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    Forgetting the Past
    Forgetting the Past
    Forgetting the Past
    Ebook257 pages2 hours

    Forgetting the Past

    By Brenda Kennedy

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    About this ebook

    When Ava Emerson wakes up from a coma, she has no memory of the past 25 years. The only things she knows are the confusing stories told to her by her split family and her two best friends, Chase and Skylar. Learning that her husband, Connor, died in the car accident that caused her amnesia, Ava is sad and heartbroken.

    When her nightmares become terrifying memories, Ava becomes determined to move on and start a new life for herself, away from the town that holds the secrets to her past.

    With the encouragement of Chase, Ava and Skylar open a bed and breakfast together in the heart of Savannah, Georgia.

    When a tall, dark, and handsome Xander Jamison walks into her life, will Ava feel safe enough to let him into her broken and empty life? Will Ava be able to move on and live her life free of a haunting past? Is Xander the man that Ava thinks he is? Or does he hold his own secrets?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrenda Kennedy
    Release dateAug 9, 2016
    ISBN9781310442896
    Forgetting the Past
    Author

    Brenda Kennedy

    Brenda Kennedy, an award winning and Amazon bestselling author, is a true believer of romance. Her stories are based on the relationships that define our lives - compassionate, emotionally gripping, and uplifting novels with true to life characters, that stay with her readers long after the last page is turned. Her varied, not always pleasant background has given her the personal experience to take her readers on an emotional, sometimes heart wrenching, journey through her stories. Brenda has been a struggling single mom, a survivor of domestic abuse, waitress, corrections officer, hostage negotiator and a corrections nurse. She is also a wife, mom, and grandmother. Even though her life was not always rainbows and butterflies, she is a survivor and believes her struggles have made her the person she is today. Brenda is the author of the award winning book, Forever Country (The Rose Farm Trilogy Book 1). She has been dubbed "The Queen of Cliffhangers" by her adoring readers because books one and two always have a cliffhanger ending. In Brenda's own words, "I write series that end in cliffhangers, because I love them. I always give away the first book in each series so you have nothing to lose by reading it." She was born and raised in Zanesville, Ohio and moved to SW Florida in 2006 with her husband Rex. They have a combined family, and she often jokes about not remembering what child belongs to who.

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    Book preview

    Forgetting the Past - Brenda Kennedy

    Forgetting the Past

    By Brenda Kennedy

    Dedicated to

    Christina Badder

    I will cherish our friendship, forever.

    SMASHWORDS EDITION

    Copyright 2016 by

    Brenda Kennedy

    The Forgotten Trilogy

    Book One

    Forgetting the Past

    Books One and Two end in Cliffhangers

    Prologue

    Ava

    Ava, do you take Connor to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?

    With a shaky voice I say, I do. Connor stands tall and confidently in front of our many friends and family. He smiles and winks at me. I smile back as I slide the wide platinum, diamond infinity wedding band onto his finger.

    Connor, do you take Ava to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?

    I watch as he slides the diamond infinity platinum wedding band onto my ring finger. I do, he says clearly and without reservation. I blink through thick lashes and watch as the flawless diamonds reflect the light from the unity candle. It’s stunning.

    From the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. I look up at my now husband who takes a small step towards me. You may now kiss your bride. Connor smiles and licks his lips before he bends down to kiss me. I stand on tiptoes to return his soft kiss.

    After the kiss I look out into the crowd at our friends and family. We had over one hundred guests on our wedding list and every single person came to witness Connor and me exchange our wedding vows. I am sure that most of them came because of Connor’s success and prestige.

    I would like to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Connor Brantley Emerson. 

    Our friends, family, and colleagues clap and shout with cheers.

    During the reception, we listen to the speech from his best man, Chase, and my best friend, Skylar. Chase is an attorney at the same law firm Connor works at, and we have been great friends ever since. Skylar is my best friend from high school. We are both R.N.’s at a local hospital. I’m blessed that the four of us all get along. Chase and Skylar are both single and vow to stay that way, forever. I would like nothing more than for the two of them to date each other.

    Could I have one last dance with my stunning wife?

    I take Connor’s hand and stand from the white linen table. He escorts me to the dance floor where he leads me to the song Mad by Ne-Yo. Connor is graceful, handsome, and powerful. My father introduced us and he was thrilled when we announced our engagement two years ago. As we dance, I stare out onto the dance floor at the many couples dancing with their spouse or significant other. No children are in attendance at our wedding. Connor and I argued about this. Some of our friends and family have children, and I wanted our wedding to be open to families, not just a guest plus one. He didn’t want children to be present at such an elegant gala. I thought it was odd that he would call our wedding a gala. He said that kids would be disruptive and his father agreed, so we didn’t invite children. We didn’t even have a flower girl or a ring bearer in the wedding party.

    You look stunning this evening.

    Thank you. 

    With one arm around my waist, he holds my hand in his and says, I was thinking that after this song, I could carry my bride to our room and help her out of her wedding dress. 

    I think your bride would like that. 

    Good, I was hoping she would. 

    After the dance I walk in the direction of Chase and Skylar, who are still sitting at the table. I just want to say my goodbyes while they’re sitting there together. The music is getting louder and the reception is kicking off in full gear. Several people stand and rush to the dance floor when a fast-paced song comes on. Someone grabs my arm and it’s painful. Spinning around, I’m surprised to see Connor standing there.

    Where are you going? 

    He’s never touched me like this before. I jerk my arm away and say, Ouch! You’re hurting me.

    I’m sorry. He tries to smile, but there’s something in his eyes that I’ve never seen before. Where are you going? he asks in a much softer tone.

    I’m going to say goodbye to Skylar and Chase. I turn to leave and he grabs me again.

    He leans down and whispers into my ear. I don’t want you to talk to him again. Let’s go. 

    Wait? What? Chase is his best man; he’s our friend and Connor’s business associate. He can’t be serious. I smile and start to walk away reaching for his hand to come with me. Come on, Connor. Let’s say our goodbyes first, and then we’ll leave. We can’t be rude. 

    Ava? he says sternly. Did you hear me? I said, let’s go! 

    Chapter One: Two Years Later

    Claire Richards (Ava’s mother)

    I’m sorry, Mrs. Richards, but there was a horrible accident. Your son-in-law, Connor, is dead, and your daughter, Ava, is currently in a coma. 

    I hold onto my husband’s arm for support. This can’t be happening. Slowly, I sit in a chair in the hospital emergency room. I just spoke to my daughter earlier today. It was her and Connor’s second wedding anniversary, and she was shopping for a dress to wear to dinner. How can this be? Tears stream down my face, blurring my vision. I can’t lose Ava. She is my only daughter, my only child. Is she going to die?

    I’m sorry, but it’s too early to tell. We’re doing everything we can for her. 

    What kind of accident was it? my husband, Marshall, asks. I assumed it was a car accident. I never would have asked.

    The report we got when the call came in said it was a one-car accident over on Oak Marsh Road just before eight p.m. A passerby spotted the overturned vehicle and called 911.

    The doctor speaks clearly and calmly, but his eyes reveal that he is tired and weary.

    Marshall remains standing and says, That’s a straightaway. I don’t recall any sharp turns or dangerous intersections on that road. 

    That’s right. I believe the officers are still out there investigating the cause of the accident.

    When can we see our daughter? I need to be with her, I say.

    You can see her now. She’s in I.C.U. in a coma. The doctor stops talking before he adds, You’ll need to be prepared for her injuries. She has a broken left wrist, some brain and facial swelling, and some lacerations to her face, and to her body. You may not recognize her. She’s in pretty bad shape. He looks from Marshall and then back to me. We won’t know how bad it is for a few days. The swelling needs to come down and she still needs to wake from her coma. The next few days will be critical. She’s also on a ventilator to help her body rest."

    I can’t speak and I can’t see through the tears. I stand on shaky legs holding onto Marshall for support. I need to see her. 

    Of course, follow me.

    Marshall holds onto me and guides me down the cold sterile halls of the I.C.U. The walls are white, uninviting, and unwelcoming. The smell of antiseptic fills the air and the constant beeping from life-saving medical machines frightens me. As I walk with the support of Marshall, I know I’m supposed to hope for the best but expect the worst, but I can’t live by that rule. I can’t expect anything but the best for my daughter. I can’t give up hope, although if I did, I may be better prepared for her death. What kind of mother would I be if I gave up hope? Marshall says nothing as we follow the doctor in the blue hospital scrubs and a white lab coat down the long cold sterile hallway. Connor is gone. I can’t do anything about that, but there’s still hope for my daughter, and I will never let go of that hope, no matter how small it is. I didn’t see Connor’s parents. Is Connor here? Is he in the morgue? Are his parents at the morgue identifying his body? God, I feel sick.

    The doctor stops outside of the last room on the right. He doesn’t say anything. I know he’s giving us time to collect our thoughts before we go in, to better prepare ourselves for the condition Ava is in. I don’t want to go in there. I want this all to be a dream. If I see Ava in this condition, it’ll make it all real. There’ll be no turning back, no going back to before this dreadful night.

    Claire, you go on in. I want to speak to the doctor alone. 

    I look at Marshall and then the doctor. I don’t want to go in there by myself. I don’t want to see Ava for the first time alone. This is the way Marshall is. It’s his way and there’s no other way. I look at the doctor with pleading eyes. Maybe he’ll say something for me. Maybe he’ll see the fear in my eyes. We can talk later…, the doctor begins to say. Thank you.

    No, we need to talk now, Marshall interrupts. Claire, you can wait for me here, or I’ll meet you inside. I need to speak with Doctor Adams in private.

    I’ll meet you inside. I turn and walk into the cold, sterile I.C.U. room that houses my sweet daughter. Staring at the floor, I walk in the direction of the pulsating sound. Slowly, I raise my eyes. The metal bed has wheels and the side bed rails are up. I don’t want to look any further. Closing my eyes, I take the last steps I need to be by my daughter’s side. When I bump slightly into the bed, I force my eyes open. I don’t look to the head of the bed, my eyes are focused on the foot of the bed. White sheets and a white blanket cover Ava. Moving my eyes slowly upward, I see Ava’s hand. Her wedding ring is in place and there is an I.V. in her right hand and a temporary cast on her left arm. Dried blood is embedded under her manicured fingernails and around her cuticles. Her hand is lifeless and pale. I force my eyes to move upward and take a deep breath. There’s no preparing myself for what I see next. Ava’s face is black and blue with bruises. Her face is swollen beyond recognition. She has lacerations and scrapes on her face, neck, and arms. I sit on the green cloth-covered chair beside the bed. This is my daughter. She’s alive, but she doesn’t show any signs of life. Will she die like Connor? Will this be her last day to live? If she lives, will she be brain dead and in a coma, or will she come out of it? I can’t lose my daughter. I can’t say goodbye to her. I know it’s selfish, but I want her anyway I can have her. She’s my reason for living. She’s my reason for getting out of bed everyday. I love her. I love her more than life.

    Over the next week, Marshall and I attend Connor’s funeral while Ava’s best friend, Skylar, stays at the hospital with Ava. I want to stay at the hospital with our daughter, but Marshall insists we attend the funeral. Maybe he’s right. Connor was our son-in-law.

    I don’t remember the funeral and I don’t remember the past week, either. I do remember the horrifying cries coming from Connor’s mother and his closest friends and family. They resembled my own silent agonizing cries. If my fears and pain had a sound, I’m sure they would sound like that. I wait impatiently for Marshall to say his goodbyes. I want to get back to the hospital with Ava and Skylar. I know there’s no change in Ava’s medical condition, or Skylar would have called me. I’m as polite as it is possible for me to be as I wait for Marshall.

    How is Ava? Brett asks. 

    Brett is Connor’s dad. He hasn’t been to the hospital yet to see Ava. He and his wife, Nichole, have been dealing with their own problems.

    Marshall lowers his voice to a near whisper, There’s no change in her condition. 

    Please, let us know if there’s anything we can do. We plan to visit soon. 

    I give a sad smile as I stand beside my husband. He’s dressed in a black suit, black tie, and crisp white shirt. I’m wearing a black dress, black stockings, with black heels. No other color seemed to be appropriate for today. Connor’s dead and Ava is still in a coma. I may wear black every day for the rest of my life if she doesn’t come out of it.

    Thank you, but there isn’t anything anyone can do.

    My husband looks down at me and asks, Are you ready, Claire? 

    Yes, I’m ready. I’ve been ready. I’m ready whenever you are, I say instead.

    Skylar Sperry

    Ava, please wake up. We have so much we haven’t done, there’s still so much for us to do together. I sit beside her lifeless body. The machine breathes for her and the I.V. pumps some much-needed fluids into her body. Talk to her, we believe she can hear you, the nurse said. She isn’t brain dead, so maybe she can hear me. If she could hear me, wouldn’t she move or talk back to me? Wouldn’t she give me some sign that she’s still here with me? Please, Ava, you gotta wake up, I plead. I need you.

    When I hear tapping sounds coming from the hallway, I sit quietly. If it’s Claire, I don’t want to give her false hope that Ava and I are actually having a conversation together. Leaning up, I take Ava’s cold hand into mine. I miss you, I whisper.

    How is she? Claire asks at the doorway before she even makes her way into the room. 

    There’s no change. That could be a good thing, but I know Claire was asking did she respond to my voice. I wish. I want her to wake up. Just a twitch of a finger would be something.

    Well, she’ll wake up when she’s ready. Ava always did things on her own time.

    She’s right about that. Ava, at one time, did things only when Ava was ready and not a minute sooner. But since Ava’s been married to Connor, she has done things on Connor’s time.

    I stand from the chair and watch as Claire removes her coat and carefully folds it over the metal chair nearest the door.

    Marshall’s not with you? 

    She looks up with a sad smile. No, he went to the office. He’ll be back in time for dinner. Claire is a petite woman with dark hair like Ava’s. It’s pulled up into a tight bun. She’s the epitome of a mother in mourning, even if the funeral she attended wasn’t for her daughter. Her eyes are red and swollen, and she is thinner than she usually is. Her appearance mirrors my own. I was planning on leaving as soon as they returned from the funeral, but since Marshall isn’t here with her, I’d like to stay. I love Ava’s mother.

    Would you mind if I stayed here with you until he returns? 

    We make eye contact and she says, Of course I don’t mind. You’re Ava’s best friend. She would want you to be here with her. 

    I smile. Ava would expect me to be here with her, even if it was an inconvenience for me. She hates hospitals and she wouldn’t want to be here alone, even for one night. Thank you. I watch as she applies Chapstick to Ava’s lips and she wipes Ava’s face and hands off with a warm cloth. I did the exact same thing just an hour ago. I have no idea if Ava can feel it or tell a difference, but I would like to think that she can. Ava would expect and want to be comfortable and clean, even if she is in a coma.

    While I sit quietly, Claire reads to Ava. It’s not your typical romance book, but a book about how to open and operate a bed and breakfast: Running a Bed and Breakfast for Dummies by Mary White. I listen as she reads the instructions and the directions of things you need to do. I don’t question her taste in books. I know this has been a dream of Ava’s for years. 

    I think back to when I was in high school with Ava, when we were in nursing school together, and then her wedding to Connor. Things changed between us after she got married. Not just between us, but she changed. She was no longer available to do things with me, and Chase said he very seldom saw her. Whenever I did see her, she was in good spirits. I always suspected Connor was the reason why we never hung out, but she always said her schedule was full or she was just too busy. Because he was this high-profile attorney, she didn’t need to work outside of the home, so she quit her nursing job. I no longer got to see her at work. I’ve missed her over the

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