LITMIR.BIZ

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aunts?” She studied him curiously. “Not my parents or my family?”

      “They are your family, Gem.” He hesitated, but maybe more information would reassure her. “Some years ago Tillie and Margaret Spenser brought you and three other foster girls to their home, The Haven, in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies.”

      “Um, okay.” Gemma’s blank look remained so Jake pressed on.

      “Your sister Victoria lives at The Haven permanently, with her husband and family, and the aunts, of course. Your sister Adele and her husband and kids live next door, while your other sister Olivia and her husband and family live on a nearby acreage.” Still no comprehension. Jake added a little desperately, “They can all hardly wait to see you again.”

      “You’ve known me for a while?” she murmured, her expression pensive.

      “I came to The Haven six years ago when you were seventeen. I’ve been there ever since.” Jake caught Celia checking her watch. “You need to leave?”

      “That text said I’m to fly to Ottawa in an hour to accompany someone back to Peru.” She glanced at Gemma. “If you’re all right?”

      “She will be as soon as I get her home.” Jake glanced around. He saw only a battered backpack and a small duffel. “Luggage?”

      “Duffel’s mine. The other is hers.” Celia indicated the battered canvas with its multiplicity of stickers. “Authorities found it at the site. The hotel where Gemma and—where she was staying was flattened.”

      Gemma and Kurt. That’s what Celia had been going to say. Why had she pulled back?

      “The embassy will be certain to forward anything else they recover.” She touched Gemma’s arm. “Is it okay for me to leave you with Jake?”

      “You have to go. You need to do your job, help someone else. I understand.” Clearly summoning her pluck, Gemma thrust back her narrow shoulders.

      Jake noted the thin cotton shirt she wore was far too large for her lithe frame and not at all her usual style. Well, it hadn’t been, but things changed. Then her smile faltered and he forgot about what she wore as compassion for her suffering welled.

      “You’re going to be fine, Gemma.” Celia must have sensed her uncertainty, too.

      “Yes, I’m sure I will be.” She cast him a sideways glance. “With Jake.”

      He didn’t think Gemma looked or sounded fine. She appeared nervous and uncertain, but in these circumstances, who wouldn’t? Though Jake had wished many times for God to blank out the horror of his own past, he couldn’t begin to imagine how it must feel to have forgotten everyone and everything. It would take time for Gem to feel secure again.

      “You’ll feel better once you’re home.” He hoped she could relax. “It’s a long drive to The Haven. If you need to make a stop here, get some coffee or lunch, we’d best do that before we leave.”

      “All I want is to freshen up. The flight was long and tiring.” She automatically headed for the ladies’ room, as if she’d done it a hundred times before.

      “How did she know where to go?” He stared at her retreating figure.

      “Some things she does from rote. I guess that part of her memory is intact. Recent events are a blank though.” Celia shrugged. “She can recite tons of information about lots of different locales she’s taken tours to, but she can’t tell you anything about the earthquake, what happened before or after it, or her personal past. Which reminds me, I need to talk to you before she returns.”

      “Okay.”

      “Gemma doesn’t remember that she was married,” Celia warned in a low voice. “She doesn’t remember Kurt at all.”

      “How could she forget her own husband?”

      “It’s part of her injury, I guess.” Celia shrugged. “Anyway, you need to be aware that she also has no idea that he died in the earthquake. My office contacted her family as soon as they found out, but apparently you’d already left to come here. I didn’t feel it was my place to tell her,” the woman explained.

      “Why not?” he asked, brow furrowed.

      “I couldn’t gauge what her response might be. I was worried that if she reacted badly, there wouldn’t be anyone to support her.” Celia chewed her bottom lip. “Of course, hearing of Kurt’s death might trigger her memories, too. Either way, I believe she needs someone who knew them both to help her through her loss and grief. The important thing, according to her doctors, is that with her type of brain injury, the fastest way to recovery is no stress.”

      “You want me to tell her.” Jake’s heart sank as he read between the lines. “You don’t think her aunts should do it?”

      “It’s your decision, of course, but I do think it should be you, for several reasons.” Celia frowned. “Gemma will find it difficult enough to deal with the family she doesn’t remember. Four sisters, aunts, nieces and nephews. It’s a lot. I believe it would be simpler for her if she’d already faced the complication of her husband’s death when she meets her family.”

      Inwardly Jake groaned. How was he supposed to tell Gem that Kurt, the man she’d loved and married less than a year ago, was gone?

      “Mostly I believe you should do it because you’re her friend, her very good friend. Aren’t you?” Celia seemed pleased by his nod. “Excellent. To regain her memories, Gemma’s going to need someone she can lean on, depend on and talk to without worrying about offending them. I think that’s you, Jake. Perhaps during the journey home, you can work it in that she’s now a widow. I—” She stopped. “Here she comes.”

      Work it in? Like, “By the way, Gem, nobody told you but you’re now a widow?” Jake’s brain scoffed.

      He stood by Celia, watching Gemma stride toward them. She moved easily across the space, making her appear confident and assured. Though appreciative heads turned to admire her beauty, Gemma appeared unaware of the attention. Her intense gaze rested on them.

      “I’m ready to go,” she announced, though there was the faintest wobble in the words and her eyes were red. “Thank you for everything, Celia. I appreciate your assistance so much.”

      “It was my absolute pleasure, Gemma.” Celia hugged her, a trace of her own tears showing. “I put my card in your pack so that we can keep in touch. I want to know how you’re doing. If you need anything,” she added as she drew away, “anything at all, you let me know and I’ll try to help. Maybe one day you’ll return to Peru and we’ll have lunch together. Adiós o hasta pronto, mi querido amigo.”

      “Hasta que nos encontremos de nuevo,” Gemma responded in a very quiet tone.

      Jake blinked at her automatic Spanish rejoinder before remembering Gemma was fluent in several languages. Another reason why becoming a tour guide had seemed so perfect for her.

      Celia waved, picked up her duffel and hurried away. Gemma watched her leave as though she was losing her best friend.

      “Things will get better, Gem,” he reassured her, trying to sound cheerful.

      “Promise?” She gave him a half-hearted smile and then slung her pack over one shoulder. “I have a hunch they’re going to get much worse first. I’m ready. I guess.”

      Jake had never heard Gemma sound so uncertain. She’d always been full of confidence and assurance.

       Had been.

      “I could take that—” He immediately choked back his offer to carry her backpack when her chin lifted and she glared at him. “Right. Let’s go.” He pulled his keys out of his pocket as they walked toward the exit. Outside in the clear sunlight he hesitated, concerns rising at her fragile appearance. “It’s quite a hike to the car.”

      “Do

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