I think Dr. Tinker mumbles, “Thank God.” But I can’t quite catch it.
“Wonderful! Wonderful.” Dr. Lewis rushes around the desk, his white coat flapping behind him. He grabs my hand and pumps it up and down.
“She has to see him first, doesn’t she? Maybe her husband is a different missing person?” Dr. Lewis frowns at me, but I get the feeling he’s willing to give me Gavin, even if he isn’t my husband.
The nurse nods. “He’s sleeping now. You can just look in on him.”
At the room, one of three patient rooms in the hospital, I hover in the doorway. It’s him. I mean, I knew it was. I recognized his voice. But still, seeing him in the hospital bed, it makes my insides twist all around themselves.
I don’t like Gavin. That’s as clear as a white stripe on a skunk. But it still twists me up to see the purple bruise covering the left side of his face, the swelling on his eye, the cut over his lip. He was so rugged and handsome, so full of vitality. Now, he seems so vulnerable.
Dr. Lewis watches my expression. “Is that your husband?”
My breath comes in short, tight gasps and I blink away tears from (I’m sure) the sting of bleach. I nod. “It is.”
“Awww, she’s all emotional. There, there. He’s alright.” The nurse pats my arm reassuringly.
I give her a wobbly smile.
Dr. Tinker lets out a long, grateful sigh. “I’m certain it’s the head injury, but your husband has been quite…uncooperative.” He winces.
The nurse nods. “Sore as a bear with a rotten tooth.”
I frown at Gavin. A lock of his hair has fallen over his eye and I have the urge to push it back from his forehead. “What do you mean ‘uncooperative’?”
The nurse taps her foot on the floor. “Never wanting to stay still. Never wanting the door shut or the lights off. Complaining about the food. Moaning about the hospital. Claiming he could buy the whole place, saying he’s certain he has money, loads of money, and we better let him out so he can find his family, cause he…” Her brow wrinkles as she looks over my outfit. “Did he remember right? Do you have loads of—”
“Ohhh. No. Nope. Although, it’s always been a fantasy of his, being rich.” I give a bright smile.
Dr. Lewis looks from Gavin to me, a hopeful smile on his face. “Not that I don’t believe you. But do you have identification? We’ll need proof of identity, paperwork filled out.”
“Of course I do.” I open my purse and pull out a night’s worth of work.
Diedre brought her computer over and found photos online of Gavin Williams, then she used all her photoshopping might to create twelve years’ worth of false memories. We’ve got wedding photos, honeymoon photos, family photos. Gavin at the house, on the porch, holding a chicken. I knew she was a master, but when I saw the photo album she made, I almost believed it was real myself. Diedre even made a marriage certificate and called Big Tom up to request he hire Gavin. She even has a fake driver’s license promised through one of her less reputable internet contacts. That’ll be here in a few days. It’s scary really that you can manufacture an entire life in one night.
I fan the documents and photos out for them to see.
“He had his wallet on him, so I don’t have his driver’s license or social security card, but I figured this was proof enough. The kids are in the car waiting for their daddy.”
Dr. Lewis’s smile stretches across his wrinkled face as he takes everything in. “Who are we to keep a man from his family?”
“I’m ever so grateful.” I smile back. But all I can think is, you’re going to hell, Jamie Lynn, you’re going to hell for this.