Page 45 of State of Retribution

“It’s hard to do anything else but wonder where my memories have gone.”

“I know, honey, but the harder you try to force it, the longer it might take to get back to normal.”

“What will normal look like after this?”

“I don’t know yet, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out one day at a time.”

Her brows furrowed again.“That saying.One day at a time.Where does that come from?”

“I’m not sure of the original origin, but it’s a recurring theme with Alcoholics Anonymous.”

“That’s it.I knew someone who was in that group.I can’t remember who.”

He took her plate to the sink.“Your memories are there, and they’ll come back when you’re ready for them.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I can’t know for certain, but I hope so, even if I wish I could protect you from memories that’ll hurt you.”

She gave him a curious look.“Why do you feel so protective of me?”

“I don’t know.I just do.”

“You said we hadn’t known each other long when I went missing.”

“That’s right.”

“And yet, you feel protective.”

He shrugged.“We had a pretty immediate connection.I was looking forward to getting to know you better, and then you were gone.I thought maybe you’d decided you weren’t into me after all, but I really didn’t think that was the case.I’d just gone to my friend Sam?—”

“The first lady?”

“Yes.I asked for her help in finding you.I wasn’t sure if you were missing or what was going on.She told me Erica had a Jane Doe, which is what we call a crime victim without ID who can’t remember her name.She took me to GW to find you.”

“I’m sorry you were worried.That I put you through that.”

“I’m just glad you were found alive, even if I wish none of this had ever happened to you.”

“You’re very kind.”After a pause, she added shyly, “And very handsome, which I’m sure you know.”

Archie felt his face flush with heat.Dear God, was she making himblush?What the hell was that about?“Oh, um, thank you.”

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“You didn’t.Not much, anyway.”

She smiled, and his heart did a weird skipping thing that left him a little breathless.

“All I could think about after the first night we met was how pretty, funny, smart and sweet you were, and I couldn’t wait to see you again.”

Before she could reply to that, his phone rang with an out-of-state number he didn’t recognize.“Lieutenant Archelotta.”

“We… we were told to call you to speak to our daughter,” a man said.“This is George Prior, Harlowe’s father.Is she… Could I speak to her?”

“Hold on for one minute, please.”He held the phone to the side while he updated her.“It’s your father.Would you like to speak to him?”

“I… I think so.Thank you.”

---