“I am resting. I’ve barely been out of bed for more than five minutes. How the hell am I supposed to ever get back to work, feeling like this?” I looked at her. “Speaking of, aren’t you supposed to be at the restaurant?”

“This afternoon.”

“Are you sure? I could’ve sworn you told me last night you’d be working this morning.”

“Maybe you got mixed up? I’ve got to go back to Drift in a while, drop more stuff off before the weekend rush.” She smiled. “Come with me. It might help take your mind off things.”

I thought of going back to the house, where I’d no doubt do nothing other than wrestle with the revelation about finding my mother. It was an easy decision. “You’re on,” I said. “Lead the way.”

A while later, Maya had parked on Main Street and disappeared into Drift with a box of her pieces. When she’d asked if I wanted to join her, I’d passed, preferring to spend the time alone to mull things over. Barbara was on the nosy side, and last time she’d let slip she was penning her debut novel, and I had no intention of letting her use me as a character study.

The sun beat in through the window, warming my chest, and as I closed my eyes someone tapped on the glass. I turned my head. The redhead whose phone I’d attempted to steal at the petrol station stood a few feet away, smiling at me. I searched my brain for her name, remembered it was Fiona and opened the door to get out.

“Hi, Ash,” she said, her smile broadening still. “How are you?”

“I’m all right, thanks,” I said with a nod, adding, “I’m doing okay.”

“That’s great. What about your memory? Any better? Did you see the doctor?”

I sighed, leaned back against the car and shoved my hands in my front pockets as I told her about the different tests and suspicions of retrograde amnesia. “Not much has come back, I’m afraid. The odd flash here and there.”

“Well, that’s something, though. It might not be perfection, but at least it’s progress.”

I looked at her. She seemed nice, gentle and concerned, the exact opposite of her brother, Keenan, who thankfully hadn’t made another appearance at the house. Weighing my options, I decided to take a gamble on her empathy. “Maya told me about Celine and Kate.”

Her eyes widened. “That must have been...a shock for you,” she said carefully.

“Yes, honestly it was, because I don’t remember either of them.”

Fiona winced but recovered quickly. “I’m sorry, Ash. This must be incredibly difficult. Did Maya...did she tell you about them?”

“A little,” I said. “She showed me some pictures, too. I’m sorry Celine left town. You must miss her.”