Page 111 of The Boathouse By the Loch

‘Bonnie?’ Marnie looked at her in surprise. This had never happened in their previous sessions. She cast her glance around the room and held her finger to her lips. Everyone realised the enormity of what had just happened – she was remembering.

‘Yes?’ Bonnie replied.

‘Now, let’s journey into your past, all the way back to last Christmas. Can you do that?’

‘I’ll try.’

‘Good. It’s Christmas Day. Can you tell me where you are, Robyn?’

‘Quit calling me Robyn. I told you my name!’

Marnie apologised. ‘Of course. I’m sorry.’ She’d made a genuine mistake after the previous sessions, where she’d obviously grown accustomed to calling her client Robyn. Although Marnie had been aware the young woman had lost her memories, she, like everyone else in that room, had had no clue before that day that her client’s name wasn’t really Robyn.

There was still a collective gasp and murmurings from her friends upon hearing her say,quit calling me Robyn. Marnie shot them a warning look and pointed at the door. Absolutely nobodymoved a muscle. Everybody wanted to stay to hear this. She’d have to physically throw them out now.

Marnie turned back to her patient. ‘It’s Christmas morning. Where are you?’

‘Where do you think I am?’ came the retort. ‘Same place as yesterday, same place as every day.’

‘And where is that, Bonnie?’

‘I try and make it pretty, you know. We’ve got no money, so I made curtains and cushions from fabric I bought cheap at a charity shop,’ she paused. ‘I like things to look pretty. Sometimes I see the magazines in the newsagent with big pictures of celebrity houses, you know, with everything!’

Marnie said softly, ‘Have you got a house, Bonnie?’

‘I wish!’ She didn’t give Marnie time to ask a further question.‘I keep saying to him, one day I’m going to live in a real house instead of a caravan.’ Bonnie smiled to herself, as though imagining just what her dream house would be. Then her expression changed, and she pointed, lowering her voice, ‘Don’t be stupid, woman!’ as though she was impersonating someone. She smiled again. ‘So I don’t say it anymore, but I think it all the same.’

‘What did you do on Christmas Day? Were you in the caravan?’ Marnie probed.

‘Yes. I remember I was feeling ill, like a really bad hangover, except I don’t drink.’ She let out a laugh.

‘Did you go see a doctor?’

‘No doctor. Logan says I’ll be fine.’

‘Who’s Logan?’ Marnie asked.

‘My boyfriend.’

Marnie lifted her eyes and looked across the room at David.His eyes were riveted on Bonnie, his expression pained. She wasn’t the only one who had turned to look at him. His friends and family had too. They were looking worried.

‘Logan wants to go out, to the pub to see his mates, and get drunk no doubt, but I don’t want to. I just want to stay home. That’s what ordinary people do. They stay home and unwrap presents, and watch the King’s speech.’

She touched her face. ‘Funny thing …’ She started to laugh, but caught herself, putting her hand to her mouth.

‘What’s funny Ro … Bonnie?’

‘Well it’s not funny, it’s kinda weird, because I’m always saying to Logannot my face, because I don’t want him to get into trouble, but now I’m sayingmy face, my face.’

Marnie frowned. ‘Bonnie, I don’t understand.’

‘What d’ya mean – you don’t understand? Just look at me, look at my face.’ She touched her face gently and flinched at her own touch.‘I knew I shouldn’t have fussed, and just gone out with him straight away.’

‘Does he physically harm you, Bonnie?’

‘Isn’t it obvious?’

There was a sudden scrape of a chair as someone in the room abruptly stood up. Everyone looked a David, standing there, fists clenched as though he wanted to punch someone – punch Logan.

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