Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham

everyone.”
    â€œWho is he?” Keith repeated.
    She hesitated. “I hit him.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI hit him on the road. Keith, he’s…he’s having some kind of mental block. He isn’t hurt, unless I did do him some serious brain damage. I—”
    â€œWait, back up. You hit him. You socked him in the jaw?”
    â€œNo!” Melody said. “I was driving and I think I hit some black ice. I hit him.”
    â€œAnd you didn’t get him to a hospital?”
    â€œNo, he didn’t want to go. Hey, I didn’t hit him hard. And I just didn’t know what to do. I panicked.”
    â€œYou hit someone, you get them to a hospital,” Keith chastised.
    â€œBut—he was, he wasn’t behaving normally.”
    â€œGreat. All the more reason not to bring the guy to a hospital.”
    â€œBut…he was in costume. Revolutionary-period clothing. He thinks he was a soldier. He—he says the last thing he remembers is that he was being executed, hanged, in New York City. He had a sister or half sister or stepsister or someone who was a witch and said some kind of curse—and he wound up on the road. Then I hit him.”
    Keith just stared at her for several seconds. He blinked. “Oh, great. You are making no sense. He thinks he fell to earth from the past, and still—you didn’t take him to the hospital!”
    â€œHe didn’t appear to be hurt.”
    â€œYou obviously gave the fellow a concussion.”
    â€œI don’t think so.”
    â€œHe—he could be crazy.”
    â€œWell, that’s obvious!”
    â€œRight. So this is getting better and better.”
    â€œHe needs our help. Somehow, he has to realize who he really is.”
    â€œSince when was your degree is psychology?”
    â€œI brought him home. I—I think his real memory will come back.”
    Her brother arched a brow skeptically.
    â€œLook, Keith, he must have a job as a costume interpreter or something.”
    â€œIn costume, huh. You think?” he asked sarcastically.
    She glared at him. “He believes his own role right now. Quit judging me.”
    â€œI’m not judging you.”
    â€œHe needs our help.”
    â€œOur help?”
    â€œMy help. I always helped you!”
    Keith stared at her amazed, then started to laugh. “Okay, I’ve brought home a trillion puppies and kittens. But not a crazy.”
    She stiffened. “What about the pole-dancing stripper?”
    â€œHey, she knew where she worked.”
    â€œKeith, look, he’s nice, he’s pleasant…I’m hoping that some normal time will help bring back his memory.”
    â€œAnd you think anyone is going to have ‘normal time’ at our house?” Keith asked dryly.
    â€œThat’s not fair,” she accused him.
    â€œSo. You hit him, he’s in costume, thinks he’s asoldier, and you bring him home to feed him and warm him up. This isn’t the same as what I did.”
    She glared at her brother. “You are not at all amusing.”
    â€œNo, but you are in some weird water here, sis.”
    â€œKeith, stop it. I’ve kind of got a problem going here.”
    â€œMaybe you do,” he said. His eyes were bright with amusement as he moved closer to her. “What do you think he’s saying to the bartender? She’s pretty cute, too.”
    â€œOh, God, I don’t know!” Melody stood up. She sat down. “Keith, go check on him. I don’t want to look like a jealous idiot. Go on, get him back over here.”
    Keith shrugged, grinned, and then did as she asked. He walked to the bar and set a hand on Jake’s shoulder and said something to him. The pretty bartender laughed at whatever was exchanged, and added the last cup to a tray that their waitress came to take. She led the way back to the table and, much to Melody’s relief, Jake and her brother followed.
    Melody picked up