Chapter 7

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Chapter 7

Ethan

When we finally got the good news from the doctor. I don't know who was happier about Brynn getting released, her or me. The best part was that she asked me to take her home. I'm on cloud nine.

Georgia and her security team have at least made me feel better that she was so exposed in the hospital. When Aubrey told us she had a feeling they were being followed, it really worried me and Beckett. I have no doubt that they were and that it was Lindsey.

Convincing Brynn to stay at Georgia's house was not the easiest thing to do. The woman is stubborn but I figured out a way around that. Brynn is a sucker for surprises. I managed to get her to go on our first date because I surprised her. This will work.

"I just want to go home and see if something can jog my memory. I want to remember my life, Ethan. The good and the bad." She tries to convince me.

"I understand that but Georgia feels it's safer for you at her place. Safety in numbers and all that." Not to mention the mass of security precautions she's set up.

"I appreciate that. And I promise to go see her soon. I want my own bed, and a real shower." She's thinking of immediate needs. All of which she can get at Georgia's.

"I can pretty much guarantee that the beds at Georgia's are amazingly comfortable and because I helped install them, I can vouch that her showers are much better than yours. I'm willing to bet that after you shower there you're going to call me to redo your bathroom." She loves those little luxuries of a great bathroom.

"Then maybe I shouldn't go there and save my money. I'm sure that kind of remodel isn't cheap. I'm not sure I can afford you." Now she's just being difficult. Okay, time to use the big gun.

"Look, I've got a surprise for you and it's at Georgia's house. She's helping me out because, you know, I'm not good at the sappy stuff. Can you please just pretend to be surprised? She's really going all out for me." I plead my case and hope that she'll feel obligated to come with me.

From the look on her face, I think that did the trick. She's taking a moment to think about it and she isn't refusing me. So maybe, just maybe, she'll give me a break.

"Oh! I didn't think..." She's speechless. Good, she won't say no. "Of course. I... Thank you, Ethan. You don't have to do this. I appreciate it but you've already done so much."

Not nearly enough in my mind. Not even close to what I need to do to win her back. I have a lot to make up for. I plan on doing just that.

There's a softness in her eyes that I haven't seen in a long time. She's avoided looking in the eyes for so long I almost missed it. Getting lost in her eyes, I may have messed up. "I want to do this for you. There's nothing I won't do for you, Brynn. Nothing I'm not willing to do to win your heart again."

That shield of hers that she hides behind to keep her heart safe comes slamming down. She took a step away from me, widening the distance between us physically and emotionally.

"Again? What do you mean again?" Shit! I fucked that up! I knew I wouldn't be able to lie to her. "Ethan? Were we a couple? Please, tell me the truth. I want to remember but I can't if I don't know the truth." I know that but I don't want her to remember what happened to break us up.

"I know that. You've been through a lot. I just hoped you would remember on your own." Lie! Lie! Lie!

Narrowing her eyes at me. She steps forward and pokes me in the chest with her finger. "Why don't I believe you?"

Grinning because I've never been able to lie well, I kick at the chair and shove my hands into my pockets. She has always called me out when I try to bullshit her.

"Ethan?..."

I'm grateful Aubrey and Beckett showed up and saved me from that explanation. Maybe I'll figure out a way to explain it that won't make me look like such a fool. Or maybe I can hope this little "surprise" goes better than I hope.

Granted the surprise is actually from Aubrey and Beckett, but I helped pick her out. Maybe it won't matter who thought of the dog. Maybe she'll just love the mutt anyway and be happy for the company. Maybe it won't matter if she falls for me again. Maybe she'll love me anyway.

"We were at our prenatal visit and thought we'd see if you can escape from here yet." Aubrey waddles over to hug her friend.

"We're waiting for the paperwork now. How was your appointment?" She lays her hand on Aubrey's belly and smiles. "I felt that! Oh! I felt it!"

"The doctor says we're good to go. Whenever this little guy says he's ready to come out, we're ready." She grins up at Beckett, who rubs his wife's shoulders.

"It's a boy?" Brynn grins, using both hands to feel another kick.

"Today it's a boy, tomorrow it could be a girl. Aub keeps changing her mind, so I never know what to call the baby." Beckett teases her.

"You didn't want to find out the gender." Brynn mumbles as if she's remembering something. "You didn't care as long as the baby is healthy."

Aubrey grins as if a lightbulb has turned on. "Exactly! Now let's get your stuff together so you're ready to go."

"I think that's our cue to go to the hall." Motioning me to follow him, I left believing that leaving our conversation where it was is for the best.

Going out to the hallway, we take a look down one end of the hall to the other. The old man who is reading the newspaper is still sitting there. The couple who just had a baby are taking a walk around the corridor. And the woman behind the desk, only gives us a solid nod as we pass.

Understanding we are on the lookout for Lindsey too, I keep my eyes peeled. Beckett keeps his voice down, as he watches behind me. "How is she? You two looked like you were having a pretty serious conversation when we came in."

"She's asking questions about us. I know Brynn needs to know about her life but she's finally letting me in. I just want a second chance." Unloading my worries onto his shoulders, and hearing myself I know I'm being stupid.

"One thing I've learned about women, they always know when you lie. And if they don't know they find out. Then you're in a boatload of trouble. She's going to remember sooner or later. From what I just saw, I'd say sooner." He's right. I know it but I don't have to like it.

"Is there anything new on Lindsey?" I can't do anything about Brynn but I can keep her safe.

"Ma said her P.I. has been tracking dear old daddy. He's making his rounds this morning. All the good old boys who have cigars and compare how much money they have with him he's meeting with. I'm betting he's calling in some favors to get Lindsey out of town fast." Beck stops talking and steps back looking down the hall toward the elevator and stairs.

"What did you see?" I turn around and look as well.

"Nothing... something... I feel like I'm jumping at shadows now. Every time I turn around I think I'm being followed. Aubrey said the same thing." We keep looking and wondering who's watching us.

"She can't watch all of us at once." I mutter, which gives me an idea. She can't track all of us at the same time, but all of us can track her at once. We can set the trap.

I'm not able to tell Beckett my idea when the nurse comes back to see Brynn. We follow her in and she does a final check on Brynn. With everything looking normal she is able to get Brynn out of here. Agreeing to meet up at Georgia's house. We go to our separate vehicles to head home.

I'll talk to everyone at once about this. I know Georgia has security watching us. I know they are supposed to be looking for Lindsey but the more eyes looking the better. That includes Brynn.

She won't want us putting ourselves in danger for her. But if she is in on the plan, if she is willing to do this too. We can get rid of Lindsey once and for all.

"You're really quiet. Is everything okay?" Brynn touches my hand and gives it a squeeze.

"Huh? Oh, sorry I was just thinking about ... stuff." I don't want to tell her yet. I need to run it by Beckett and Leo. They have as much at stake as I do, more so with the babies.

"I really like them. Aubrey and Beckett." Brynn explains. "I feel a connection to Aubrey, like she's family to me." Brynn admits as I turn the truck around the bend.

She's getting those familiar feelings back. That's good. The doctor said it may come back in spurts or not at all. I'm hoping she can remember the good stuff first. "You basically are. You grew up together. Your parents died when you were young. I don't even remember them well. Paige and my Dad were always there for you. Aubrey's always thought of you as a sister. So does Cole and Leo."

"How do you think of me, Ethan?" Jerking my head around to look at her, I almost missed my turn.

Slamming on my brakes, I squeal the tires on the turn. I'm not paying attention where I'm going and end up going past the next turn. Slowing down, I get into the turn lane to turn around.

"How do I... uh?" I don't know what to say anymore. And I realize it's time to just tell her. "I don't think of you like a sister."

"That's not telling me how you do feel though." She still knows how to keep me on my toes.

"Uh...hmmm." I don't know how to explain it. "We were friends... we are friends now, but we were uh..."

"What? Ethan, I get the impression we were more than friends. I'm right, aren't I? That's why she said you were married to her. That's why she's after me. She wants you but I'm in the way?" She always gets right to the nitty gritty of it.

Pulling off to the side of the road, I rest my head back and close my eyes. She won't stop asking questions until she gets to the truth. I might as well tell her and be done with it. Any chance I was hoping for, I won't get after I tell her everything.

Rubbing my face, I try to answer her questions."Yeah, you're right we were more than friends. A lot more, but we aren't now. We haven't been for a while."

"Why? You seem like a good guy. What happened?" Looking down at our joined hands, there's a little thrill that goes through me. She took my hand, she made contact. Brynn never initiated any physical contact between us.

It seems like a good sign. She's only going to ask until she gets her answers or remembers everything. I might as well own it now.

"I screwed up. It was a long time ago and I made a huge mistake, because of a big misunderstanding. I messed up and you couldn't forgive me. I really am sorry. I wish I could change it all." I'll take responsibility for my actions. I have to. She's going to remember at some point. When she does, it will just be worse if I lie.

We stayed on the side of the road and I told her everything. From the beginning to what I know happened to land her in the hospital. She listened as if she were hearing this about someone else's life. She's detached and there's no emotion for what she went through. No memories of the life we had.

"Anything that Lindsey tells you will be a lie. That's what she does." Hoping to warn her again to not trust Lindsey, I give her the same advice she has already heard.

"That's what Cole said too. Why would she lie if she knows you're going to tell me everything she's done? Does she think I'm that gullible?" Brynn has a good heart. She's always tried to see the good in others. There's just nothing good inside of Lindsey.

"Because that's what she does. She lies and she believes what she says. It's not so much a lie as it is an alternate reality."

"Why did she say her name was Melinda?" Now she's understanding this. It goes deeper than just being about us.

Nodding, I tell what we know. "Melinda was her mom. She died when Lindsey was really young but from what we've found out, we think Melinda was killed."

"You think a small child killed her own mother? That doesn't sound rational." Frowning Brynn tries to make sense of the little we've found out.

"Not Lindsey. But we think she was there when it happened. I think it was her father." And even saying that sounds very wrong.

Rubbing the bandage on her head, Brynn looks out the window as if the answer is right in front of us but we can't see it. I feel the same way. We're missing a piece of the puzzle and can't make out the picture without it.

"This sounds like some kind of late night murder mystery you'd find on TV. It seems crazy that this is actually happening." I agree with her. It's completely crazy.

"It is." Taking a chance I scoop up Brynn's hand and brush my lips over it. "I promise I won't let her touch you again."

Brynn pauses, she doesn't pull away but she looks cautiously at me, debating whether to trust me. "How many times has she gone after me?"

"Too many."

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