Dr. Melendez raised her hand. “Who is Meredith?”

“She’s my—”

“Caleb’s nanny,” Amanda said.

“Girlfriend,” Gretchen said over Amanda. Unease settled over the room.

Jax was breathing rapidly, and she really wanted to flee the situation. “Do you have your memories back or not?”

“I remember what you all told me.” Gretchen’s impending tears could be heard in her wavering voice. Gretchen wrote out a list and showed it to Jax and Dr. Melendez. A series of follow-up questions and answers were listed.

Jax couldn’t believe Gretchen knew any of this. The only real explanation was Gretchen was playing her. Was this all an elaborate plan to manipulate their relationship? Jax took over the questioning. “What did we do for Caleb’s first birthday?”

Gretchen lowered her head and clamped her eyes shut. “I don’t know.”

“What about his second birthday?”

“I don’t know.”

“What did you tell him when I moved out?”

“I don’t know!” Gretchen’s volume startled everyone in the room.

Jax stepped back toward the door. “You told him it’s better this way. I have to go.”

“Hang on,” Dr. Melendez said, standing. “I understand that emotions are running high, but we need to stay focused. Gretchen’s memories are jumbled right now, and that’s not unusual. Yes, this is a rare case.”

“Or she’s faking it,” Jax said bluntly, feeling completely numb and detached.

Amanda stepped forward. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“I don’t think that’s the case,” Dr. Melendez spoke over them. “Symptoms like these are very hard to fake.”

“She’s an occupational therapist. She has knowledge of how the brain works after an injury.”

“And I’m a neurologist whose specialty is brain injuries.” Dr. Melendez’s firm tone made Jax close her mouth. “Believe me when I say we’re dealing with amnesia. I’m just unsure of the kind right now.”

“So, what do we do?” she said, barely reining in her annoyance.

“You can leave,” Gretchen said. “All of you.”

“The plan is to have Gretchen home next week.”

“That soon? Really?” Amanda’s skepticism was written plainly on her face.

“Yes. We’ll need to discuss it further, and you two will have to make some plans. I’ll want someone with her around the clock at first. She won’t be able to drive for six months at the very least, and the most important things will be comfort and familiarity. Going home will be a shock to Gretchen. Although we’ve discussed what her life is like now, her memories are still unclear. She’ll need help remembering what her everyday life is like.”

Jax’s head was already spinning with the thought of being forced to take part in Gretchen’s every day. She had gotten over that loss once, but she wouldn’t be able to do it again. “I don’t think I should be that involved.”

“Leave,” Gretchen said loudly.