“Yeah, until he finally confessed he hated everything to do with the sport and couldn’t bear admitting it because I loved it so much.”
Maya had grinned when she’d explained how Dad’s revelation had turned into a standing joke at the house, with him groaning and moaning whenever I turned on a match. In the end he’d always sat down next to me for the whole thing anyway. I couldn’t recall that part. The memory had been swallowed up by the abyss along with so many other things.
“You never shared that with me,” Lily said, looking down.
“Right,” I said, her words making me feel guilty for having withheld something else from her, and I quickly changed the subject by continuing with, “Want to join us at the house for dinner?”
“I’d love to. I’ll grab a shower at the motel first. But you don’t think Maya will mind?”
“Not at all,” I said, hoping I was right but not caring if I wasn’t. “Can you drop me off at the Cliff’s Head? Her shift will be over soon, so I’ll catch a ride home with her. Come to the house in an hour or so? If you get there before us, there’s a spare key under the flowerpot on the left side of the door.”
Lily grinned. “Some things never change.”
When I walked into the Cliff’s Head, Maya stood behind the host’s desk, her face lighting up as soon as she saw me. “Hey, perfect timing. I’m almost done here and...” She frowned. “What’s wrong? Did something happen with Lily?”
“Can we talk somewhere private?” I said, and after she’d led me to a small room at the back and closed the door behind us, I decided to be as direct as possible so I could gauge her immediate reaction. “Why are you buying drugs from Dave Decato?” I said, her startled face confirming Fiona’s suspicions. “What the hell are you doing? What are you taking?”
“Nothing,” she said, sticking out her chin. “It’s none of your business.”
“It is. What’s going on?”
I watched her resolve falter. She glanced at the door before whispering, “Weed, okay?”
“But you can get it legally—”
“His stuff is way better.”
“But why are you smoking—”
She threw her hands in the air. “Because your being back here has stressed me out. I’m so worried I’ll wake up and you’ll be gone. Or you’ll never get your memory back... Or I won’t be able to support us financially and we’ll have to sell the house. It’s a lot of pressure, Ash. I...I guess I needed something to help me relax.”
“Jesus, Maya.”
“It’s no big deal—”
“Not the weed. The fact I put you in this situation.” I ran my hands over my face, shook my head. “Who the hell do I think I am, striding in here, being such a sanctimonious shit?”
“You’re not, and it’s okay. I only got a little bit but please don’t tell anyone. Especially not Lily. I want us to be friends and can’t bear her thinking badly of me.”
“I know what you mean,” I said, sitting down on one of the chairs, gesturing for her to do the same. “I haven’t told her yet, but I remembered something about the night I got hurt.”
“What? Are you sure?”
“I think so, and I don’t think it was an accident.” As I told Maya about my flashback and the man hitting me with a rock, I decided it was good I couldn’t remember more details about my assailant, like his name. With the look on Maya’s face, if I had known, she’d jump in her car, drive to Brookmount and throttle him with her bare hands. I wouldn’t have been far behind.
“What are you going to do?” she said. “Should we call the cops?”
I shook my head. “I think I should wait and see if I remember anything else so I can give them more details. It might not be too long because Lily being here is definitely helping. Way more stuff has come back since she arrived.”
“Like what?” Maya said quickly, and I explained about the hide-and-seek memory, which she confirmed was accurate, the blueberry pancakes, the movie, and the butterflies I’d seen after finding Fiona’s postcard. I left out the dragging feeling I’d experienced as I’d read the last words Celine had written to her family. I didn’t know what to do with that bit yet.
“How could I have forgotten about the postcard?” Maya said. “Fiona was so excited when it arrived. We were all certain more would follow, but they never did...”
“She mentioned that. Oh, and Lily also thought Dad loved soccer.”
Maya scrunched up her face. “Really? You mean you never told her about him going along with it because of you?”
“I guess not. But why wouldn’t I—”
“Listen, we’ll talk more but right now I’d better finish my shift before Patrick wonders if I’ve already left. Do you want a drink at the bar while you wait?”
“No, I’m fine. I’ll go outside.”
I headed for the front door, relieved my conversation about Dave had gone well with Maya. I couldn’t blame her for wanting something to help her relax, although getting weed illegally was pretty stupid. Perhaps she’d feel less stressed with my memory returning some more, and again when I could help financially if I got a job as quickly as possible. Maya’s funds had to be dwindling, and it wasn’t fair for all that pressure to be on her, too. I sat down on a metal bench to the left of the door and leaned back, closing my eyes for a second as I tilted my face toward the sun, thinking.
“Hey, asshole.”
My eyes flew open. Keenan stood over me, his jaw clenched. “Christ, not you again,” I said. “What do you want?”
He leaned in closer, a waft of alcohol going up my nose. “The truth.”
“Seriously?” I stood up, putting a little distance between us. “I keep telling you I—”
“Can’t remember?”
