Time In A Bottle

Time In A Bottle

Thanks for taking the time to read one of my first stories, which will be part one of a multi-part story. Comments and votes are always welcome. Thanks also to Jim Croce, singer/songwriter/storyteller extraordinaire whose lyrics figure prominently in my story and who was taken from us far too soon. Please enjoy…

Kate Silver was 35 years old, and loved her life. She had a husband she loved dearly, a job she adored, and many friends. Kate was several inches shorter than her husband’s six-foot height, had brilliant blue eyes, long blonde hair usually kept in a pony tail, and a fit and sexy body. Long, toned legs, a flat stomach, a beautiful face, and large, perky breasts made her a walking wet dream.

She and her husband David met during their early days at college, and it was love at first sight. They were both studying to be teachers; consequently they had a number of classes together. They were impetuous, and decided to get married when they turned 20. It was a Christmas Eve wedding, and because they were still in school, the honeymoon would have to wait. They struggled those first few years, but upon graduation, both found jobs teaching in the same school district. Kate was an elementary/middle school art teacher and David taught high school drama. After several years of apartment living they found a cute home that was perfect for them. It had two bedrooms, another room David made into an office, and an extra room Kate turned into an art studio. She dabbled in many different genres, but pencil drawing and oil painting were her favorites.

Because they were so busy in the summers, they only took short get-aways for their vacations. They both loved biking and running, so they spent their free time engaged in their two favorite activities. This had the added effect of keeping both in excellent condition.

Their 15^th anniversary was coming up, and they decided to finally go on their honeymoon. Most summers were spent taking classes, teaching classes, going to work conventions or working second jobs. But this year would be different. The plan was to take the entire month of August and visit Hawaii, spending a week on four different islands. By the end of February all the plans were set — hotel and resort reservations were confirmed, plane tickets bought, and rental cars ready to go. Kate was so excited she went shopping, buying several bikinis that showed off her fit and toned body. All they needed to do now was finish the school year and wait for August.

The first day of March was an in-service day for the elementary and middle school teachers, so those students had the day off. Instead of the usual 30 minutes for lunch, the teachers were given a full hour. The day was warm and sunny, so Kate and her two best friends, Jennifer and Samantha, decided to walk to the deli down the block from their school for lunch. They were chatting and laughing when two gunmen stormed in, shouting and waving weapons around.

“On the floor, everyone! All we want are your phones, jewelry, and money. Put them all on the tables and nobody will get hurt.”

All the patrons dropped to the floor, crying and screaming. The girl working behind the register panicked and froze, and one gunman hit her with his weapon. The two men were getting louder and more out of control, and Kate and her friends were crying and scared, holding each other under the table. However, unbeknownst to the patrons, two off duty cops were eating in the far side of the restaurant. One called the robbery in; both pulled their side arms, and ordered the gunmen to stand down. Shots rang out as the gunmen opened fire, which was returned by the cops. After several long moments, the restaurant was quiet; the only sounds heard were soft sobs of people crying and the groans of the wounded. Both gunmen were killed, and one cop was wounded along with four customers. Several people lay dead.

“Jen, are you ok?”

“I’m ok, Sam. How about you?”

“I’m good. Katie, you ok?”

There was no answer from Kate. Both women looked at their friend, her head lying in their laps, blood oozing from the two bullet wounds in her head. Her eyes were fluttering, and her lips were moving. Before her eyes closed, Jen heard her whisper,

“Tell David I love him.”

At the same time across town, David had his hands full with his senior acting class. The kids were busy, hard at work on monologues for their Senior Showcase coming up next week. At first he didn’t hear the knock at the door, but when it got louder, everyone got quiet. Standing in the room was the school principal Dr. Anderson, the assistant principal and a city policeman. Looking worried, David walked to greet them.

“Dr. Anderson, how may I help you?”

“Mr. Silver, we need a moment of your time. An hour ago there was an incident across town at the Riverside Deli. Two gunmen attempted to rob the place but were met by two off-duty cops. Gunfire was exchanged, with several people wounded and several killed. Katie was there with her friends Jennifer and Samantha, and is one of the wounded. I don’t know how serious it is, but she has been brought to Mercy General Hospital. This officer is going to take you there, and if you give your keys to Mr. Barnhill, he will drive your car there so you have a way to get home. Don’t worry about your classes — we’ll take care of them. Get your stuff and go.”

David was shocked into silence. Katie shot? Something like that never happens in their town, so what happened? He turned to his class to say something, but all his students were listening intently. Most of the girls were softly crying, as were some of the boys. They all knew Katie well — she was a fixture at their plays and contests, and she and David hosted many of their cast parties. As he stood there speechless, two of his students came up to him.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Silver. We’ll take care of class, and rehearsal after school. Go, and give Mrs. Silver a kiss from all of us.”

Seemingly moments later, David was being ushered into the Emergency Department of the hospital. It was busy, as most of the injured had been taken there, but the cop explained who he was, and as the nurse brought him back to see Kate, she was being taken to the OR for emergency surgery.

“Your wife has two bullet wounds to her head. One just grazed her, but is causing most of the bleeding. The other entered her head and did not exit. We aren’t sure what damage has occurred, so we’re doing a CT scan before we operate. The top neurosurgeon in this part of the country is here, and will perform the operation. For now, all you can do is wait and pray. There is a waiting room upstairs; I’ll have one of the orderlies take you up in a few minutes. So please wait out here and we’ll come get you.”

Still not believing what happened, David made his way back to the ED waiting room where he found Jen and Sam huddled together, softly crying. As he crossed to them, he noticed their clothes were covered in blood — Katie’s blood. As he got closer, they both looked up and saw David moving toward them. They jumped into his arms, each taking a shoulder to cry into.

“It was horrible, David. One minute we were laughing and the next we under the table and Katie was bleeding. I’m so sorry, David. It’s all my fault.”

“Jen, how can it be your fault? You didn’t pull the trigger. I’m glad you two aren’t hurt, and I’m glad Katie was with her two best friends to help her.”

“But it is my fault. Katie didn’t want to go there for lunch, and I talked her into it. It’s all my fault she got shot. The last thing she said was ‘tell David I love him’.”

With that admission, Jen broke down, tears streaming down her face, heart-wrenching sobs breaking from her chest. David sat them all down and comforted his wife’s best friends as best he could. A few minutes later an orderly approached David to bring him to the OR waiting room.

“Can I bring these two as well? They’re my wife’s best friends who were there with her.”

“Of course. Please follow me.”

Hours later, they were still in the waiting room, anxious to hear how the surgery went. The girls were able to get some hospital scrubs to wear instead of their blood-soaked clothing. They also made several calls to let people know what was going on. And they waited.

Finally, after five hours had passed, a haggard looking doctor came looking for David.

“Mr. Silver? I’m Dr. Hansen, and I led the team for your wife’s surgery. Once we had her stabilized we were able to do a CT scan, and saw what was going on in her skull. Luckily, the bullet didn’t fragment, so we only had to get the one piece out. By not fragmenting, the damage was limited. However, your wife’s brain was still damaged, but to what extent we aren’t sure. She’s been put into a medically induced coma, which means we are using medication to keep her body functions at a minimum to help her start to recover. Once she wakes up we’ll be able to see what damage was done. She is resting comfortably, and once she is settled in the ICU, you’ll be able to see her. But I want to frankly warn you — because of the bruising from the surgery and the gunshot, her face looks like she went 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. That will all disappear with time. Any questions for me right now?”

David shook his head, thanked the doctor and shook her hand before turning away. He embraced Jen and Sam in a giant three-way hug, and all three cried tears of happiness that Katie should be ok. He tried to shoo the girls home to get some rest, but they both wanted to stay until they could see Kate.

Not long after, a nurse came to bring David in to see his wife. She warned him again about how she was going to look; as well, she was hooked up to numerous machines and IVs. David took a deep breath and entered the room, and despite the warnings from the doctor and nurse, he was still taken aback at what he saw. Here was his beautiful wife, bruised from her shoulders up, her head wrapped in gauze, tubes running into her arms and electrodes attached to her chest. It was a sight he knew he would never forget.

“If you want to sit for a while, that’ll be fine. Just pull the chair up close, and hold her hand if you wish. Just don’t pull anything out. I’ll be just outside at the station if you need anything.”

Unable to speak, David nodded his head. He grabbed the closest chair and dragged it next to Kate’s bed. He carefully took her hand, kissed it, and started to cry once again.

Sometime later he heard a soft knock at the door.

“Mr. Silver, Jen and Sam want to know if they can come in for a bit. I can let two people in at a time, so if you want to take a break, they’ll be happy to sit for a time.”

David nodded again, and soon Jen and Sam took his place with Kate, both crying softly, and Jen apologizing for everything again. The girls soon left, and David was once again alone with his wife. He must have fallen asleep, because he was suddenly aware of the nurse gently shaking his shoulder.

“Mr. Silver, you need to go home and get some sleep. I know you want to stay, but tonight there is nothing you can do for Kate. You are in for a long, difficult recovery, and you need to be strong for your wife. Go home, and if anything changes I’ll call you. Otherwise, I’ll see you in the morning.”

With that, David dragged himself to his car and made his way home. He needed a shower, but was far too tired to take one now. He barely had the strength to take his clothes off before he fell into his bed, and was asleep in seconds.

David woke the next morning with the sun streaming through his windows. He sat up and gasped, surprised Kate wasn’t beside him in bed. Then he remembered the events of the worst day of his life. The shooting. The brain surgery. The coma. He wanted nothing more than to hurry back to the hospital, but he knew the nurse was correct last night. He needed to be sure he took care of himself first, so after showering, he choked down some breakfast, added coffee to his travel mug, and left to see Kate.

When he arrived he was surprised to see several people from the school district already there, waiting for him. One was his building principal, one was Katie’s building principal, and the other was the Director of Human Resources. All greeted him warmly and expressed their sympathies. Then they all discussed the situation. With three months left in the school year, positions needed to be filled. There was no question that Kate would be on sick leave, as she had plenty of days banked up. David’s position was trickier. Technically he was not sick, but it was decided to put him on extended leave with full pay.

“David, we know that taking care of Katie is foremost in your mind. Take the time off to be with her, and be here when she wakes up. Don’t worry about your jobs — they will be there whenever you are ready to come back. We respect the jobs you do as teachers and don’t want to lose either one of you. We may have your sub call you from time to time, and please keep us updated on how she is doing. Does this all work for you?”

By now David was almost in tears. He had no idea how he was going to manage being with Kate and teach, and now he didn’t have to worry about it. He thanked and hugged all three administrators, and they left him alone with his wife.

The days turned into weeks, and the routine was always the same. Get up in the morning, shower, eat breakfast, go to the hospital, and spend all day with Kate. Some days Jen or Sam would stop in to give him a break, as well as other friends. One day as he stepped into Kate’s room, he heard Jen talking to Kate, quietly crying at the same time.

“Oh Katie, I am so, so, sorry about this. I wish I hadn’t been so pushy to make you come with Sam and me that day. I think about you every day, and I wish I could go back in time to change what I did. Will you ever forgive me for what I did to you?”

David turned around and walked back to the nurse’s station. His favorite nurse Amanda was on duty, and he motioned for her to come with him. He took her down to Kate’s room so she could hear for herself the problems Jen was still having.

“Is there anyone here who could talk to her? Every time she comes to visit, she spends her entire time apologizing for what she supposedly did. I’m afraid she is going to do something stupid before this is all over. Kate and Sam are her only really close friends, and I think she is pushing Sam away over all this.”

“Wow. She’s really having a bad time with this. Does she have a husband or boyfriend she can confide in?”

“No. It’s not well known, but Jen’s a lesbian. She keeps it well hidden, so she really has nobody close. Except Kate.”

“Ok, I’ll put in a call right now and see what I can do. Thanks for letting me know about this, David. You’re a good friend to do this for her.”

Returning to Kate’s room, Jen was getting up to leave.

“Hi, David. I’m just going, so you can be alone with Katie.”

“No, please stay. It looks like we both can use the company.”

Jen gave David a sad smile and hugged him tight. Just then, Amanda knocked on the door with another person. Standing beside her was a striking redhead — tall, good looking, and wearing a doctor’s coat.

“David, Jen, this is Dr. Moira Kelly. She would like to spend some time with both of you, especially Jen. Moira is the Director of Counseling for the hospital. Now, I’ve got things to do, so I’ll leave you three alone.”

As Amanda left, Jen gave Davie a searing look and did the same to the doctor.

“I don’t need anyone’s help. I’m just fine, so please just leave me alone.”

Jen whirled around to leave, but before she made it to the doorway she burst into tears.

“It’s not fair. It’s just not fair. Why did someone like Katie get hurt and I didn’t? It was my fault we were there that day, and she ends up in a coma. Why?”

Moving swiftly, Dr. Kelly quickly steered Jen out the door and down the hall, leaving David alone in Kate’s room. He sat by her side, holding her hand and gently kissing it.

“Oh, Katie. Where are you? I know you’re fighting to get back to me; please don’t give up. I need you by my side to complete me; without you, I’m lost. I love you, baby. Please come back to me.”

Weeks later found David in the same position in Kate’s room, only now he was reading to her. Kate’s favorite genre to read was sci-fi, so David was working his way through The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy. His eyes were getting tired, so he decided to talk about their past and play some music. Kate liked all sorts of music, so he put together a CD with a wide variety to listen to. Just then, Amanda stopped in to see how he was doing.

“I like your music selections. Trying something different tonight?”

“Yeah, I thought this might help me pass the time and also give Katie something to listen to other than my voice.”

“Variety is always good. By the way, have you seen Jen lately? She was in earlier with Dr. Kelly after her appointment. And it looks like they both have hit it off with each other. Moira is really a wonderful person and a great doctor, and I think she’s helping Jen.”

“Good to hear. If I find anything out worth gossiping about, I’ll let you know.”

Amanda left with a laugh, leaving David alone again with Kate.

David had read someplace that talking to a coma patient about something important and significant from the past might help. He wracked his brain to think of something important, and finally he had an idea.

“This story takes us back almost to our beginning. It was early December of our first year at college, and right before finals week. It was a Friday night, and as usual, we had dinner together. We headed to the Student Union afterward for a quadruple-header of horror movies. Neither of us particularly liked horror flicks, but it was free and something to do.

“We found two seats together and settled in for a long night of movie watching. Part way through the first movie was the first really scary part, and you grabbed my arm for dear life. You kept moving your chair closer and closer to mine, and soon you were almost sitting on my lap. By the end of the movie we were all laughing more than being scared. As the credits rolled, you leaned over to me, kissed my cheek, and whispered that your roommate was gone for the weekend, and did I want to go back to your room. We grabbed our coats and left, saying goodbye to our friends.

“We both lived in a co-ed dorm, so seeing men and women together in the hallway was nothing unusual. When we got to your room, you locked both locks and pulled the chain across as well. Nobody was getting in without you letting them in.

“You grabbed my coat and standing in the middle of the room, you kissed me with a passion I hadn’t felt before. Breaking the kiss, you told me to sit on the couch and wait, and you would be right back. As I sat alone, I tried to think of what you had planned, but nothing plausible came to mind. Soon I heard you say,”

“Open the curtains and sit back down.”

“With the curtains open, the room was lit by the dim vestiges of a streetlight. I felt more than saw you come closer to me; suddenly, you were standing between the windows and me. You had changed clothes, going from a heavy sweater, jeans and boots to a short skirt and wool vest — with nothing under it. Soft music started playing, and you started to move to the music, swaying with almost hypnotic moves. You stepped closer to me, opening your vest to show me your naked breasts, a sight I had been patiently waiting to see. They were large, firm looking, and topped with rosy nipples. Next, you straddled my legs with yours, pushing your pussy against my rapidly hardening dick, and gave me my first lap dance.

“You kept moving and gyrating on my dick, and I could feel my jeans getting damp from your pussy. You leaned in close and kissed me hungrily. And what you said next floored me.”

“Make love to me, David. I want you so bad you can feel how wet I am. Fuck me, baby. Fuck me over and over until I am full of your cum and we are too tired to move. Be my first, baby. And be my last at the same time. I never want to love anyone other than you. Take me to bed, David, and love me all night.”

“We had talked about having sex, but never went further than lots of making out and some heavy petting. You kissed me again, stood, grabbed my hand, and led me to your bedroom, both of us leaving a trail of clothes behind. You rested you head on your pillow, spread your legs to welcome me, and begged me to fuck you.

“I starting kissing you, moving from your lips to your neck to your breasts, kissing and licking every inch of skin I could. I sucked and played with your tits for a long time before moving down once again, kissing as I went. By the time I stopped between your legs, you were moaning with pleasure and begging me to take you. I nestled my head between your thighs and started to lick your wetness. It tasted like sweet honey, so I drove my tongue into you to get more. As I did, you came for the first time — but not the last.

“I licked you to three more orgasms before moving my dick into your pussy. You moaned ‘go slow, it’s my first time’, and I pushed the head of my dick into you. Slowly I pushed in an inch or two, and then backed out, only to push in further each time until I was fully seated in your tight, wet pussy. Soon we had a rhythm going, and I knew I wasn’t going to last long. Your orgasms ran one into another, and you told me to cum in your pussy. You were protected, so moments later I grunted and came deep in you, setting you off again.

“We lay together, arms and legs entwined, until we started to breathe normally. Finally you rose up and kissed me, and we lay there kissing for what seemed hours. Sexually sated, you pulled the covers over us and we slept.

“Hours later I woke up with you sucking my dick back to life. Once I was hard, you got on top and rode me, moving your hips faster and faster, rubbing your clit against my pubic bone. Suddenly your body stiffened up as you came again; I quickly followed by filling your pussy. You laid your body on top of mine, and I stayed hard in you. Before falling asleep once again, you asked,”

“Will every time be like this?”

“No, baby. It will only get better.”

The music was still playing softly in the background as he started reading to her again. He stopped reading long enough to yawn, and saw a change with Kate. Her eyes were fluttering and her mouth was moving, mouthing words to the song playing on the CD.

If I could save time in a bottle

The first thing that I’d like to do

Is to save every say till eternity passes away

Just to spend them with you…

It was Jim Croce’s Time In A Bottle, one of the songs played at their wedding. As the song continued, Katie kept singing along.

If I could make days last forever

If words could make wishes come true

I’d save every day like a treasure and then

Again, I would spend them with you…

David jumped out of his chair, pushed the nurse’s call button, and then ran to the door.

“Amanda! She’s waking up. She’s waking up!”

Amanda was in the room in a moment, checking Katie over and listening to David as he relived the moment. She ran back to her station, making several calls for doctors to come right away. In the meantime, David had taken Katie’s hand, and she held it in a death grip. When the doctors arrived they wanted him to leave, but he couldn’t get out of Kate’s grasp, so they just worked around him.

The rest of the night was spent watching doctors and nurses perform different tests to try to find out what was happening. After several hours, Kate had stopped singing despite David playing the song again, and was resting as before, as if nothing had happened.

The next morning, David was awoken by a knock on the door.

“Knock, knock. Anybody home? Is this a good time for a house call?”

“Good morning, Moira. Come on in. Did you hear the news from last night?”

“Yes, and that’s why I’m here. I just want to caution you not to get your hopes up yet. These types of things happen with coma patients. Sometimes it leads them to fully wake up; other times it leads no place. But still, this is a hopeful sign.”

“Thanks. Good to hear. Any other bits of wisdom to help me not freak out over this?”

“Nope. Freak out all you want, but keep doing what you’re doing. It can’t hurt for Kate to keep hearing your voice, reading or talking to her. Also, I do want to thank you for calling me in on Jen. You were right — she was thinking of doing something stupid with her life, and we caught her in time. Since then she has become more than a patient to me. In fact, I had to release her from my care because we were getting too close. Now we are free to be with each other without her being my patient. So thanks many times over for that.”

“You’re welcome. I’m just happy that Jen found someone to talk to and connect with. And I’m happy for you as well. Jen is really a wonderful person, and it’s been difficult for her with Kate’s situation. I hope all works out for you two.”

Moira left with a smile on her face, and it made David happy for both her and Jen. He picked up his book and started to read once again, laughing at the problems of Ford Prefect.

He must have dozed off, as a knock on the door woke him. It was Amanda, coming in for her shift.

“Hi, Amanda. Aren’t you a bit early for your shift today?”

“Yes, I am. I just wanted to come in early and spend some time with you and Kate. After the excitement of last night, I’m sure you have lots of questions.”

“Some, but nothing that can’t wait. Moira stopped in earlier and helped set my mind at ease…somewhat. She told me to keep doing what I’ve been doing — reading and talking to Kate.”

“That’s good advice. But I want to throw something else out that I don’t want to get misconstrued. I overheard the story you told Kate yesterday about your first time together. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I was walking past the room, heard you talking, and your story was so beautiful and sexy it just pulled me in. So, if you ever need a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to who’s not a shrink, I’m your girl. Just wanted to put that out there.”

“Amanda, I’m touched. Truly. Don’t worry about listening in to the story; it’s one I love to remember and even though you’re the only other person to know it, I trust you to realize how important that night was to us. Since that night, neither one of us has had sex with any one else, and I can’t wait to have sex with Katie again. She turns me on like no other person ever has. I’ll probably take you up on your offer to talk, and if you play your cards right, I might even spring for coffee and chocolate cake.”

They both laughed and Amanda gave David a hug as she got up to leave to punch in for her shift. Just as she was leaving, Time In A Bottle started playing on the CD. She paused for a moment to see if anything would happen, and was shocked to see Kate’s eyes start to flutter, and her mouth started to sing the words once again.

If I could save time in a bottle

The first thing that I’d like to do

Is to save every day till eternity passes away

Just to spend them with you

Amanda quickly ran to call the doctors, and then ran back to Kate’s room. She was still singing along with the CD, but this time her eyes were fully open and fixed on David. When the song ended she stopped singing, but her eyes stayed open. David hit the repeat button, and the song started once again — and once again Kate sang along, this time focusing her eyes on Amanda. When the song ended, Amanda started talking to Kate.

“Kate, can you hear me? Do you understand what I am saying? Nod your head if you do.”

Kate hesitated, but then nodded her head. David wanted to talk, but Amanda continued on.

“Kate, my name is Amanda. Do you know where you are?”

Kate nodded once again and softly whispered ‘hospital’.

“Do you know why you are in the hospital? Do you remember what happened?”

Kate paused once again, looked at David then Amanda and back to David — and shook her head ‘no’. By now the doctors had arrived and took over from Amanda. They could see that Kate was more conscious of her surroundings, but still acting confused. After talking to Kate and amongst themselves, it was decided to do another CT scan for comparison. With a flurry of activity, she was made ready to move, but when the other nurses started to move her, Kate grabbed Amanda’s hand and with a look of terror on her face said ‘no’.

“Kate, it’s going to be alright. These nurses will take good care of you and bring you right back to me. OK?”

Kate’s grip on Amanda’s hand only tightened, so she said she would escort Kate to the CT room. Hearing that, Kate’s grip lessened, but she still didn’t let go. After they all left the room, David stayed behind with Dr. Hansen to talk.

“I’ve never seen her look so scared, and she looked at me as if she didn’t know who I was. Is that normal?”

“Sometimes, yes. Remember, her brain has been working at a minimum level for two months, and suddenly waking up can be quite a shock. When she gets back we’ll talk to her to gauge her level of consciousness, and compare scans. This might be just another blip like yesterday, but I hope not. So don’t get overly excited just yet.”

While waiting impatiently for Kate’s return, David was surprised by two visitors — Jen and Moira. He hadn’t seen Jen for several weeks and was pleased to see how good she looked. Looking in the room, Jen ran to David and gave him a giant hug and held him close.

“David, thank you so much for stepping in when you did. I’m sure I would have tried something stupid, but Moira talked some sense into me. Now she is more than a good friend, and it wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t meddle in my life. Thanks again.”

Tears were flowing down Jen’s face, Moira’s face, and welling up in David’s eyes when Moira asked where Kate was.

“She had another, more intense episode like yesterday’s, and Dr. Hansen wanted to get another CT scan done. They’ve been gone quite a while, so fingers crossed.”

A short while later, Kate was back in her room, still holding a death grip on Amanda’s hand. The other nurses re-attached her to the machines and her IV, and left them alone.

“Kate was really scared and wouldn’t let go of my hand. I had to convince her to let go so the techs could do the scan. She finally let go, and as soon as it was done, grabbed me again. I keep telling her things are getting better, but I don’t know how much she understands. Maybe Moira or Jen can help with this, because I need to get back to work.”

Jen stepped next to Amanda and smiled at her friend. At first Kate just stared at Jen, but after a few seconds let go of Amanda, reached for Jen’s hand, and smiled at her best friend.

“Jen. Your name is Jen.”

“Yes, my name is Jen. Do you know what his name is?”

David moved close to Kate’s bed and smiled at his wife. She looked at him with a blank stare and shook her head.

“No, I’ve never seen him before. Do I know him?”

Before David could answer, Moira jumped in.

“No, Kate, you don’t know him, but he’s a good friend of Jen’s. I am too, my name is Moira, and his name is David.

Kate nodded slowly and yawned. Moira looked at everyone and gestured to the door.

“Amanda, would you stay with Kate for a bit while we talk in the lounge? Thanks…”

Moira led David and Jen to the lounge and all three sat.

“OK, Moira. What was that? How does Kate remember Jen and not me?”

“I’m not sure there’s an easy explanation, and this is way out of my wheelhouse, but I’ll try. My best guess is some sort of selective amnesia, where Kate will remember certain people, places and things from her past, but not everything. It all depends of what part of her brain was damaged by the bullet. It’s a rare occurrence, but it does happen.

“I’m going to call one of my colleagues who’s better versed in this than I am, and have him talk to you and Kate. And then we can see where to go with this. My best advice to you right now is to not mention you two are married or even have a past together. Just be a friend and see how she reacts. Chin up, David. This’ll all work out in the end, I’m sure.”

Several days later, David found Kate’s room empty when he got there. Panicked, he found Amanda who told him she was getting another CT scan, and should be back soon. The past days had been both exciting and frustrating, as Kate’s memory was returning by bits and pieces, but she still had no idea who David was. She was getting stronger each day, and was doing Physical Therapy to get her strength back. She was walking better, although she needed a cane for balance, and her upper body strength was returning as well.

Soon she was back, and David was astonished, as she looked even better than last night. She was smiling and laughing with the nurses and doctors, and conversation flowed from her. However, when she saw David, there was still no sign of recognition, something he discussed at length with Moira and Jen later that night.

“How can she look at Jen and know her, but look at me, her husband of 15 years, and not know who I am? Is she ever going to remember our life together? I just don’t get it, Moira.”

“I know it’s difficult, David, but the human brain is still somewhat of a mystery to us. Why Kate remembers Jen and not you, who knows. Maybe because Jen was with her when she got shot and she remembers that. Maybe because the gunmen were male, and so are you. I really don’t have a good answer for you. All I can recommend is to keep talking to her.”

“I try, but I feel like I’m talking to an empty shell where I am concerned. She sees Amanda and lights up. She sees Jen and smiles and laughs with her. She see me, and all I get is a blank stare, and I don’t know what else to do.”

“Well, there is something else we need to discuss. If Kate keeps getting better like she has, Dr. Hansen is looking to dismiss her some time next week, and we need to figure out where she is going to go. My suggestion is home with you, and perhaps being there will help shake the cobwebs out. But it’s going to be really tough, because even though you see your wife, she sees a stranger with a kind voice and a sad smile. It may take a while before she remembers, so she will be living with a stranger — someone who is not her husband. I’ll discuss it with her tomorrow because decisions need to be made.”

“I can move my stuff into the guest bedroom and leave her the master. That way she’ll have her own space. I realize this will be hard, but I need to do whatever I can to get Katie back. So if she is good with that arrangement, so am I.”

“Great. I’ll discuss this with Kate and Dr. Hansen tomorrow before you get there. In the meantime, give my wine glass a refill, and Jen and I will help you start moving your stuff.”

The next day, David took his time getting to the hospital, giving Moira time to talk over arrangements with Kate and Dr. Hansen. And since she recognized Jen, it was thought if she was there as well, things might go better.

When David arrived, Kate was alone in her room, asleep. He pulled the chair close to her bed, held her hand, and started talking to her about nothing important, but hopefully enough for her to remember him. After a while she stirred and looked at him.

“Your voice sounds so familiar, David. Why do I know it?”

“Well, I’ve been by your side since the accident, talking and reading to you every day in the hopes you would wake up. That’s probably why.”

“There’s another reason why, Kate”, interrupted Moira. “There’s a very good reason David’s voice sounds familiar to you — because he is your husband.”

Kate’s eyes got wide at hearing those words, and she looked panicked again. Kate looked at David, still unbelieving what she heard, and snatched her hand away. David was heartbroken, but Moira continued.

“Kate, you and David have been married for almost 15 years, and have known each other since the beginning of college. He’s been here every day since you were admitted, spending most of the day and night here until we kick him out.”

Still looking panicked, Kate looked at Jen and took her hand.

“Yes sweetie, what Moira said is true. You and David are a couple, and have been since before you and I knew each other. I realize how this all must sound to you, but trust me. It’s the truth. Moira, why don’t you tell Katie the rest of the plan.”

“OK, Kate, here it is. As long as you keep improving like you have been, Dr. Hansen wants to dismiss you next week and send you home. The entire team discussed this, and we think this is the best way to handle it — you go home with David. He has already moved his stuff into your guest bedroom so you can have the master to yourself. The doctors all think that if the familiar surrounds you it will help your memory to come back.

“We all know this is a scary proposition for you, but if we had any other solution we would go that way. But we don’t. Just remember — David is a kind and loving man who will do whatever he can to get his wife back. You. And if things get too intense, Jen and I are only a phone call away. Do you think you can do this?”

Kate’s face moved from Jen to Moira to David to Jen and back to David. She took his hand and gave him a small smile.

“You’ve been here every day reading and talking to me? I can remember hearing voices but that’s all. Except for one thing — how’s Ford Prefect doing? You left me hanging.”

Their laughter broke the nearly unbearable tension in the room.

Ten days later found Kate ready to come home. Jen and Sam helped David clean the house, and David had restocked the kitchen with food. Late morning found David pulling into his driveway while neighbors and friends filled the front lawn. He was surprised at the greeting, and worried about Kate’s reaction. Jen was helping Kate out of their SUV, and saw the panicked look on her face. Holding her arm, she whispered into her ear.

“It’s ok, sweetie. It’s only neighbors and friends welcoming you home. Just smile, wave to them, and say thanks. I’ve got you, don’t worry.”

Soon, they were all in the house where they were greeted by Sam and Moira, who took Kate’s bags into her room, and let her wander the house to gather her thoughts.

‘So this is where I live, with my husband’, thought Kate. ‘It looks like a nice, comfy home. The neighbors seem friendly, especially with the greeting they just gave me. I love how the windows let in lots of natural light, and I just love the screened in porch. I hope David has pictures to look at; maybe those will help me remember. And I’m so happy Jen, Sam, and Moira are here as well — they are all being so helpful with everything. I have to get used to the idea that David and I are a couple. But I’ve only known him for a couple of weeks, and here I am, moving in with him. Moira seems to think it’s for the best, and Jen agrees, so I’ll make the best of it.’

Hours later found them all sitting around the fire pit in the back yard. David had grilled burgers for everyone, and they spent the rest of the night talking. Eventually they got quiet and watched the fire. After a while, Moira said she needed to go, as she had to work in the morning. Jen and Sam also left, leaving David and Kate alone.

“David, I’m really beat. Do you mind cleaning up while I get ready for bed? I can help you in the morning if you want.”

“No, you get some rest and I’ll clean everything up. Remember, if you need anything, I’ll be across the hall. Good night, Katie. And welcome home.”

Kate gave David a smile and closed her bedroom door behind her.

Later that night, David was in bed when he suddenly woke up. He was sure he heard something, but listening again, there was nothing. As soon as his head hit his pillow, he heard something that made his skin crawl.

“No, don’t shoot me. Please, don’t shoot me! Somebody help me! No! David! David!”

Leaping out of bed, David ran to Kate’s room, only to be met by Kate running from her room. He grabbed her arm, and pulled her close. The only sounds were her sobbing and hysterical crying, while her body shook and trembled in David’s arms.

“Shhh, it’s ok. I’ve got you, Katie. I’ve got you.”

Finally calming down, David led Kate to the sofa where he held her in his arms. Her body still shook some, but the crying had stopped.

“Oh David, it was terrible. I dreamed about the gunmen who shot me. I was back in the restaurant, and they were yelling and waving their guns around, and I was so scared. Why do I remember something horrible like that and not remember you and our life together? It’s not fair.”

David looked at his wife, so fragile and afraid — and there was nothing he could do to make it better. When she finally calmed down, David asked her if she wanted a cup of tea.

“Yes, that would be great. I don’t think I can go back to sleep tonight anyway. Will you sit up with me?”

“Of course I will. Sit tight, and I’ll be right back.”

Kate sat on the couch, idly flipping channels on TV when David returned with her tea. When he sat, she moved next to him and he put his arm around her, pulling her close.

‘This is so strange’, Kate thought. ‘I’ve only known David for a few weeks, but sitting here in his arms, I feel safe and protected –as if I’ve done this before.’

When David woke up, they were still on the couch, but Kate had laid down with a blanket over her. David silently got up, grabbed his phone, and quietly made a call.

“Hi, Moira. It’s David. Sorry to call so early, but I’m wondering if you had any time today to see Katie? She woke up screaming in the middle of the night from a nightmare. Moira, I’ve never seen her so scared. She remembered the shooting.”

“It’s ok, David. I was already up. I’m booked all day, but how about I stop by after work? That way we can take our time talking this out. I can be there about 5ish, and I’ll text you when I leave. OK?”

“Thanks, Moira. That’ll be great. See you later.”

David quietly made coffee and sat on the deck watching the backyard come to life. He was aware of a rustling from the house, and soon Kate joined him outside.

“Good morning. How are you doing today?”

“Confused, but more than usual. Did something happen last night? I know I fell asleep in bed, but how did I end up on the couch?”

“Come, sit beside me. As you slept you remembered the shooting, and woke up scared and screaming. I caught you as you left the bedroom, and we spent the night watching TV, until we both fell asleep on the couch.”

“Oh my god, now I remember. It was horrible. There was shooting and screaming and I tried to hide but I couldn’t.”

As Kate remembered, she began to cry once again. And again, all David could do was hold her tight. When she calmed down, David continued.

“I called Moira this morning to tell her, and she is stopping by after work to talk. I knew this day would come, when you remembered, but I didn’t think it would be during a dream. I’m just glad you’re ok, because you scared the crap out of me.”

Kate relaxed onto David, feeling the safety of his arms once again.

“Sorry I scared you — it wasn’t my intention. And I’m glad you called Moira. I feel safe talking to her. Just like I feel safe with you. Thank you, David, for taking care of me. I promise you I am trying my hardest to remember our life together.”

“And if you don’t remember, then we’ll just have to make a lifetime of new memories together. Deal?”

“Deal.”

A little after five, Moira knocked on the door and David answered.

“How was Kate today?”

“Ok, but very quiet. Skittish, like a kitten. I was going to show her the studio, but I thought that might be too much after last night.”

“Good call. How about if I talk to her alone, ok?”

“She’s on the deck out back. The wine is open, and a glass is calling your name. I’ll be out here if you need me.”

David kept himself busy while Moira and Kate talked. At one point he heard crying, but Moira waved him away. Finally, after several hours, they joined David in the living room. Kate had been crying, but now she had a small smile on her face.

“I must look like hell, so excuse me so I can clean up.”

As Kate walked away, David and Moira spoke.

“So what happened back there? I thought I heard crying several times. Is she ok?”

“Yeah, I think she’ll be ok. We talked and I decided to try hypnosis to help her bring all these memories out into the open. Many times, doing that will help the nightmares go away. One of the things most bothering her is guilt. Guilt that she remembers the shooting but not your life together, and it really bothers her.”

“She mentioned that last night when she woke up. And let me guess — your best advice is to keep doing what I’ve been doing, right?”

“Not only are you a good man, David Silver, but you’re a smart one as well. All we can do is hope she remembers one day.”

It took several weeks, but Kate finally had the courage to enter her studio. It was a nice sized room, with lots of windows for natural light. Cluttering the room were empty frames, blank canvases, pencil drawings, paint and brushes — everything an art teacher would need.

“Is this all mine? What do I do for a living?”

“You’re an elementary and middle school art teacher here in town. You’ve been teaching since graduating college. Luckily, we were able to get jobs in the same district.”

“Wow. Some of these are really good. Am I really this good?”

“And better. You’ve sold a number of pictures at the Farmer’s Market over the years. You’re also a magnificent teacher, and your kids love you. When you’re ready, I’ll show you the cards they made for you. Some of them will make you cry.”

“Ok, but not today. All this already overwhelms me, and I need to get some fresh air. Will you take me for a walk?”

Over the weeks, David and Kate had been walking more and more, working to get Kate’s health back to full. Before the shooting they ran most every day, and did lots of biking, but the doctors wanted her to keep on a walking track. Some days they would walk through the neighborhood, and others they would spend using the nearby bike trail. Their walks were getting longer and longer, so David had recently gotten permission from her doctors to start riding their bikes again, but at a slower pace than usual.

One day after breakfast, David suggested a bike ride, but Kate was unsure.

“Are you sure we can do it? What if Dr. Hansen finds out?”

“She told me it would be fine to get you back on the seat. We’ll use the trail and go slow and steady. She also is requiring a helmet, but I told her we always use one, and that made her feel better. So go get changed into your biking shorts and shirt, and meet me in the garage.”

A few minutes later they were on the trail, taking their time. At one point David looked over at Kate only to see her smiling from ear to ear. ‘Maybe this will unblock her memories’, he thought. It didn’t, but they kept riding almost every day from then on.

Part way though July, David and Kate were sipping wine on the deck, enjoying the summer evening.

“Kate, we need to discuss something. I know you don’t remember, but when we got married, we never had a honeymoon, as we were too broke to do anything. And over the years, we really never took many summer vacations as we were taking classes, teaching classes, or working second jobs.

“This year is our 15^th anniversary, and we decided to take the month of August to visit Hawaii visiting four islands in four weeks, just the two of us. Now I’m not sure what we should do. I look at you and see my wife of 15 years, but you look at me and see someone you’ve known for three months. In good conscience, I can’t ask you to do this if you don’t feel comfortable vacationing with a virtual stranger.”

Kate was quiet for a while, thinking how she should answer. She finally moved closer to David and took his hands.

“You’re right, you are a virtual stranger to me. I can’t begin to imagine how difficult it is for you to look at me and know I have no idea of our past together. But I do know this — you are the kindest, sweetest, most generous man I can imagine. Everything you have done for me, you did with my welfare in mind, not yours. I look at pictures and can see the love you have for your Kate, and the love she has for you. I can only hope that one day I will wake up and be your Kate again. In the meantime, it will have to suffice to be me, the amnesiac Kate Silver, who would love to visit Hawaii with you.”

On instinct, the two came together and kissed, the first time that had happened.

“That was nice.”

“Yes, it was. Also, another reason to go — I found several bags of clothes buried in the back of my closet. Apparently, I went shopping, probably with Jen and Sam by the looks of things, and bought a number of outfits to wear. Some shorts, some tops, some skirts, several sundresses, some scandalous lingerie, and several bikinis that leave nothing to the imagination. I’m not even sure I can wear them in public without getting arrested.”

Laughing about the clothes felt so good — to be laughing with someone who cares.

Two weeks later they were packed and ready to go. David spoke with Dr. Hansen just to be sure she was aware of their plans; Sam was going to take care of their house; and Jen and Moira were driving them to the airport.

There were tears and hugs at curbside, and before they left, Jen whispered something into Kate’s ear — and then they were gone.

“What did Jen tell you?”

“I hope you enjoy your surprises from us. And I have no idea what she meant.”

Their first surprise came as they checked in. They were chatting with the ticket agent when she said they were rebooked into first class, and along with the seats, they had a pass for the first class lounge.

“Also, I’m supposed to wish you a happy delayed honeymoon from your friends at school. Have a wonderful vacation!”

Shocked and surprised, David and Kate made their way to the lounge where they found comfortable seats, food to eat and all the drinks they want. When their flight time was near, they made their way to the gate, where boarding was to soon begin.

As they boarded the plane, they showed the flight attendant their passes.

“Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Silver. Welcome aboard. Your seats are right over here. You can put your carryon in this compartment. I see we have some special instructions from a Dr. Kelly, that since you are recovering from a traumatic head injury, you are only allowed three alcoholic drinks. And also to have a great time on your delayed honeymoon.”

Hearing those instructions, Kate and David laughed.

“Yep, sounds like Jen more than Moira, so I guess you’ll have to pace yourself.”

“I’m not much of a drinker anyway, but I do want a glass of champagne first, so we can toast our trip.”

Their time on the islands moved swiftly. They did all the ‘touristy’ things — Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, the North Shore — while on Oahu. On the Big Island they hiked through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, saw the rain forests near Hilo, the Kona Coast, and the observatories on Mauna Kea. Their next stop was Maui, where they drove the Road to Hana, strolled through the lavender farms, and swam with the dolphins.

As they were strolling past some shops, David noticed Kate was walking slower.

“Sweetie, are you ok?”

“I’m just tired. Can we find someplace for me to rest?”

Soon they were sitting on the patio of a nearby restaurant, sipping drinks and watching people walk by.

“David, I’ve loved everything we’ve done these past weeks. I never imagined anyplace could be so beautiful as Hawaii. But I need some time to rest. I feel like I am pushing myself too fast and too far, and need some down time. So how about we spend the next few days at the beach, just sitting, tanning, swimming, and relaxing. Ok?”

“Of course that’s ok. You need to tell me when you get too tired, because if anything happens to you, I’ll have to face both Jen and Moira, and that isn’t a prospect I want to deal with. As it turns out, our deal with the resort includes a round of golf for me, so I thought I would do that tomorrow, which works out just fine. Before I go, we’ll set you up so you can spend the day at the beach and I’ll meet you there when I am done. And you can wear one of your scandalous bikinis and pick up guys as they hit on you.”

“Sounds good, but if I wear one of those, the only guy who stands a chance of picking me up is you.”

Late the next morning, Kate was busy getting set up on the beach. They had secured a beach chair, table, and umbrella, and her beach bag was full of things to keep her busy. Digging through her bag she found two packages, gift wrapped, and a card.

‘Enjoy your day in the sun, and fill your time with these’ was written inside the card signed by David. Kate tore at the paper like a small child and found a sketchpad and drawing pencils. David saw the gleam in her eyes as she held them in her hands.

“I just thought you could fill some time drawing what you see here. Maybe that will help spark something in your brainwaves. I need to go, but if you want anything, just put it on our room tab. See you later.”

A quick kiss and David was off to play golf while Kate spent the afternoon lazing on the beach. Once she starting drawing she couldn’t stop, as images filled her head, and the need to put those images on paper was overwhelming. She had no idea what she was drawing, but it felt good to do.

As the afternoon wore on, Kate noticed the bartender and waitress checking on her far more than anyone else. At first she thought it silly, but after the 10^th time she decided to ask them what was going on. At first they tried to ease her mind as ‘just doing our job’, but Kate persisted. Finally the bartender broke down and told her David had asked them to keep a close eye on her because she was recovering from a traumatic brain injury and amnesia.

“I’m sorry we freaked you out, but we just wanted to be sure you were ok. Please don’t be angry — we were only looking out for you.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not angry at you. You were only doing what David asked of you. Thanks for taking care of me.”

Just then David was walking up the beach toward Kate. The closer he got to her, the more he realized she was angry. He tried to help her pack her bag, but she only glared at him and stomped away. All the way back to their room she ignored his pleas to talk, but once in the room, she let him have it.

“How dare you treat me like a small child. Asking Michael and Cindy to watch me to be sure I don’t get into trouble. I’m a grown woman who can take care of herself, and I don’t need anyone’s help. I can’t believe you would do something like that to me.”

Put off by her anger and resentment, David answered with a quiet fury of his own.

“Yes, you’re a grown woman, an adult who looks like she can take care of herself. But you’re a grown woman who spent two months in a coma and now has amnesia and can’t remember most of her life. You’re damn right I had them watch you. How many times have you gotten lost walking in our neighborhood? Do you even remember what our address is? What’s my cell number? What’s your cell number? Tell me one personal thing about you growing up — and you can’t because you can’t remember any of it.

“I spent two months holding your hand, talking to you, trying to wake you up. I spent every night praying for you to come back to me, and when you did, you had no idea who I was. I love you, Kate, and I have since the day I met you. I know you’re frustrated by the amnesia, but you have no idea how difficult this is for me. I look at you and see my wife, my soul mate, and my lover. You look at me and see some nice guy you’ve known for three months. If this is all I get of you, then I have to make the best of it. But I’m not going to lose you again. What would happen if you strolled down the beach and got lost, looking for help? What if some lowlife saw you and took you away from me — again? I couldn’t live with myself if that happened, and that’s why I had people looking after you.

“I love you more than life itself, and I’m sorry you can’t see that. I was only looking after you, Kate, the best way I know how. I’m sorry if that’s not good enough for you, or if you think I’m disrespecting you, but that’s not it. I love you. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to take a shower and wash the golf course off me. Hopefully, when I am done and we both are not angry, we can talk it out. Excuse me.”

David stormed to the bathroom, slamming the door and leaving Kate sobbing behind him.

‘What have I done’, thought Kate. ‘I took his love for me and turned it into something totally different — and wrong. I don’t want to lose David over my stupidity. What am I going to do?’

Grasping how wrong she was, Kate suddenly realized something else — she was falling for David. Not sure what to do, she acted on instinct and found herself in the bathroom, watching David through the glass doors of the shower. She reached up and untied her bikini top, pushed the bottoms down, and quietly opened the shower door. David turned to say something, but before he could, Kate put her finger on his lips.

“Please don’t say anything until you hear me out. I am so, so sorry I acted the way I did. I know now you did what you did because you love me, and not because of anything else. I can only imagine how difficult this has been for you. You have shown me nothing but love and caring, and I turned it all into something horrible and wrong. Please forgive me, David. I don’t know what else I can say to make it up to you. But there is something I can do.

“All afternoon I dreamed of you walking up to me, untying my bikini and making love to me. But before I let my dream become reality, I need you to wash the sand off of me. Please let me feel your hands exploring my body; don’t take too long washing me, because I need to feel your body against mine, your fingers and tongue discovering me once again. Please, David, make love to me.”

Without hesitation, David pulled Kate into a soul-crushing kiss, his hands roaming down her back to play with her tight ass cheeks. He felt her nipples grow hard and push into his chest, as his own excitement grew and his dick pushed against her thighs. She broke the kiss, stood back and smiled at him as he grabbed the body wash. He soaped her body, taking his time to wash her tits, her ass and her pussy, knowing he would soon be spending time loving all she had to offer.

After drying each other, David swept Kate up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her down and pulled her ass to the edge. Kneeling before her, he opened her legs wide and kissed his way up her inner thigh, skipped over her moistening pussy, and kissed his way down the other thigh. He kissed his way back up, and Kate, desperate to feel his tongue on her pussy, grabbed his head, pulled his face into her pussy, and moaned ‘lick me’.

David pushed his tongue into her as far as he could, setting Kate off on what became the first of many orgasms that day. He licked her deep, he licked and sucked her clit, he slid two fingers into her as he licked, and he even slid his tongue into her ass — and Kate orgasmed each time. Exhausted, Kate pulled David off her pussy and up to her face, where she tasted herself on his lips. Reaching down, she grabbed his rock-hard dick, smiled, and whispered ‘fuck me’.

Positioning himself at her entrance, David hesitated for a moment, looking at the lust in Kate’s eyes. She nodded her head, and David pushed himself in, filling her in one thrust. He held himself there, imbedded deep in her pussy, letting her get used to his intrusion. Nodding again, Kate clenched her muscles around David’s dick, which almost caused him to cum right then. But he was determined to last longer, and make sure Kate came at least once with him fucking her.

It didn’t take long until Kate was moaning and thrashing under David, begging him to cum with her. Another clenching of her muscles was all it took, and David started to shoot his sperm deep in his wife’s pussy. Feeling him cum, Kate’s last orgasm was the strongest one yet, leaving both of them panting and sweating. David pulled out and lay next to Kate, holding her close in the afterglow of sex.

“Will every time be like this?”

“No, baby. It will only get better.”

After sleeping for several hours, they finally roused themselves, showered, and got dressed for dinner. Kate wore one of her new sundresses — yellow, with spaghetti straps, a fit that molded to her lush body, and a length that ended well above her knees. Modeling it, she spun around so David could see her beautiful legs once again.

“I didn’t realize I needed a strapless bra with this, so I have to go without tonight. Just so you know.”

The concierge told them of a nice, intimate pub within walking distance, so they decided to try that. It was perfect, and as an added bonus, had live music as well. The hostess led them to their booth and their waitress soon took their orders. The singer was a solo, playing ballads on his acoustic guitar. Part way through dinner, David slid his hand under Kate’s dress and up her thigh. She opened her legs wider and smiled at him when he realized she wasn’t wearing panties.

“I couldn’t wear a bra, so I thought, what the hell, let’s go total commando. Play all you want; just don’t make me cum. I want to save that for later.”

As Kate became more and more aroused it became difficult to hide their playing from their waitress. Several times she almost caught Kate open-mouthed as David plunged his fingers in and out of her pussy. Finally David relented, and pulled his fingers out, letting Kate eat her dessert in peace.

While they finished their dessert, the singer came back on for another set. They were enjoying their night, so they decided to stay a while longer. Hearing his first song, Kate suddenly dropped her fork and looked at David like she had seen a ghost.

If I could save time in a bottle

The first thing that I’d like to do

Is to save every day till eternity passes away

Just to spend them with you…

“David, we played this song at our wedding. My dad walked me down the aisle to it. This is the song I kept hearing when I was in my coma. David, we’ll be married 15 years Christmas Eve. I teach art and you teach drama. This is the vacation we planned for our anniversary and our honeymoon. David — I remember! I remember! Oh my god, David, I remember everything. It’s as if a door opened and my memories are flooding in. I remember Jen, Sam, and me shopping for the trip and they talked me into buying those bikinis. When I tried this dress on, Jen said you would love it on me — and off of me. David, everything is coming back to me. Oh my god — I remember!”

By this time, Kate was so loud she interrupted the singer, who was getting angry at the interruption. The manager came over to see what was going on, and David explained what was happening. The singer came over and Kate gave him a hug and a kiss, and thanked him for playing that song when he did. Looking around, Kate saw the other patrons were crying and laughing with them, and their waitress was in the corner of their booth, sobbing her eyes out while she hugged the manager.

“That’s the most romantic story I’ve heard in quite a while. I’m happy we could help you, and I hope you come back again.”

As Kate and David walked back to their resort, Kate asked him if he had his phone handy.

“I need to tell someone about this. Jen, Sam, Moira — somebody.”

“First we need to call Dr. Hansen. Before she agreed to let you go she made me promise that if anything important happened, I call her first. I’ll probably get her service, but they’ll get her the message. And remember, it’s a six hour difference to home, so nobody else will be up.”

David called the doctor and got her service, and moments later received a return call from the doctor.

“Dr. Hansen, thanks for calling back, although I wasn’t expecting to hear from you for several hours.”

“Well, my service called and I was already up. So what’s going on?”

“I have someone who wants to talk to you.”

David gave the phone to Kate who excitedly replayed the evening. She was so eager to tell the story, Dr. Hansen didn’t have a chance to say anything. When Kate finished, Dr. Hansen congratulated her.

“I’m so happy for you. But I want to warn you about something. Sometimes this remembering only lasts for a day or two, and the amnesia comes back. But for the majority of people, that doesn’t happen. I just want you to be aware that the possibility exists, ok? Don’t be discouraged — I’m betting that you will regain all your memories real soon. Now, let me talk to David, please.”

“So David, when do you get back?”

“Our flight gets us back on the 29^th, early morning.”

“Good. I want to see Kate right away, so I’m going to set an appointment for the 30^th. I’ll have my assistant text you the time when we set it. And one more thing — sometimes this remembering is only temporary, but most times it’s permanent. I already told Kate this, so just be aware that things could stay the way they are, she might lose some memories, or she might lose everything like she did before. Normally, if nothing happens for several days, she’ll be in the clear. If anything else happens be sure you call me right away. Otherwise, I’ll see you on the 30^th. Now enjoy the rest of your trip.”

David closed his phone and found Kate walking ahead, toward their resort. When he caught up, she grabbed his hand and held it tight. She looked pensive, almost angry, so David let her be.

“Before we head up, let’s walk along the beach, ok?”

The night was warm, and a tropical breeze was gently blowing. The moon was full and there was not a cloud in the sky. A few people were still on the beach, but Kate and David mostly had it to themselves.

After walking for a while, Kate found a bench and sat next to David, holding him close. Nothing was said, but David knew his wife was deep in thought.

“Dr. Hansen told me something that sent a chill down my spine. She said that sometimes the memory loss comes back, and there’s no telling if that will happen to me.”

“She told me that as well, but I’m sure that won’t happen…”

“Shhh, let me finish. If it does happen, I want you to know how much I love you. What you did for me these past months… most men would’ve run away as fast as possible. But not you — you stayed by my side, loving me when you were just a stranger to me. Even bringing me on this trip was a huge leap of faith from you. But now my memories are coming back, and I remember why I love you so much. So if this is my last night of remembering, I want it to be one we will both memorize no matter what.”

Kate stood up and walked toward the water, watching the waves gently roll in. The full moon shone brightly, and he was able to see Kate’s silhouette through her dress. David stepped behind Kate and tightly wrapped his arms around her.

“I’m scared, David. I don’t want to lose you — lose us — again. But if I do, I want tonight to be memorable.”

Kate turned around, facing David and gave him a long, loving kiss. She stepped away, put her hands on her shoulders, and pushed the straps of her dress down. It first caught on her breasts, and then fell to her waist. Another push and Kate shimmied the dress down to pool at her feet. She stood in front of her husband naked, and his breath caught in his throat.

“My god, Katie, you are so beautiful, I sometimes can’t believe you’re my wife.”

“Shhh. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Tonight is going to be a night when you help me fulfill some long-time fantasies of mine, starting with me giving you the blowjob of your life. And when you cum, cum on my tits and face and cover me with your semen. Paint me — make me look like a cheap hooker.”

Kate undid David’s belt, unbuttoned his shorts, and pulled them down to his ankles along with his underwear. She knelt before him, stroking him until he was hard. She kissed the tip of his dick, licked all around, and proceeded to suck him all the way into her mouth. David moaned, and Kate started to bob her head, taking him as far into her mouth as she could. Shortly, she could feel his impending orgasm, so she took his dick out of her mouth and slowly kissed it from top to bottom. Moving closer, she rubbed him over her tits, letting him massage her sensitive nipples. Once she was sure David’s orgasm had waned, she went back to work.

Taking him back into her mouth, Kate bathed David’s dick with her tongue, licking him down to his balls, which she then sucked into her mouth, one at a time. Deep throating him once again, she held him in her mouth for as long as she could, taking him out only when she couldn’t breath any longer. She did this several more times until David moaned ‘I’m cumming.’ Kate quickly pulled his dick out of her mouth, aiming it at her body. His first shot landed on her face, and the rest ended up on Kate’s chest, dripping off her nipples and running down to her stomach.

When she was sure David was finished, Kate slipped his dick back into her mouth, sucking the last drops from him and cleaning him off. She stood, pulled him close so her tits were pushing into his chest, and kissed him again, making sure she rubbed her wet pussy against his leg.

“Thank you, David, for doing that with me. I loved the feel of your cum splashing against me, and I can’t wait to do it again. But I have other plans for us tonight, so let’s rinse off in the water and head back to our room.”

They moved down the beach where they found the water warm and inviting. Striding deeper, they moved until the water reached their necks, where they proceeded to wash the cum from their bodies. Once clean, David grabbed Kate and kissed her with a passion he hadn’t felt for months. Tongues dueling, hands groping and grabbing, they stood in the water making out like two teenagers. Finally breaking the kiss, Kate looked at David with tears in her eyes.

“I love you so much, David. I never want to lose this feeling again.”

After several more minutes of holding each other, the pair walked back to the beach and their clothes. They stood quietly on the beach, the tropical breezes drying their bodies so they could ultimately get dressed. Hand in hand they walked back to their resort and their room. As they walked, David asked Kate what else she had in mind for their night. She merely smiled and said,

“You’ll see. But here’s a hint — when we get back we need to shower, washing every part of me. Every. Part. Of. Me.”

Kate started the shower, getting the temperature just right. David joined her, and soon was washing her luscious body from top to bottom.

“Play close attention to my tits, my pussy and my ass — make sure they are all squeaky clean.”

David took his time washing his naked wife, and when she was clean she told him to wash himself and then join her in bed. Kissing him once more, Kate left David alone in the shower, wondering just what she had in mind.

When David finished in the shower, he found Kate sprawled on their bed, naked, with her legs splayed wide. As he leaned over her body, he kissed her, feeling the heat and passion rising from Kate as he did. He broke the kiss and started to kiss and lick his way down her body, stopping to suck her sensitive nipples for several minutes, leaving her moaning for more. He continued his way down, kissing her taught stomach on his way to her waiting pussy.

Unlike earlier, he didn’t take the time to tease her, but started licking her wetness. On his first touch, Kate had her first orgasm. David continued to lick and suck at her pussy, leading her to cum again. Not letting her rest, David slipped two fingers into her, plunging them in and out, fucking her with his fingers while he sucked on her clit.

Before she could cum again, David took one of his wet fingers and slipped it lower, until it made contact with her asshole. Kate jumped at the feeling, and moaned when his finger pushed its way in. She was lying there in ecstasy — a finger fucking her ass, another fucking her pussy, and her clit in David’s mouth, all working together to bring her to another orgasm.

It hit her like a tsunami, radiating out from her pussy and ass to overwhelm her entire body. She screamed David’s name as her body was inundated with sensations never felt before. She writhed and thrashed as David’s fingers and mouth played on her senses, causing her to nearly pass out. David slowly withdrew as he felt Kate’s orgasm begin to wane. Pulling her up the bed, he covered them with the sheet, and gently held his still-trembling wife.

After a while, Kate’s breathing began to return to normal as her body stopped quivering.

“Oh my god, David. What did you do to me? I can’t ever remember cumming that hard or that long. Suffice to say, you fulfilled several fantasies for me tonight. But before we quit for now, I want you to fuck my pussy, filling me with your cum.”

Kate rolled away from David, lay on her back, and opened her legs wide in anticipation. David kissed her again and positioned himself on his knees between her legs. He rubbed his dick against her pussy, spreading her wetness so he would be able to easily thrust his way in. Kate moaned as he did, and moaned again when she felt David fill her pussy with his dick. Slowly building a rhythm, the pair was constantly moaning as the sound of sex filled the air. Kate’s tits were bouncing in rhythm with David’s thrusts, and the sight made him even hotter. Soon Kate began to play with her sensitive nipples, driving her closer to another orgasm.

“Cum with me, baby. I’m so close again. Fill me with your cum. Oh David, fuck me!”

Hearing his lover begging for him to cum set David off, shooting rope after rope of cum deep into Kate’s pussy. Feeling his sperm splashing inside her set Kate off one more time. David kept thrusting until he felt her orgasm diminish, pulled his softening dick out, and lay next to her. Shortly, he heard Kate quietly crying into his shoulder.

“Katie, what’s wrong? Are you ok?”

“Oh David, I’m fine. I’ve never felt better. I don’t think I’ve ever been this fucked out before, and I love it. You’ve made this a night I’ll never forget, no matter what. And I love you for it. Now cuddle with me, so when I wake up, I’ll be in the arms of the man I love.”

Hours later, Kate and David were still wrapped in each other’s arms, sleeping the sleep of sated lovers. Somewhere in David’s dream he kept hearing a buzzing sound when he finally woke enough to realize it was his cell phone. Not quite awake, he grabbed it to answer before it woke Kate.

“Hello’, he mumbled.

“It’s about time you answered. How come I had to hear about Katie from Moira, who heard it from Dr. Hansen, instead of from her? What the hell, David? Why didn’t you tell me first?”

Still not awake, David growled,

“Who is this?”

“What do you mean, who is this? It’s Jen, you idiot. Now talk to me.”

“Jen? What the fuck? It’s four o’clock in the morning, and we were sound asleep. I’m hanging up now, and we’ll call you later — at a decent time for us.”

So she wouldn’t call back and disturb them, David turned his phone off. He slid back in bed, trying not to wake Kate. But she had heard the call and was almost awake.

“You were kind of mean to Jen. She’s only interested in what happened.”

“I know, but she didn’t have to call now. I’m sure she never even thought about the time difference and the possibility of waking us up. And now I’m awake when I want to be asleep.”

“Maybe I can help with that.”

Kissing him sweetly, Kate slid her body down and took David’s dick into her mouth. As she licked and sucked, he began to get hard and fill her mouth. She then swung her legs around to straddle David’s face, and settled her moistening pussy on his face. Not missing a beat, David began to lick her folds and tease her clit. He pushed his tongue in deeply, eliciting a long, low moan from Kate. At the same time, she was working on David’s dick, licking and sucking. At one point she moved down to suck on his balls before bringing him fully back into her wet mouth.

Enjoying the feelings he was receiving from Kate’s mouth, David started to slip his tongue into her ass, alternating between her clit, her pussy, and her ass. Electrified at his touch, Kate worked faster, trying to bring David to his orgasm first. However, when she felt his finger enter her ass, she lost it, squeezing her thighs together, trapping him in her pussy, cumming on his face. Moments later she was rewarded with a mouthful of cum, as David finished with a loud moan.

Before long, the two lovers were cuddled together once again, each sleeping in the arms of the love of their life.

David woke the next morning to sunlight filling the bedroom and the smell of coffee awakening his senses. Sitting up he heard Kate talking in the other room.

“Damn it Jen, what did you expect? You call at four in the morning and expect us to be awake?… Yeah, he was mean to you, but what the hell. You woke him from a deep sleep, only to yell at him, and then you get mad when he hangs up on you?… Yes, you are my best friend, but Dr. Hansen made it clear when she gave her ok for this trip was for us to call her if anything happened. First. And that’s what we did. And then we went to bed, and no, we didn’t go to sleep right away… What do you think? Use your imagination… Yeah, it was pretty wonderful. I’ve never cum that much in one night ever… Yes, I’ll give you the details when we get home. Don’t worry — I’ll give you plenty to sooth your non-prurient mind. Listen, I’ve got to go; I’ll call you soon. Yeah, I love you to. Give my love to Moira, and Sam as well. Bye.”

“Good morning, Katie. You’re up early.”

“Yeah, I woke up a while ago and couldn’t go back to sleep, so I got up, took a much needed shower, made some coffee, and called Jen. I figured after last night she would be really pissed at us, so hopefully I mended the rift.”

“As long as you give her some details, she’ll be just fine, living vicariously through you.”

Kate came out from behind the kitchen island and crossed to David, engulfing him in her arms.

“God, I love you. You did things to me last night I’ve only dreamed of doing with you. And now that I have, you’re going to have to keep doing them. But first, you need to take a shower because you smell of sex.”

After showering, David joined Kate on their lanai for breakfast. As he leaned over to kiss her he ruffled her hair.

“I’ve been meaning to ask — what happened to my hair? It used to be almost to my waist, but now it’s really short.”

“When the EMTs brought you to the hospital, you were bleeding badly from a head wound, but nobody could see it, so they shaved some on the side. But when Dr. Hansen operated on your brain she had to shave it all off. Sorry, but it had to be done.”

“That’s fine, I was just wondering. So do you like it long like it was, or do you prefer it shorter like now?”

“I always liked your long hair, but the short style is nice as well. Both ways have their advantages, and both make you look just as beautiful and sexy.”