. He
agonized at the pain in her face and caressed it as he whispered to her. "Us."
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