Through the door, Lily said, “Please don’t do anything detrimental to the healing process.”

Oswald said, “We’ll be out in a minute.”

After a few seconds, we heard her walk away.

He said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that when you’re not well.”

“I liked it, Oswald. I like you.”

“When you get your memory back, you may not feel the same way about me.”

I thought of the scarf I had found in my bag and I thought of how I’d come here when I was in trouble. “Can’t we start over? If we loved each other once … unless you’re involved with someone else.”

He gazed out the window for a long time and said, “There’s been no one else for me since you left.”

“So maybe …”

“Maybe. Let’s go back out.” He came to me and stroked his finger along my throat. “I think you came back to me for a reason.”

“I think so, too.”

When we returned to the terrace, everyone acted as if nothing had happened, but Oswald sat by my side and I kept glancing at him.

I had amnesia, but I also had a second chance with exactly the sort of man I’d always wanted—someone worthwhile, a human version of a substantial, hardback book, instead of the guys I usually dated, paperback beach reads that could be left on the bus for the next bored and aimless girl.

thirteen

Once Bitten, Twice Snide

After dinner, AG and Mrs. Grant went to watch a movie in her cottage, and Oswald and Gabriel went to the study to talk.

Lily said to me, “I’ve got to make phone calls. Will you be all right on your own?”

“I’m fine. I can work on my project.”

“The memoir?”

“From what I can tell from my notes, it’s entirely fabricated. I’m thinking that it’s more of a fakeoir, or maybe a fabrimento. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

After I’d zipped out a chapter, I felt the need to stretch my muscles. I changed into sneakers and a T-shirt and went outside.

I looked up, astonished at the canopy of bright stars. I’d never seen so many in my life. I began moving slowly, testing myself, but after I’d reached the edge of the field, I broke into a jog, and soon I began to run.

I avoided the area where Mrs. Grant had pointed out a pond and circled the property. With my improved vision, I saw a luminescent outline on small critters and insects. A coyote yipped in the distance.

The air was crisp and fresh in my lungs, and I felt so strong that I went around two more times.

As I faced the house, I saw the lights on upstairs, and a light glowed from the downstairs study. I walked quietly and stood to one side of the window where I could peer in.

Oswald and Gabriel listened as a man’s voice came over the speakerphone. The man said, “Wilcox’s parents are demanding an immediate Council investigation and you know what that means.”