Chapter 2
Chapter 2
01
Drip–drip–drip. The place was so quiet Hannah could hear the IV dripping, a sound that seemed to echo. She wiggled her fingers and her eyes fluttered open.
A man was snoozing in a chair next to her bed. Trying to sit up sent waves of pain through her body, and she winced. Hannah’s voice was barely there when she called out, “Oliver.”
Oliver Raven, Hannah’s brother, almost fell out of his chair being caught off guard. “You awake?” he asked, his voice rough but worried.
“Oliver Hannah was in severe pain.
Oliver had a bad feeling. She’s barely come home since marrying Wallace. Now here she is, and something feels different.
Hannah coughed and croaked, “Water…”
Putting aside his worries, Oliver quickly got her some water. He gently lifted her so she could drink, then said. “You got crazy lucky. Just some bruises and minor breaks after a hit like that.”
Hannah gave the glass back to him with a weak hand.
As Oliver set the glass down, he asked. “Where’s Wallace?” He couldn’t help but sneer as he added. “The hospital tried calling him. No answer.”
Hannah seemed to be in a fog. “Wallace? Who’s that? Did he bring me here?”
Now Oliver was the one thrown for a loop. “What are you talking about? You don’t remember him?”
When Hannah just shook her head, Oliver jumped up and hit the call button like it was on fire.
The doctor came and checked her out, then laid it on them: There’s nothing major wrong physically, but it looks like the hit scrambled her memories.”
Oliver thanked the doctor and looked at Hannah. After a while, he asked, trying to keep it light, “So, do you remember how old you are?”
Hannah replied dazedly, “23, I think.”
Oh man, it’s like she’s gone back in time. But maybe I can help her dodge that bullet now; Oliver thought, a plan forming. He put on his serious face. Lisien, Wallace Elsher is bad news. Stay away from him. Got it?”
Hannah nodded, still not getting the full picture.
A couple of days later, Hannah’s scratches and bruises were healing up well, and Oliver brought her back to their family’s place.
She hadn’t been home in two years, but with her memories on the fritz, she bolted into the house like she’d just left yesterday.
Her mom, Felicity, was out in the yard messing with the flowers when Hannah wrapped her up in a big hug. “Mom, I’m home! How come you never came to see me?” she asked, her voice full of hurt.
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Chapter 2
Felicity knew from Oliver that Hannah’s mind was a jumble. She missed her like crazy, but she was too stubborn to show it Even though Felicity usually left the garden alone when it was chilly, she’d decided to potter around with the plants that morning, hoping it might make Hannah’s return feel more normal.
But as the watered them without really paying attention, the housekeeper kept fussing at her. “Mrs. Raven, please! They’re going to drown!”
Tears sprang into Felicity’s eyes the moment Hannah’s arms were around her. She patted Hannah’s hair and said with a sniff. “Oliver didn’t let on you’d be back today
Tm not taking the blame for this, Oliver thought.
“Let’s head inside. I’ve whipped up those sweets you can’t get enough of Felicity said, finally,
Hannah cheered and ran into the house.
Watching Hannah race off, Felicity felt a storm of emotions swirling inside her. Once they were alone, she turned to Oliver, her voice icy, “Make sure Hannah’s hospital stuff is wiped clean Wallace doesn’t need to find her. Better if he never sees her again
“Got it, Mom,” Oliver agreed, thinking to himself, ‘Ever since Dad died a decade ago, Mom’s been the one calling the shots in the Raven family. She’s tough as nails–I almost forgot how much of a boss she used to be
ck as one. Hannah’s finally out of that loser’s shadows. She’s
With a deep breath, Oliver let himself relax. The family was back: the Raven family’s little daughter again, he mused.
