Page 3 of The Stranger in the Mirror

“Pennsylvania. That sounds good.” I looked out my window at the tall pine trees we were passing and then turned to him. “Where are we now?”

“New Jersey.” He frowned and looked at me strangely, then back at the road. “You have people in Pennsylvania?”

“I’m not sure,” was all I could get out.

“I know it’s none of my business, but hitchhiking is very dangerous. Do you realize the things that can happen? Especially to a young woman?”

I felt a nervous flutter in my stomach. Was he about to tell me that I’d made a mistake getting in his truck? I said nothing.

He must have realized he’d scared me because he put a hand up. “Don’t worry. You’re safe with me. I belong to an organization that tries to stop people from being hurt.” He glanced over at me again and looked concerned. “You don’t look too good. Kinda pale. I can swing off the highway and get you to a hospital. No problem.”

My stomach tightened as panic welled up inside of me. I was terrified but had no idea why. “No, please. I’m okay. Really. Please. Don’t stop.”

He rubbed his chin for a moment. “Okay. But when we get to Philadelphia, you get medical attention.” Ed told me later that he’d continued to drive against his better judgment, but there was something in my voice that made him keep going.

I sighed, relieved, and leaned my head against the window, closing my eyes. I felt myself drifting off to sleep when Ed’s deep voice startled me.

“What’s your name? You from around here?”

My name? I had no idea. I scrunched my eyes shut and tried to concentrate, but my brain felt muddled and hazy. Taking a deep breath, I decided to tell him the truth. It was going to come out sooner or later anyway. “I don’t know. The thing is...” I stopped and inhaled deeply again. “The thing is, I don’t remember anything that happened before I was walking along the road, holding my head.”

“You mean you can’t remember how you got hurt?”

“I mean I don’t know who I am. I have no memory of anything except walking and getting into your truck.”

Ed let out a low whistle. “You have amnesia?”

“I guess so.” I didn’t have enough energy to talk anymore. “I’m really tired,” I said. “Do you mind if I just rest for a little?”

“Sure. Why don’t you jump back into the sleeper? You’ll be more comfortable there.”

Maybe if I had been in a more coherent state of mind I would have hesitated, worried again that he might be a threat, but I was exhausted. Bone-tired. I craned my neck and looked around behind my seat to see a big bed inviting me to stretch out. When he pulled off the road, I crawled onto it and wiggled under a soft green blanket that smelled like fresh evergreens. It felt comforting and warm against my body, and for the rest of the ride I slept like the dead.

When we got to the house, Ed woke me. “Hey,” he said, as he gave me a gentle poke. “Wake up. We’re here.”

I lifted my head, squinting at the bright sunlight that streamed through the windows and ran my tongue across my teeth, whichfelt gritty. Ed helped me down from the high truck bed, and I noticed that the trailer was missing from the back of the truck. I looked at him in confusion.

“Had to drop off my load. You slept right through the stop,” he told me, taking my hand. “Let’s go inside and get that head looked at.”

We went up the walk to the house, a white one-story Cape with navy blue shutters and flower boxes at every window, separated from the large garage by a big yard with lots of trees. Pink and cornflower-blue blossoms spilled from the containers, and there was something about the house that said welcome. Before we reached the small porch, the front door opened and a petite woman with a shock of red hair held her hand out to mine and said, “I’ve been waiting for you two. I’m Gigi. Come on in.”

“Hi, honey,” Ed said, giving her a quick hug as we entered. “This is the young lady who needs our help.” I realized that while I was asleep, Ed must have called his wife to warn her he was bringing home a disoriented hitchhiker.

Gigi wasted no time, taking me into their spotless kitchen and sitting me on a chair. She began examining my head and then turned to Ed and said something I couldn’t hear. “We need to get you to a hospital, just to be on the safe side,” she said, this time to me. “This doesn’t look too terribly awful, but I can’t see what might be going on inside. They can run some tests to get the full picture.”

It hit me then how hungry I was, and I realized I had no idea when I’d last eaten. As if reading my mind, Gigi put a cup of tea and a buttered English muffin in front of me. “You need to eat something first,” she said, patting my back gently. I knew right then that this was a woman I wanted to have in my life, whatever that meant.

− 4 −

Addison

I wish Gabriel were coming with me to his mother’s tonight, but he thinks it’ll be good for me and Blythe to be alone and get to know each other better as we discuss wedding plans. I know she tries to make me feel comfortable, but I still find her intimidating, and the half-hour drive to Chestnut Hill from Gigi and Ed’s only serves to heighten my anxiety. I falter for a moment as I pull into the driveway. The strange thing about amnesia is that you forget facts but not skills, so I may not know who I am or if I’ve ever owned a car, but I remember how to drive. I put the Kia in park, turn off the engine, and grab from the passenger seat the folders that Blythe requested I bring. They’re filled with photographs from bridal magazines that she’s given me, instructing me to clip out any images I like.

I envisioned a small, intimate wedding with only Ed and Gigi, and Gabriel’s immediate family, perhaps a few of their closest friends, but things seemed to go in another direction as soon as we told his parents last month that we planned to get married. We had just finished dinner at their house and were all sitting at the dining room table drinking coffee, and when Gabriel made the announcement, I saw the color drain from Blythe’s face. Ted smiled, though, and said, “Well, well, I thought this might be getting serious. Congratulations, son.” And then he looked over at me. “Welcome to the family, Addison. I’m happy for both of you.”

Blythe recovered quickly and smiled. “Have you chosen a date?”

“We want a simple wedding. The sooner the better.” Gabriel looked across the table at me. “Right, Addy?”

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