Once Found: The Pocket Watch Chronicles by Ceci Giltenan

a girl he could never have. The second time was with Elizabeth. It turned out he was still pretty stupid then, too. When Elizabeth, suffering profound amnesia, had not only recognized him but said, I think I love him , he had prayed this was his second chance with her. He wasn’t going to blow it. She was alone and frightened, and she needed him. He would be there for her. Dr. Sweeny had only called Gabe in as backup. Things were quiet now, so in the brief time Gabe had left Elizabeth to Jennifer’s care, he’d received clearance to sign out. He would have the next six days off.
    Christie Harper returned after she had spoken to Elizabeth’s father. “Elizabeth, your parents are very concerned about you. Your father would have liked to speak with you, but I told him you weren’t really up to talking. They will be coming up from Baltimore as soon as possible, but I doubt that will be before tomorrow morning.”
    “Is Baltimore far?”
    Christie shook her head. “No. About two hundred miles.”
    “Two hundred miles ? How long will the journey take?”
    “Under normal conditions, without traffic, a little over three hours. But in bad weather, it could take much longer.”
    Elizabeth looked a little amazed and very happy, but said nothing.
    “Dr. Levi has written orders and there is a bed available in the neuro step-down unit, so we will transfer you there shortly. I think Jennifer was trying to get a dinner tray sent up for you in the meantime.”
    The tray arrived a few minutes later. Elizabeth’s brows drew together. She cautiously explored the contents. The first item to draw her attention was a white bowl of some sort with a lid. “What is this bowl made out of?”
    “It’s called Styrofoam. It keeps things warm or cool. Take the plastic lid off: there is soup in it. Sadly, it may be the best thing on the tray. Hospital food isn’t usually very good.”
    She tasted a spoonful of the chicken noodle soup and smiled. “I like this, but what are these slippery worm-like things?”
    “Those are noodles.”
    “I like them.”
    “Wait until you try my mom’s homemade pasta. That’s another word for noodles. You used to love it.”
    “If it’s even better than these, I’m sure I still will.”
    When she finished the soup, she removed the cover from the plate. “What is this?”
    “Chicken, rice pilaf, and green beans.”
    She scooped up a little rice with her spoon, tasting it. “Since those things are green, this must be rice pilaf? It isn’t bad.”
    “You don’t remember rice?”
    “No, what is it?”
    “Rice is a grain.”
    She nodded. “Like barley?”
    “Yes, like barley.”
    She tried to scoop up a green bean with her spoon.
    “It will be easier to pick them up with your fork.”
    She picked up a utensil. “Is this a fork?”
    “Yes, it is.”
    She attacked the green beans with the fork. “These are a little odd.”
    “They are better when they are fresh.”
    The holes in her semantic memory were bizarre. She clearly knew what a spoon was, but not a fork. She knew what soup was, but not noodles. She didn’t know what rice was, but she understood that it was a grain and compared it to barley.
    She had eaten a few bites of everything when she looked up at him. “I feel…I feel…I don’t feel right.”
    Gabe became immediately concerned. “What’s the matter? Are you having any trouble breathing?”
    “No, it isn’t that. I feel…sleepy and a little light-headed.”
    He smiled. “The pain medicine you took is starting to work. It has that effect on most people. How is your pain?”
    “It’s better and I’m thankful for that, but I don’t think I like feeling like this.”
    “We’ll talk to your doctor about it.”
    His puzzlement only grew when they were finally ready to transfer her from the ICU. She had no memory of elevators and as they rode in one, she had a death grip on his hand that might have been appropriate on a roller coaster. In fairness, Elizabeth didn’t like