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Saturday, October 8, 2016

Memories Unlocked #18

Blair reached Dr. Sanchez’s office.  She was nervous.  She still didn’t know just how this doctor was connected to Todd.  Her jealousy reared its head, as she pictured Todd getting close to another woman.  Stop it, Blair.   Tea aside, Todd’s always been pretty faithful. He was coming back to you.  She knocked on the door.  From inside, a voice said. ‘Come in.”


Blair looked down at Starr. “Here we go.  Are you ready?”  Starr nodded and Blair opened the door.  “Excuse me, Dr. Sanchez,  I’m hoping you’ll be able to help me.”  She stopped.  Sam Vance’s picture didn’t do the woman justice.  Dr. Sanchez was stunning.  What was it with Todd and women? He'd had more than his share of women wanting to help him.  First, there was Rebecca, then Tea, and now Dr. Sanchez.  Although,  Blair had to admit, that the woman sitting behind the desk, was definitely many steps up from Tea. Blair took a little comfort in the fact that Todd always kept coming back to her, or so she had thought until arriving in Guam.


Miguela glanced up from her paperwork and found herself looking at three people she never thought she would see in her office.  It was as if Todd’s picture had come alive.  As shocked as she was, it appeared the woman looking at her was equally so.  Wanting to break the awkward silence, Miguela stood up.  She was eager to find out what the woman was doing in her office. “Hello, you have me at a disadvantage.  Could you tell me your name and what I can do to help you?”


Blair blinked and realized she had been staring. “I’m sorry.  My name is Blair Manning and I’m hoping you can help me find my husband.”


Miguela indicated the chairs in front of her desk.  She was excited for Todd and also cautious.  Todd had been in possession of his picture from the beginning, but had been unable to remember them or their relationship to him, if any.  “I will certainly try to help but I will need your husband’s name.  I’m assuming his last name is Manning, what is his first name?”


Blair was surprised at the question.  The woman knew Todd and the picture indicated they were obviously friends.  Angry at Todd for confiding in this woman, instead of coming home, made her lash out.“Oh come on, you know it’s Todd Manning.  Did he give you some sob story after he was injured so he could get your help?  Was it your idea he change his name to Drake?”


Miguela was shocked by the sudden anger and the accusation.  Somehow her friendship with Todd was known. Obviously, that friendship was a problem for his wife. She replied in a gentle tone. “I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.  Please be seated.”


Blair sat down abruptly and settled Jack on her lap.  She hadn’t meant to blow up at the doctor, but the surprises she had encountered in Guam had proven more than she could take.  She got her emotions under control and looked across the desk.  “I’m sorry.  I only found out a couple of days ago that my husband was even here in Guam.  You have to understand.  Things between us were bad when he disappeared, and it took me a while to forgive him.  When I did, we had no idea where he was and we’ve been searching for him since.  Upon my arrival here, I was told he was working here at the hospital under the name Todd Drake.  All I could think of was that he was staying away from us on purpose.  Perhaps you can understand my anger at that.  We came looking for him but circumstances have been against me and we keep missing him.  This morning a young patient told us that he was leaving and if he disappears again I don’t know what I’ll do.   I confess I know you are a friend of his.  The private investigator that found him showed me a picture of you two. Please, if you know why he’s been hiding and where he might be going, it would be a great help to me.”


Miguela opened the file on her desk.  It alarmed her to hear Todd was planning on leaving.  She had feared that very thing after their outing the previous day. He had definitely been bothered by something when she left him.  It now appeared he had made a decision. She sighed, and then spoke.  “You’re right about one thing, I am Todd Drake’s friend, but I’m also his doctor.  I have to ask, are you sure Todd Drake is your husband, Todd Manning?”


Blair shifted Jack on her lap and reached into her purse.  Finding her wallet she pulled out a picture and handed it across the desk.


The minute she saw the picture, Miguela knew the woman in front of her was telling the truth. She looked at a picture so similar to the one which Todd carried around that they probably had been taken at the same time. The only difference was that Todd was part of the group. “Thank you.  You understand, as his doctor, it’s my duty to protect him but as his wife, I believe you need to hear what happened to him.  For his sake, you might be just what he needs.”


Blair was puzzled, “What do you mean?  What does he need?”


Miguela clasped her hands in front of her.  Both mother and daughter were now looking anxiously at her.  The baby had fallen asleep in his mother’s arms.  She still didn’t understand why Todd was blocking his memory of them, but something must have occurred to make him do so.  “When Todd was found on the beach, he was believed to be dead.  An alert doctor realized he was still alive, and I was called in to try and save him.  Todd’s injuries were critical. He had severe head trauma and multiple breaks in his arms as well as his back.”


Blair gasped, her hand went to her throat. “Oh God!” Blair had held out hope that Todd’s injuries had not been life-threatening.  She couldn’t have been more wrong. “But that was months ago and he’s healed now. “


Miguela frowned. “You have to understand.  The breaks have all healed but there were several complications.  They are the reason that Todd is still here.  Having him join the staff was a way for him to stay and feel useful while he learned to live with those complications.”  


A chill went down Blair’s back and the uneasy feeling she had felt the night before came back with a vengeance.  “What kind of complications? He’s working with the children.  How did he talk you into letting him work here?  Why is he calling himself Todd Drake?”


“Mrs. Manning, Todd didn’t pick the name, the children gave it to him.”
 
****


Todd was almost giddy as he rolled down the hallway to Dr. Sanchez’s office.  He paused,   running his hand down his leg.  Joe had insisted on massaging both legs and Todd hadn’t resisted.  It had been marvelous just to feel the faint impression of Joe’s hands as they worked on the muscles of Todd’s right leg.  It was like a part of him, that had been missing, just showed up again.  He had even relished the sharp pains similar to pins and needles.  Everything he felt just gave him more hope for a full recovery.


He rolled up to Miguela’s door and heard her talking.  Hoping she was just on the phone, he opened the door. “Doc, you’ll never believe ... “  he rolled to a stop as three pairs of eyes turned toward him.  Todd couldn’t breathe, it was as he feared. They had come looking for him. The little girl squealed “Daddy!”  She ran from the chair and began hugging him just like in his dream.  He found himself hugging her back, but all he could do was stare at her mother and the baby.


Blair was shocked, seeing him finally.  A part of her wanted to do what Starr had done but she sensed something different about Todd and it wasn’t just that he was in the wheelchair.  “Todd?” She began to walk toward him with Jack.


“Stop!” The word came out of his mouth and all he felt was panic.  He glanced at Miguela. “Did you do this?  Did you bring them here?”


Miguela frowned. Todd wasn’t reacting like she had hoped.  By his words, something had changed in the night.   “No Todd, I didn’t.   What is it?”  He obviously recognized them from his picture, but for some reason he didn’t want them there.


Todd gently removed his daughter’s arms from his neck.  He took a deep breath.  He searched her face trying to remember her name but it still wouldn’t come. They were his family but he didn’t remember them and it was killing him.  He reached for her face.  She was real and his daughter, why couldn’t he remember more?


Starr looked at her mom and back at her dad. “Daddy, what’s wrong? Why did you tell Mommy to stop?  We’ve missed you so much.  Mommy‘s not mad at you anymore.  She forgives you for what you did with Jack.  You can come home now and we’ll be a family again.”


Todd winced. Something else he had forgotten.  He had no idea who Jack was, but whatever he had done to the man had caused a rift with his wife.   He turned anguished eyes back to Miguela. “Doc, help!”


Blair had been watching Todd with Starr.  He seemed distant.  When he looked at the doctor and pleaded with her for help it was the final straw. “What the hell is the matter with you, Todd?  Answer Starr.  Didn’t you hear her, I forgive you?  What does Dr. Sanchez need to help with?   Are you too ashamed to just face me and tell me it’s over?  Are you ready to break your daughter’s heart for good?”


Todd had stopped listening when he heard the name Starr.  He was standing outside talking to the woman.  It  was Viki.


Are you serious, you’re going without seeing your wife?  You’re going to leave your wife and your daughter?  You have a child.  Her name is Starr did you know that?’


“Starr?  She named my daughter Starr?


“Yes.”


“You know, I got her a present once.  It was a little star.”


Todd felt the same gut-wrenching feeling he had then. “Oh God. . Starr.” He suddenly  couldn’t breathe.  


Blair was getting angrier.  Todd had stopped listening to her and it felt like Ireland all over again.. “Todd, don’t do that.  You’re not shutting me out this time.  I’m your wife, I need to know if we have anything left to salvage.”


Miguela had let Blair talk to Todd, keeping a careful eye on him.  She noticed a change just after he heard his daughter’s name.  It must have jarred some of his memory, but now she noted his rapid breathing  She knew it was time to intervene.  She went to her patient.  “Todd, look at me.  You’re hyperventilating. I need you to slow your breathing down.  That’s it, breathe in slowly, now let it out slowly.  You’re doing fine.”


“What’s the matter with my daddy?” Starr had been noticing that he was acting strangely but now he looked sick.


MIguela looked over at the little girl.  “Starr, your daddy had been sick and through a lot over these last couple of months.   It’s just a shock for him to see you, that’s all.”  She turned back to Todd, pulled out her stethoscope and listened to his heart.  


Todd grabbed her free hand and squeezed it. “Thanks .” he said faintly.


His breathing and heart rate were returning to normal.  She smiled at him and patted his leg. She felt a slight ripple under her hand and looked Todd straight in the eye. “Todd?”


He smiled weakly, “That’s what I was coming to tell you.”  Still holding her hand, he squeezed it again.  “Doc,”  He looked past her at Starr and her mother. “I don’t know what to do?”


“I’ve got this.  Tell me, did you remember something when you heard your daughter’s name?”


He nodded


“Well, then you’re headed in the right direction on both counts.  Are you willing to sit here with Starr and your son while I explain things to your wife.”


Todd glanced at his daughter and saw how worried she was.  He didn’t want her upset, and he needed time before talking directly to her mother.  He also wanted to hold his son, even if for just a little while.  He nodded again.


“Good.”  She stood back up and faced Blair. “ Mrs. Manning, I know you have a million questions rolling around in your head.  Perhaps Todd could sit here with the children while we talk in private.”  She heard the small gasp that escaped Todd at the mention of his last name and prayed it would give him more comfort at least knowing his full name.


Blair had been watching everything with an eagle eye.  She took a good hard look at Todd as the doctor worked on him.  He wasn’t faking the panic attack.  He had been prone to those ever since Ireland.  The doctor was right she had plenty of questions. Jack began to wake up and stirred in her arms.  She reached down into her purse and grabbed his bottle and a small container of oat rings.  At first she debated having Starr give it to him but saw Todd looking at him.  “Umm. do you want to hold him?  It’s been a long time and I think he’s missed you.  You could feed him.  He always eats when you feed him.”


Todd hesitated for a brief moment then held his arms up. He could see her uncertainty and realized whatever he had done to her in the past, still bothered her.  “It’s alright, I won’t hurt him,” he tried to reassure her.


Blair’s heart lurched. She was puzzled.  “What a strange thing to say.  Of course, you wouldn’t hurt him.  I know that I’ve always known that.”  She set Jack in his lap and handed him the bottle and oat rings.  “I wish I could say the same for me.”  She said quietly to herself as she followed Dr. Sanchez out of the office.


****


Blair lingered at the door watching Todd but he only had eyes for his son.  She was disappointed, she had hoped he might look at her as she left but for some unknown reason, he seemed to be avoiding that.   She turned to face the Doctor.  “Alright Doctor Sanchez, you wanted to get me out of the room.  Is this where you tell me that you and my husband have fallen in love and he thought he was never going to see us again?”


Miguela shook her head. “Mrs. Manning, please.  There is nothing going on between Todd and me.  I’m his doctor.  You saw what just happened.”


“I saw you go to him after he asked for your help.  Patting his leg and whispering to him.  I saw how instead of talking to me he tried to gain attention with a panic attack and you gave it to him.  My husband is very clever when it comes to fooling people.”


Miguela was dumbfounded. Blair Manning was like a lioness protecting her turf and that included telling other lionesses to keep their paws off her king.  She straightened her jacket and met Blair’s eyes directly. “Mrs. Manning, the panic attack was very real.  I’m going to ask you to refrain from making anymore assumptions until you hear me out.  Let’s sit down over here and I’ll finish what I was about to say before he arrived.”  She turned away and moved to a bench near the wall not waiting to see if Blair would follow.


It was all Blair could do to keep her cool when all she wanted to do was pull some of the dark silky hair from the Doctor’s head.  She followed and sat down at the far end of the bench.  “Okay. Talk.”


“As I started to tell you, Todd’s injuries were extensive.  You asked about the name and as I told you right when he arrived, the children gave him his name.  You see, Todd woke up with no memories of his past including his name. It distressed him not to even know his name, so much so, he refused to take any name we wanted to give him until the afternoon he met the children.  He formed an instant rapport with them and when they asked his name, instead of getting upset, he told them he couldn’t remember it.  He had spent the afternoon telling them stories so the children gave him a Japanese name, Kitsune Ryu.  In English that translated to Fox Spirit Dragon or Todd Drake.”  Miguela paused, giving Blair a chance to take in everything she had just said.


Blair was still caught up on the words Todd woke up with no memories of his past including his name.  “You‘re saying he had amnesia.  But he doesn’t now.  I know he recognized me and the children.”


“I’m saying he has amnesia. The skull fracture and aneurysm he suffered, caused damage that affected his memory. He recognized you because he has a picture he carries.  One that was on him when he was found.  He knows your faces, not who you are.  Over the past months, while he’s been recovering, he’s had several flashes of what he considers memories but they make no sense.  He was convinced his daughter was dead.  He told me he was shot and ended up in the ocean off of Ireland.  I can see that his daughter is alive, so I have to ask. Did he really get shot in Ireland?”


Blair felt numb. He didn’t remember them and she felt like screaming.  She wanted to go back into that office and shake him until he came to his senses.  Then she heard the doctor’s comment about Ireland.  “He mentioned Ireland?”  Blair got excited.  It wasn’t hopeless if he remembered Ireland he could remember more.  “Doctor, what happened in Ireland was real, very real.  I’m not sure why he thought our daughter was dead but there was a time when we almost lost her as a baby, perhaps his mind only remembered a little bit of that.  That’s possible isn’t it?”


Miguela nodded, “It’s possible, and given the Ireland incident happened, I would say he might eventually get more memories.  There is something else you should know. Todd is paralyzed.”

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