Page 171 of Tiger's Quest
He put his arm under my knees and picked me up. Cradling me close, he carried me up the stairs. After he laid me on my bed, he went to the bathroom, came back with a box of tissues, and set it on the nightstand. Kishan murmured a few words in Hindi, smoothed the hair back from my face, pressed a kiss on my brow, and left me alone.
Late that afternoon, Nilima came to see me.
I was sitting in my room in the white chair, clutching my stuffed tiger. I’d spent the morning crying and sleeping. She hugged me and sat down on the couch.
“He doesn’t know me,” I whispered.
“You must give him time. Here, I’ve brought you a snack.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You didn’t eat your breakfast either.”
I looked at her with watery eyes. “I just don’t think I can eat.”
“Alright.”
She went into my bathroom and returned with my hairbrush.
“Everything will be fine, Miss Kelsey. He’s back with us, and hewillremember you.”
She unbraided my hair and began brushing it out in long, smooth strokes. It comforted me and reminded me of my mother.
“You really think he will?”
“Yes. Even if he doesn’t get his memory back, he is bound to fall for you again. My mother has a saying:a deep well never runs dry. His feelings for you are too deep to ever disappear completely, even in a dry season, such as this.”
I laughed wetly. “I’d like to meet your mom sometime.”
“Perhaps you shall.”
She left me alone after that, and, feeling better, I headed slowly downstairs.
Kishan was pacing in the kitchen. He stopped when I entered and helped me hobble in. I wrapped the dishes of uneaten food that Nilima had brought me, placing them in the refrigerator.
“Your ankle looks better,” he said after a brief inspection.
“Mr. Kadam had me ice it and elevate it all morning.”
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. I’ll be fine. It’s not the reunion I’d hoped for, but it’s better than finding him dead.”
“I’ll help you. We can work with him together.”
It must have killed him to say that. I knew he would, though. He wanted me to be happy, and if helping me reunite with Ren would make me happy, he’d do it.
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
I took a step closer and almost fell. He caught me and drew me hesitantly into his arms. He expected me to push him away like I had a habit of doing lately, but I put my arms around him instead and hugged him.
He stroked my back, sighed, and kissed my forehead. Right then, Ren walked into the kitchen. I stiffened as he looked at us, expecting him to react to Kishan touching me, but he dismissed us completely, grabbed a bottle of water, and left without saying a word.
Kishan lifted my chin with his finger. “He’ll come around, Kells.”
“Right.”
“Do you want to watch a movie?”
