Remember

Megan watched gravely as the doctor crossed the busy waiting room toward her. Is he alive? Did he die on the way here? Why did that truck run the red light into his car? Why couldn’t he have been running late and not have been on that road at that time? These questions nagged at her for the past several hours waiting for him. What’s going to happened to him, Lord? Megan prayed with all her might that Peter wouldn’t die. That he would live and they could go on with their lives maybe even marry someday. But now all those hopes and dreams were clouded with doubt and the qualm of Peter’s accident. Doctor Arnold stood in front of her now waiting for her to calm herself. He made a few notes on his chart and prayed for his dear friends Peter and Megan. She was close to her breaking point and was trying not to burst into tears. She would have been shocked to know Arnold was in the same boat as her. She hadn’t seen Peter yet, he had. She didn’t know how worse off he was, he did and she would soon.
“Is he alive?” She managed in a small whisper. Maybe. He thought. They didn’t know if the damage to the brain was going to be too much for Peter to handle yet. He never let himself get connected with the people he took care of, just in case the worst happened, but Peter was like a brother to him. He couldn’t let some stranger watch over him when he could. Now he was regretting that choice.
“He has a concussion… We don’t know how bad it damaged his brain yet.” Arnold looked at his small shaking friend. She twirled a strand of her wavy red hair with her figure as her sparkling blue eyes grew moist with tears.
“He’ll be okay, Megs.” The doctor said gently, holding in tears himself. She just lost her family, Lord. Don’t take Peter away too. Please. Tears rolled down her cheeks and into her lap and her slight frame shook as she cried.
“Come ‘er, Megs.” He said opening his arms to hold her, she had always been like a younger sister to him and an older brother to her. She walked into his arms and cried into his shoulder.
“Arnold,” Megan began but didn’t know what to say. She wanted to thank him for being the doctor that would watch over Peter. She wanted to say sorry for all of those mean things she said the other day about him not helping enough and he was the reason her parents died. He wasn’t, they both knew that but she still blamed. She couldn’t find the words and hoped her tears would tell him all she wanted to.
“The Lord will watch over him, Megs.” He whispered to her. He was aware of the people watching them; everyone in their small town knew who they were and what had happened. He wanted to keep calm and not break down in front of everyone; he had a brain to look over after all. But he shook just as hard as she did and started crying into her hair.
“Sorry, Arn.” She whispered after a few minutes. He knew she meant for the other day and knew she was still grieving her lose and then this put on top of her had to be stressful.
“I already forgave you, Megs. Now let’s go check on your boyfriend.” That brought her to a stop. He felt her freeze in his arms and looked down at her tear stroke face. And hid a smile. She didn’t think he would let her see Peter. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t let you see him, Meg?
“I can see him?” Her voice was waved with worry and tears as the doctor lead her to Peter’s room and told the nurse that Megan needed a minute and that he would be right outside if something went a miss. The nurse walked away fuming and mumbling to herself about how the doctor had gone soft.
Megan sat next to Peter’s bed and held his hand tight. She felt tears sting her eyes as she looked him over. His head was wrapped along with his hands and arms. There were scratches on his face and his sea green eyes looked clouded with pain killers. Oh Peter. Oh my sweet Peter what has happened to you?
“Hey, Peter.” She whispered. Peter squinted at her and racked his brain the name to the face. He knew this face, he was sure of it. But what was her name?
“You’re going to be fine, love. I promise. Just hang in there, okay?” Megan whispered a few more things to him before his trembling lips formed three words that brought her to a stop,
“Who are you?”
 She felt her heart stop a beat then start again with a rapid pace. He doesn’t know her? How hard did he get knocked in the head? Peter, come back to me. Please, Peter. Please.
“It’s me, Peter, its Megan. It’s your Megs.” She whispered and held his hand tighter. He only repeated the question with more confusion.
“You really don’t know me.” He only stared at her. What is her name? Who is she? Do I know her? Should I know her? These questions nipped at him as he tried to keep his eyes open and his brain alert.
“Should I?” He whispered and watched tears race down the woman’s face.
“Peter.” He felt her hand shake in his or was his shaking? He couldn’t tell. Neither could she. She just knew that she had to get out of there and find the doctor. She had to find Arnold. Megan dropped his hand and back away toward the door with her hand over her mouth. Arnold was waiting right across the door way when she came out.
“I should have warned you he wouldn’t look well.” Arnold sighed when he saw how shaken she was.
“Arnold, he doesn’t know me. He doesn’t know my name. He doesn’t remember… He’s forgotten me.” Megan cried. She couldn’t remember feeling so emotionally drained before. This news didn’t completely shock Arnold but he worried for her wellbeing. A thought came to him as he watched Megan cry and shake in front of him.
“Go home, Meg. I will call you as soon as we find out what’s going on. Just go home and get some rest.” He ordered. She shook her head and tried to stop crying so she could form words.
“I’m telling you as a doctor and as a friend that he won’t get any better with you staying here.” It sounded harsh, he knew that. But she needed tough love right now.
“I don’t want to go home, Arnold.” She whispered sounding like a frightened little girl. Arnold realized then that she was afraid to be by herself. Afraid to be alone in the empty now house full of ghosts.
“Go to my parents’ house, Megs and get some rest. I’ll call them to come pick you up. And do not argue with me, alright?” She’ll thank him for his tough love towards her, he was sure of it. Arnold pulled out his small cellphone and pressed the number one speed dial on the keyboard. He held Megan while he spoke to his parents as soon as they answered they heard Megan and asked why she was sobbing. His parents said they would love to have Megan stay with them for a while and would be there in five minutes. He told Megan to wait in the staff area for them and he would call her every hour with news and he would try to see her again before she left.
“Thank you, Arnold.” Megan said softly. It took her awhile to stop crying and now she had a hard case of the hiccups.
“Just sit in this chair and wait till they come in and get you. And no wondering around, alright? And if anyone asks, ‘what you are doing in here’ tell them your name and that you are my sister and they will leave you alone.” Arnold started to walk away because he had a burn victim to look at but he took one last look at her to make sure she would be alright. She smiled. They had almost always called each other brother and sister. They had known each other since they were three. Twenty-two years later and here they were a doctor and a teacher with many jobs at the high school down the road from her house. It was a small dying school with around twenty teens and three teachers and the principal. She was the math, counselor, bible and English teacher and the nurse. It was hard but she loved it, Peter never could see how she kept up with it all. He was an artist with words and colors. But that’s not what he did. He was a person who went around asking for odd jobs during the day and at night he was a watchmen for different stores every night.
“Thanks, hiccup, again, hiccup, Arnold.” He laughed and left the room. No one should bother me. Everyone knows us. She had grown up in this small town with everyone knowing her family it made it easier when her parents died. Not by much but people seemed to leave her alone when she wanted and stay close when she wanted. She never wanted to be alone after that first day in the now empty house. She stayed with the kids all day at school but after school there was no one. Peter worked two jobs and Arnold was a doctor so he was busy. She didn’t dare bother her other friends who had so much going on in their lives. It was so strange and quiet and cold in that house. She had never been so alone in her life. She always lived with her parents, she knew how to live on her own but her parents needed her to stay, when she came home from work her mother would have tea and cookies waiting for her and whichever student needed extra study help. It was a sad reality shock when she came home by herself one day and her mother’s handwork wasn’t in the kitchen. It was a little student that came home with her one day that helped the most. They were talking about how lonely the house has been since her parents died.
“You know, God is always with you so you are never really alone.” She had said.
“Your right. Thank you for reminding me of that, Talia.” Megan had replied.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Megan lay in the guest bedroom at the Jackson’s house where she had been for hours trying to sleep. It was either very late at night or very early in the morning when Megan got out of bed. She padded into the kitchen and poured herself some milk and thought about heading to her house before she had to go to school. School! She never went back yesterday. She was going to be in trouble. Megan looked at the clock and yawned. It was four in the morning. I miss you Peter. Megan thought and a sad cloak fell over her as she slumped into the chair by the table.
“Maybe I can just tell the class to read a few chapters today. Hopefully I can get away with that.” She muttered. She only had four hours to go home get around and come up with some sort of study plan. Arnold’s mother walked in and looked at Megan with sympathy in her eyes. 
“Did you sleep at all, deary?” She asked pouring herself a glass of milk.
“Not a wink.” Megan replied taking a swig of milk. Her voice sounded empty and not full of life as it had did twenty-four hours ago.
“I have to go home to get ready for school today. I’ll try to take a nap in the teacher’s lounge during lunch.” Megan yawned again and Alicia sat across from her.
“If I could take over your classes I would, Megan.” She said giving Megan’s hand a squeeze. 
“Visit Peter today and give me hourly updates, will you?” Megan almost started to beg. She had to agree. Alicia just had to. There was no way she could say no to her, was there?
“Of course I will, Megs.”
“Thank you. I'm going to grab my purse and head home. Thank you for taking me in, Alicia. I'm not sure I would have been able to stay alone at my place last night.” Alicia smiled and took a dainty sip of her milk from her pink china tea cup. She had greying blond hair and was most likely the thinnest person Megan had known. Alicia was the creative person in her family, always writing and drawing with anything she got her hands on. Alicia had known Megan's parents more than anyone in the small town had so her and Megan had grown closer when they died. Now they would grow closer with Peter on death's door. Peter is on death’s door, isn’t he?
“Will he make it?” Megan whispered. Alicia placed her cup on the table and moved to give Megan a hug. After Megan cried for a full five minutes she went back to her house and got around in time to do a lesson plan for her classes. When she walked in the door of the school, Principal Tom Jackson stalked straight for her.
“I'm sorry I ran out of here yesterday without telling you, sir. It's Peter; he was in a wreck and now has a concussion and doesn't remember me at all. I had to see him, sir. I just had to. Yes, I realize I should have told you and got someone to cover for me but…” Mr. Jackson knew what was going on because his wife told him when he found Megan in his house last night, Megan didn’t see Tom come in because he came in late so she wasn’t sure if he knew yet or no and couldn’t stay mad at her. He pulled her in for a hug to let her know it was going to be okay but she kept talking,
“It all happened so fast, Tom.”  She began to tremble and her voice quavered.
“It will be okay. Now baby girl, tell me, how is he?” Tom asked as they broke apart. He has always been like a second father to her and she had always been like an only daughter to him. It was easy to talk to each other.
“I don't know. Alicia is going to give me an hourly update. I know he doesn't know who I am anymore. He doesn't remember me, Tom. Not one bit.” Megan blinked tears back and held in a yawn. If he knew how broken she was he would send her home at once. But she had to be around people right now. But she was so tired. 
“If at any point of the day you need to go see him or go home to rest, because I know from my wife, Alicia, that you didn’t sleep, you tell Lilly to cover for you, understand?” Lilly was the secretary at school and one of the nicest people in town. She always saw the glass half full instead of half empty. She somewhat got on Megan’s nerves and she didn’t want to be around her all day.
“I will.” Megan promised then let out a long yawn.
“I mean it, Megan.” He said sternly. She knew he was in principal mode now instead of father mood.
“If you fall asleep in class you will be in big trouble.”
“I know.” Megan replied softly.
“As in,” Tom went on making sure he knew he wasn’t kidding. “I may have to find a new math, counselor, bible and English teacher and a new nurse.” Megan shook her head in dismay. He couldn’t be able to find a replacement for all those places but as long as she thought he would it would be good enough.
“I won’t fall asleep, sir. I promise, Tom, I will stay awake and alert and only answer my phone when it’s Alicia or Arnold.” Tom smiled and walked Megan to her already full class. Tom told them about Peter and how they had to keep Megan awake during class and then left.
Molly raised her hand in the second, there were only two rows, row and Megan called on the short blond and prepared herself her anything Molly might throw at her.
“Is Peter going to be alright, Miss Megan?” That was a question Megan didn’t have the answer to and didn’t know if she should tell the class that Peter may die as soon as today.
“All we can do is pray, Molly. Now,” Megan clapped her hands loudly and then rubbed them together and her students knew she was about to start something that would be hard: math.
“Let’s start learning about the wonderful world of math.” The class openly groaned. The school day went on normally from there with Alicia calling every hour with news on Peter. Megan seems to be the only thing he has forgotten, other than that he seems to be normal. Megan went to the hospital after school and sat next to him while he slept the whole day. Arnold says he may be able to go home next week if everything checks out all right. It was almost ten p.m. before Megan decided to leave.
“Please try to remember me in the morning, okay Peter?” Megan whispered then kissed him on the cheek and left.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ONE MONTH LATER~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“He still doesn’t know me, Arnold! It’s been a month and nothing! When will he be my Peter again?” Megan cried into Arnolds shoulder. She had been crying a lot more this month than Arnold had seen her cry before.
“He is starting to recognize your face. It’s a start, Megs.” Arnold held on to her a little tighter. This passed month had been different for him. He was starting to feel something more for Megan. He didn’t- no he couldn’t tell her with all that she had going on. She didn’t feel the same way anyways; he knew that he would always be a big brother to her. He still had to be sure that he was in love with her and didn’t just love her. He didn’t feel jealousy towards Peter like most are but he did find himself wishing he was her Arnold. He almost hated himself for it to. She was just a friend. That’s what he is to her. That is what she should be to him. That’s the way it’s going to be. He just had to deal with it.
“But,” She sniffled. “He doesn’t know my name, Arnold. He still doesn’t know me.” She had her head on his shoulder and it was being to be too much for his heart to take. He wanted to sweep her up in his arms and kiss her but knew he couldn’t. Am I truly in love with you, Megan or is this all in my head? Arnold suddenly felt like the walls were closing in and he had to get outside or he would scream.
“Don’t you think you should head back over to Peter’s parents’ house to go visit him?” Arnold said as he pulled away from her.
“Your right, I need to be around him more. Jog his memory, that’s what you’re saying right?” Megan asked with her arms wrapped around him in a hug. No, what I’m saying is that I need to get out of here or you’ll be kissed in the next few moments. Arnold thought but only said,
“Yes, that is what I’m saying. So you should go now.” Arnold all but pushed Megan out the door and half way down the steps before she spoke,
“Alright, well, I’ll see you at dinner tonight. Remember we are having it with Peter and his family, so don’t be late. I love you, bro.” She pecked him on the check and waited at the steps for him. No you don’t.
“Well?” She asked slightly inpatient.
“Well what?”
“Are you coming? You promised you would walk me there, remember?”
“I can’t… I’m uh… Meeting someone here.” Arnold thought it sounded good; it could be a person from work stopping by to go over notes on a meeting they had yesterday. But Megan took it into a whole new direction. Her eyes grew wide and she smiled ear to ear. She ran back up the sidewalk and took the steps two at a time.
“You have a date!” She squealed and threw her arms around him.
“I’m going over notes with Dan on a meeting we had yesterday, Megan.”
“Oh.” Megan stepped back and a thought came to her. She couldn’t remember a time where Arn had a date. Had he never dated anyone? How could she change that?
“Why haven’t you dated anyone, Arn?” She tilted her head in the most adorable fashion that Arnold almost kissed her right then and there. He held her eyes with a look Megan never seen on him before. What is that look? Longing? Pain? Both? She suddenly felt warm and shaky.
I have to go. She thought quickly.
“I haven’t found the right gal yet, I guess.” His voice was barely over a whisper. They stood in silence for a moment. Megan started to get uncomfortable again and for the next five minutes kept thinking she had to leave. But she couldn’t break his gaze. Part of her felt creped out by it. But the other part wanted to find out what was going on with him.
“I have to go.” The creped out Megan won and she ran as fast as she could down the four blocks to Peter’s house. Not caring what he thought of her or her hasty exit.
“I’m back!” Megan called out as she opened the door. No answer. Megan walked into Peter’s bedroom to find it empty. He must be outside with Frost. Frost was his big lab that he had since he was little. Megan was about to leave the room when a black corner of the desk caught her eye. She moved closer to it. It wasn’t there. She placed a hand over her mouth and held in a sob. The picture wasn’t there anymore. It was of Peter and Megan, on prom night back in high school. Peter’s mom Tina saw Peter walk Megan home that night and stop in front of her house. She got her camera out and took a picture of Peter and Megan about to have their first kiss. It was a night Megan swore she never forget. Peter said he wouldn’t but that wasn’t true.
“Where is it?” Megan whispered to the walls. She had to find it. If Peter had lost it before the crash and didn’t tell anyone then it could be lost forever.
“Peter said it bothered him too much. It’s in my room on the desk if you want to see it, dear.” Tina said from the door.
“He still doesn’t know me.” Megan said as they walked out to the back yard.
“He wants just the two of you to go out tonight. He wants you to tell him more about when you were together.” Tina said as Peter walked up to them. He looked as confused as ever when his eyes landed on Megan.
“What’s my name?” It had become the standard question Megan asked every time they saw each other. Peter couldn’t get her name down so whenever she hung out around him everyone called her dear or sweetheart.
“I don’t know.” He answered and to his surprise the woman didn’t start weeping. She always wept when he didn’t know something. Cried so hard she pass out when he try and guess her name. Last night he said it was Susan, who was his girlfriend before Megan, and she had a panic attack and her friend the doctor had to look her over.
“Ready for dinner?” She asked and Peter nodded. Don’t cry, Megan. Everything will be okay. The Lord has His hand on this, it will be fine. Dinner went smoothly with no tears. They were walking to the park; Peter said he wanted to go for a moon lite stroll. Which Megan took as a good sign because that’s what they always loved doing together in the past.
“I left my jacket inside.” Megan said suddenly. Peter felt the chilly air rush past them and make the leaves by the door a few feet away dance. He wanted to get this night moving but he knew Megan would get cold fast.
“I’ll go get it.” He volunteered before Megan could say another word he was walking back the way they came and into the door.
“What are you doing out by yourself at this time of night?” Arnold’s voice asked her. She turned to see he was very close. So close that if she stood on her tiptoes she could kiss him.
“Peter went back into Purr’s Italian to get my jacket.” Megan explained. Peter watched her a moment. Trying to figure out what he should do.
“Megan, could you do something for me?” He asked slowly. The gears in his mind began to turn as a plan formed.
“Anything.” She answered smiling a sister like smile.
“Close your eyes.”  He may lose their friendship, or damage at least, but he had to know.
“Close my eyes?” She asked and tilted her head in confusion. She was wasting time.
“Yes.” His voice was so argent she did. What he did next surprised them both. Arnold closed the space between them and lightly pressed his lips to hers. She didn’t pull away nor did she push forward. She was frozen in shock.
“Keep your eyes closed.” His lips moved against hers as he spoke. She did what he said as he pushed a piece of paper into her hand and walked away. Megan opened her eyes when she heard another set of footprints headed her way.
“I hope you didn’t get to cold.” Peter said handing Megan her jacket.
“What’s that in your hand?” Peter asked as they walked into the park. Megan looked down at it to see he had given her a letter, with her name on it in his handwriting. She told Peter everything that happened, even the kiss.
“If we could wait up a second I could read what he gave me.” They stopped and with trembling hands opened the letter and began to read aloud,
“Dear Megan, You were right last month when you said I wasn’t helping anyone here. Maybe it’s better if I’m not here. I’m leaving tonight and your then only one who knows about it. I’ve kept everything low key for about a week now, I’ve quiet my job, rented out my house, and I’ve covered my tracks so no one could drag me back here. The truth Megan….” That’s when her vision became blurry with tears.
“He left, Peter.” She whispered then read on to herself. Peter probably didn’t know what was going on anyways.
The truth, Megan to why I haven’t dated anyone was at first my job it had always been my job till Peter got hurt. I started feeling something for you, and I’m sorry I kissed you but I had to find out if those feelings were true. And if you’re reading this then they are and I’ve left. I’m not sure when I’ll be back or if I will ever come back. Tonight might have been the last night we will ever see each other. I also left to find if you could do me one last favor, let my mother read this. It might make it easier. If I hurt anyone, I didn’t mean to. Especially if that person is you, Megan. I left so my feeling couldn’t go and hurt our friendship any more than they already had, because sweet Megan our friendship means so much to me. And if I leave maybe I’ll find a different fish, you know the old there are plenty of fish in the sea saying.. If I do come back you will see me on your door step.

                                                                                             Love,
                                                                                                       Arn.

 When she finished reading Peter held her close. For a second time that night Megan was frozen in shock. Arnold kissed her and left for who knows how long and Peter is hugging her.
“I wanted this night to go so differently, Megan. I wanted to have a nice dinner a walk in the park then I would do this,” He got down on one knee and held her hands in his.
“I love you Megan. I don’t know how it was possible to forget you but I’m sorry I ever did. I want to remember you always, Megs. I want to start a family with you and live with you and protect you from everything that scares you and could harm you.” Megan smiled. He knew her. Really knew her. He remembered and loved her again.
“I know you may be confused over what Arnold did tonight, but Megan, my sweet Megs, will you marry me?”
“Yes.” She answered as soon as the word me was out of his mouth.
“Yes, yes a thousand times yes.” Peter then picked her up in his arms and spun her around. Megan started to cry again and Peter held her tight not wanting to ever let go of the woman he loved again.
“I… I can’t believe it.” She whispered.
“Believe what?” He whispered back. He was about to kiss her for the first time in a month when she replied,
“That you remember me.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Epilogue ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Megan read Arnold’s letter for the who knows what time and started to cry again. She held her little baby Ro tighter. Eleven years had passed since Peter popped the question and Arnold left. No one had heard from him since.
“Momma, someone is at the door for you.” Alice said coming into the nursery.
“I’ll be right there, Hunny. Could you lay the twins and boys down for their nap?”
“Then can I go paint outside?” Megan nodded and went to the door.
“How are you, Megs?” A voice asked when she went down the stairs. She almost dropped the baby when she saw she wasn’t imagining it. He was really here.
“Arnold!” Megan screeched like a little girl and went to give him a hug.
“Hey, careful now, we don’t want to smash this little cutie.” He gave Megan a brotherly peck on the cheek and looked at the little girl in her arms; it was hard to tell her age because she was so small. She might be a month old but the little on wrapped in her mother’s arms so tiny that it frightened him.
“Peter, get down here Arnold’s back!” Megan called up the stairs and soon the entire family was standing in front of Arnold. Six kids were in front of Arnold and watched him carefully.
“Whoa, are you guys babysitting or something?” Arnold asked as they went to the living room.
“No, they’re all ours.” Megan said smiling at each of her kids. They had adopted Alice as soon as they found her living on the streets; it was easy to tell she was adopted because of her hair color but she really didn’t care, she had a family and Jesus now, all was well. Mark and Timmy was also adopted when Peter’s sister and her husband died when their airplane crashed, they just couldn’t let little Mark and Timmy live with some random strangers, and they hadn’t made up a will so it all when fine. The twins and Ro were the only ones that were really theirs but they treat everyone the same so the kids didn’t care, neither did Peter’s mother.
“This is Alice, she’s ten.” Megan pointed to the tallest girl. She had blond hair and grey eyes and was very tall for her age, she didn’t look a thing like her parents and Arnold wondered how she got blond hair from a redheaded momma and a dark headed daddy.
“This bundle of dirt over here is Mark, he’s 8 and the one to his right is Timmy, he’s 7.” Mark had dark hair and his momma’s eyes and was taller than Alice. Timmy, who was close to Mark’s height, only a few inches shorter than Alice, had red hair and brown eyes. They both looked so much like their parents.
“And these are the twins, Jenny and Johnny.” They had their dad’s dark hair and their Megan’s mom’s green eyes.
“And this little girl is Aurora, we call her Ro for short because Johnny has trouble saying Aurora, she’s a month old.” She shouldn’t be so small. Arnold thought suddenly in doctor mode.
“Born early?” Arnold asked quietly and Megan nodded.
“She looks very healthy, all your kids do.” Megan suddenly remember he left eleven years ago and wasn’t here for Ro when she needed him. Or her for her when she almost died two times in a row. She wanted to throw something at him, punch him in the face and get him out the door.
“How’s the head, Peter?” Arnold asked but noticed how Megan tensed up. He had a feeling he was about to get yelled at. Peter was still trying to process Arnold coming back into their lives so quickly. A little side effect of the concussion was that he was slower than before.
“A bit slow at times, like now. But other than that good. I remember everything now.” Meaning Peter remembers me leaving and how I kissed his girlfriend who is now his wife and the mother of six kids.
“Momma…” Timmy asked quietly standing behind Alice. All the kids were standing behind the oldest one like she could protect them
“Who is he?” Mark finished for him and Megan turned slightly red.
“This is Doctor Arnold.” She said slightly cold. Not even a bit of friendship left that I tried so hard to save.
“The Doctor Arnold?” The children asked and looked at Arnold then their parents.
“Yes, it’s the Doctor Arnold.” Peter answered and glanced at his wife.
“Uncle Arnold!” The children shouted and ran to give him hugs. He took each hug as a good sign that they still might have a friendship.
“I’ve told them stories about you, bro. I would have warned you about it but you didn’t call.” That really stung. The kids thought nothing of the comment and took turns giving him kisses and hugs. Peter whispered something to Megan and she nodded.
“Alright kiddoes’ let’s go upstairs, it’s time for your naps.” The kids didn’t groan or complain they just slightly sulked and went up stair.
“I’ll be up in minute sweeties.” Megan called up then turned to Arnold with tears in her eyes.
“After Peter is done I want a word with you to.” She numbly walked up the steps to put the children down for their naps.
“You really hurt her, you know.” Peter started.
“I know.”
“They replaced you at the hospital. They gave all of your old patients to the Doctor D. One of those patients is, Megan.” Arnold looked at his shoes. He feared someone else looking over Megan and might miss something.
“He took care of her when Megan gave birth to Ro?” Arnold asked slowly. Now Peter was the one looking at his shoes. He tried to calm himself. He was getting angry to fast and a headache was forming. Arnold was getting frustrated at himself for thinking everything would be fine when he left. What a fool he had been to think such things.
“Not very well. Ro was early like you thought and it was very difficult for Megan. I almost lost them both. Then Doctor D. gave Megan some ibuprofen and since Megan is allergic to it she almost died from that.” They both felt tears sting their eyes. Megan dead. It wasn’t a happy thought for the people who were in love with her.
“You never wrote down, in her charts, that she was allergic to it.” Peter said gruffly.
“I never dreamed anyone else would watch over her and when I left I didn’t think of it.” Arnold’s voice held all the regret he felt and Peter did hate him anymore. Arnold truly felt sorry for what he did, if he didn’t he wouldn’t be back here. Peter saw that now, hopefully Megan will too.
“Didn’t think of her.” Peter corrected and watched tears fall from Arnold’s eyes. Peter had gone over the line. But when he thought about, Arnold had crossed the line when he left years ago.
“I tried to save what friendship we had left, Peter. I didn’t want my feelings to overflow and hurt her. I left for her. So I wouldn’t hurt her. I didn’t want to harm anyone.”
“So you kissed her and ran away from home without tellin’ anyone where you were planning to go?” Peter shook his head in disgust. So maybe he wasn’t over being mad at him.
“I knew that if I kissed her I would found out if my feelings were true.” Arnold reasoned wiping his eyes dry.
“And if they weren’t?” Arnold smiled a little.
“I would have told her I was drunk.” Peter laughed along with Arnold because they both knew Arnold had never been drunk or would ever been drunk. Peter stood to get Megan and Arnold shook his head.
“I honestly thought she would have forgotten Me.” Peter was half way up the stairs when he turned around and said,
“Every single day when I asked what she was thinking about she would say your name, Arnold. Every day for the past eleven years she thought of you, Arnold. She read your only letter every day and cried every day for the past eleven years.” A few minutes later Megan stood in front of Arnold.
“Why didn’t you call?” She asked after she swallowed her tears.
“I didn’t want to be tempted to come back till I thought I was ready.” He answered and stood.
“So much has happened since you left.” She whispered.
“I heard what happened when RO was born and I’m so sorry I didn’t write it down.” He wanted to hug her. In the past he would have but now he was unsure.
“My almost death isn’t what I was talking about.” Megan hissed.
“I’m talking about your father.” Her voice caught and she pressed her lips together. He felt the blood leave his face and his eyes grew moist. His body trembled and he wish he had told his family goodbye when he had the chance.
“I’m not going to see him when I go home, am I?” His voice was just above a whisper.
“Not unless you go to the hospital first. Tom has been in there for about a month now. An accident at the zoo on a field trip happened and he lost a lot of blood. A tiger broke loose and you can guess who protected us from it… He still hasn’t woken up yet. I’ve been there every day after school with Alicia while you were running around in the big city feeling sorry for yourself and having these feelings for me. Well, you know what, Arnold?” She was shouting now. All that pent up anger came out at once and all of it came out on Arnold.
“You are heartless!” That’s when she slapped him right across the cheek. She hit him so hard, that and he didn’t see it coming, and he fell to the floor looking at her with the deer-in-the-headlights eyes.
“I’m sorry, Megan. I should have stayed even if the kiss meant something for me, I see that now. I really want you to forgive me and have me as your friend, maybe even your brother again. I want to get my job and old life back and be your children’s uncle and help my aging mother, Megan. I’m so sorry I hurt you and didn’t call you or write. But I did call my family, Megan. I’m heartless, Megs. I called once a month, twice on their birthdays, I let them know I was safe and I still loved them and why I left. They understood, Meggy. I was hoping you would to.” This was news to Megan. She didn’t know he called them, they never said a thing about it. But when she thought back, once or twice a month they did seem happier.
“Don’t put this back on me.” She hissed and he slowly when back to sitting on the couch.
“I truly am sorry, Meggy Megs.” All the anger flushed out of her and she smiled a little.
“You haven’t called me that since we were five.” He laughed at the memory.
“Well, when you threaten someone that you would make them eat dirt if they ever called you that again…” He trailed off and they both started laughing. Peter took as a sign of himself being forgiven by her and that maybe with time they could be brother and sister again.
“Will you come to dinner tonight with your mom, Arn?” He nodded and was being walked to the door when Megan whispered,
“I have to know, Arnold, did you ever find someone else?” Arnold turned and looked at her a moment.
“No, Megan Black. I never found someone else.” Then he thought of something to ask,
“I have to know, Megan, if I stayed after I kissed you and Peter wasn’t any better, would you have still chosen him?” Megan just gawked at him and felt her tears return.
“I’ll see you at dinner, Arnold.” She said and closed the door. She put her back to it and slid down till she was sitting on the floor. She placed her hand over her mouth and started crying harder than she had in eleven years. Because she knew the answer, that if she let the little corner in her heart that belonged to Arnold grow. The answer would be no.