a, that was the most thrilling, glorious moment of my life. You weren’t lost to me after all.” Her voice trembled. “You just can’t know what finding you meant to me.”
He stirred in the chair. “I know what it meant to hear a feminine voice say I love you. At that moment I knew I wasn’t going to die, that I’d been saved.”
“Rini—”
He rubbed his thumb against her palm the way he used to do as a prelude to making love. Her husband might have lost his memory, but his body reacted the same way it did before the quake. His touch brought her alive.
Luna slowly removed her hand from Rini’s and sat back. The feel of him had sent tingles of longing through her body that wouldn’t go away. But maybe she’d revealed too much of herself to him. What had she been thinking? He didn’t know her from Adam!
She’d wanted to tell him as much as she could about their married life together. But she’d been an open book about her personal feelings for him. It might be a turnoff if she went too far. She adored him whether he’d lost his memory or not and wanted their marriage to last forever. However, could she say the same thing for him?
In his eyes Luna was a total stranger to him. In revealing her heart, he might be feeling suffocated. Though he’d said he was anxious to go home, he had no idea what that meant. She could understand his wanting to get out of the hospital. It had to be a kind of jail to him. Naturally, he craved his independence. Unfortunately for him, he needed her help to communicate.
She wouldn’t blame him if he preferred someone like Chispar to stay at the palazzo with them, but that was the last thing she wanted. Under the circumstances it would be better if she didn’t go to work at the mining office for a while.
Luna would discuss this with Dr. Tullia. Maybe he would tell her it would be a good idea if someone else was there on weekdays with whom he had no emotional ties. It might make his life much easier while he tried to adapt to a new life. But she didn’t want to be apart from him for a minute.
Later, when Dr. Romano came in for his evening rounds accompanied by Chispar, he explained he wanted to examine his patient. Luna translated for Rini. “I promise I’ll be back after he leaves.”
She walked to the sitting room of the suite to phone Dr. Tullia, who’d given her his card. He didn’t answer, so she left the message for him to call her. Hoping he would get back to her before bed, she changed into her running pants and top in the en-suite bathroom. While she was brushing her teeth, her cell rang.
She wiped her mouth and checked the caller ID before clicking on. “Doctor Tullia? Thank you for calling me back. I’m so grateful.”
“I’m here for you and Rini. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I’m the problem tonight.”
“Go on.”
She told him about her latest concerns. “I love my husband and let him know we were madly in love from the very beginning. But he has no memory of me, and maybe it has put too much pressure on him. What if he really doesn’t want to go home with me? What if he’d like some space and Chispar could be home with him while I’m at work? What do you think?”
“Let me ask you a question. Knowing that he might never remember you, do you want him to love you the same as before?”
“Yes!” she cried. “He’s my raison d’être.”
“Then here’s my advice. Do exactly what your instincts have been telling you to say and do. Don’t hold back. Continue to be yourself. Ask him if he wants company when you’re at work. In time you’ll know if he feels nonreceptive or smothered.”
“That’s what worries me. How will I know?”
“Is there any doubt in your mind that he’ll tell you? Your husband is assertive and doesn’t keep his thoughts to himself.”
She chuckled. “You’re right about that.”
“Some things about human nature don’t change, do they?”
“I can’t thank you enough for your advice, Doctor. You’ve made me feel better.”
“Good. I’m here for you anytime. Good night, Luna.”
They hung up and she left the bathroom to find Dr. Romano in the sitting room waiting for her. She hurried over to him. Chispar had left. “How is he tonight?”
“He’s coming along well. I’d feared he might have stomach problems getting used to regular meals, but he assured me he’s hungry and eating everything. At this rate he’ll gain back the weight he lost without problem.”
“That’s my grandmother-in-law’s fault. She’s planned all his favorite dishes.”
He smiled. “Well, it’s showing. I guess you’re aware he wants to leave.”
“Yes. I can tell he’s restless.”