Drake Springs Memories

By Cheryl Norman

In Cari Mercer’s universe, the best-laid plans are not subject to change. She has her future mapped out with her fiancé Buzz Blanco. But US Army Private Blanco suffers an accident in jump school that leaves his body broken and his memory damaged. He’s forgotten their engagement, plans for the future, or even their romance. Cari’s future plans are put on hold indefinitely. As Buzz struggles to rehabilitate, he can’t recapture the memories that would restore the past five or six years. He feels like a seventeen year old in a twenty-three year old’s battered body. Military service and marriage hold no appeal for him, yet he’s committed to both.

Cari’s patience is tested and her future with Buzz is in jeopardy until a tragic event brings them together in a new way. And Cari learns life is an adventure, not a blueprint.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cheryl Norman
• Release date: Oct 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311113009

Cheryl Norman

Cheryl lives with her husband and poodle in the woods of northeast Florida (the perfect writer's retreat for penning her romance fiction and cookbooks) when not traveling the country. She enjoys RVing, cooking, sewing, walking (running until the knees got old!), and of course, reading.

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Drake Springs Memories

by

Cheryl Norman

A Drake Springs Romance

Copyright © 2015, Cheryl Norman

Drake Springs Memories

Media > Books > Fiction > Romance Novels

Amnesia, Army, Soldier, Military, Wedding, Medical, Second Chances

Digital ISBN: 9781311113009

Digital Release: October 23, 2015

Editor, Gilly Wright

Cover Design by C.V. Clark

Stock art by

All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work, in whole or part, by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, is illegal and forbidden.

This is a work of fiction. Characters, settings, names, and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination and bear no resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, places or settings, and/or occurrences. Any incidences of resemblance are purely coincidental.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

In loving memory of Geneva Carolyne Cari Smith Singer, my best friend from the seventh grade until her death July 20, 2014. Not a day goes by I don’t think of you, dear friend. I miss you so much.

DRAKE SPRINGS MEMORIES

Drake Springs Book 5

***

In Cari Mercer’s universe, the best-laid plans were not subject to change. She has her future mapped out with her fiancé Buzz Blanco. But US Army Private Blanco suffers an accident in jump school that leaves his body broken and his memory damaged. He’s forgotten their engagement, plans for the future, or even their romance. Cari’s future plans are put on hold indefinitely. As Buzz struggles to rehabilitate, he can’t recapture the memories that would restore the past five or six years. He feels like a seventeen-year-old in a twenty-three-year-old’s battered body. Military service and marriage hold no appeal for him, yet he’s committed to both.

Cari’s patience is tested, and her future with Buzz is in jeopardy until a tragic event brings them together in a new way. And Cari learns life is an adventure, not a blueprint.

From The Drake Springs Democrat, Amy Gillespie, editor.

Welcome to this week’s edition of Town Crier.

September typically marks the peak of hurricane season. Stay prepared by following the hurricane preparedness checklist in this issue of The Drake Springs Democrat and here at drakesprings.com. September also ushers in the love bugs. These pests are mostly harmless but can affect visibility when driving, especially in the afternoons. Drive with care and keep those windshields clean.

With the opening of Heartbreak Hotel on Highway 471, Drake Springs now offers lodging. Happy Parker, proprietor and host, redecorated the former Wilson mansion in a 1960s retro theme. She recently took me for a tour of her guest rooms, each named after an Elvis Presley hit song. Even if you aren’t staying there, you can drop by for coffee or tea and homemade pastries, either at breakfast time or teatime (4:00 p.m.). Elvis music plays quietly in the background, and guests are welcome to sing along, an invitation Happy probably regretted upon hearing my off-key rendition of Love Me Tender.

Drake Springs Animal Clinic is celebrating its first anniversary with specials on veterinary care and grooming. Doctor George has pets available for adoption, too. Stop by the clinic at Ortega and Main. Iris and Lance George are also celebrating their first wedding anniversary this month, so stop by and say howdy.

Brew the Right Thing opens October 1. The coffee shack is located just past the US Post Office on First Street, across from the new Subway sandwich shop. Owner Steve Foster plans to offer a variety of brew strengths and popular flavors. With the recent reopening of Gowns & Roses on First Street, Drake Springs is growing. But not too much. It’s still Florida’s Best Kept Secret!

Patrons of Haley’s Hair Net surprised owner Haley Tomasi with a bridal shower last week. She and Vinnie Vega recently became engaged. Best wishes to the happy couple.

Foster Care, the daycare and nursery school on Second Street, soon will have another enrollee. Congratulations to Mandy Foster Evans and Cameron Evans, MD, who are expecting a baby in December.

Until next time, remember it’s not gossip if it’s true!

Amy

Chapter One

Cari, there’s a Deputy Blanco asking to speak with you. Kelly Thompson spun from the door and hurried back to the reception desk.

Cari Mercer stood at the refrigerator in the break room holding her sandwich and yogurt. Now her appetite vanished. A sudden nausea filled her stomach, and heat flushed her skin. Only one thing would bring Deputy Blanco to see her at the clinic where she worked as office manager. Bad news about Buzz.

Stuffing her lunch into the refrigerator, she hurried to the reception area where her fiancé’s older brother waited. A grim tightness of lips replaced his usual jovial smile. He motioned her out into the hall. She forced her rubbery legs to move past the two patients seated in the waiting room, following the deputy into the building’s drafty foyer. The blast of air-conditioning raised goose bumps on her flesh, yet she perspired.

Once they attained privacy, she pounced on him. What’s wrong? Is it Buzz?

He gave a tight nod but maintained an infuriating silence. He held her gaze with sad eyes, so rich and brown like his kid brother’s. As Buzz’s next of kin, Geraldo Blanco would be the first contacted by the Army if Buzz—

No! Her heart raced. She struggled to breathe. Her voice raised an octave and trembled. You’re scaring me, Deputy. What’s happened?

Buzz has had an accident. He paused to swallow, squeezing his eyes shut. He’s in a coma.

Accident? Coma? She fought back tears. Her need for information about Buzz overruled her emotions. Later she’d cry in private. He said he had jump school. Was it—she covered her mouth—Oh, no. His chute didn’t open, did it?

It was a jumping accident, but it involved a line that slipped. I don’t think he was actually jumping from a plane. He shook his head. I need to drive up there, but I wanted you to know first.

I’m going with you.

No, Cari, you can’t. I promise to stay in touch. Give me your number.

She’d debated the optional training with Buzz just two nights ago, when he told her his progress in his quest to be in Army Airborne. His ultimate goal. He intended to make a career in the Army, which meant more training.

What happened to your plan to serve, get out, and go into law enforcement like your brother? she’d asked. No, not asked. Demanded. How dare he change their future plans without her input?

I thought I wanted law enforcement, baby, but I can make a career here. There’s so much opportunity. He’d cajoled her with promises of living all over the country.

Why hadn’t she told him it didn’t matter where they lived? All she wanted was to be with Buzz. Forever. She should’ve been supportive when he’d begun something called the Army Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning. Now he might never achieve his dream. Or walk. Or…live. Her last words to him couldn’t be her last words to him!

Please call as soon as you see him. I have to know if he’s… The sob clogging her throat stopped her from voicing her worst fears.

I know, Cari. I promise to keep you informed every step of the way.

Numbness replaced her trepidation. She returned to the office in a trance-like state, without offering Kelly an explanation. Kelly would’ve been sympathetic, but Cari wouldn’t burden the woman with her worries when she had plenty of her own. Recently divorced, Kelly had a two-year-old daughter to support and a judgmental mother who seemed too busy with her job as mayor of Drake Springs to be available to her family.

Cari grimaced at the irony. She had no business judging Mayor Monroe for being judgmental. Perhaps Jackie Monroe reminded her too much of her own mother. Yeah, that was a big part of it. When Cari reached the break room, she bypassed her lunch in favor of a cup of hot tea. Taking a seat at the round table, she absent-mindedly dunked her teabag, replacing thoughts of her mother with her new concerns about her fiancé.

Doctor Evans startled her from her reverie when he pulled out a chair across from her. Since he worked alone on Fridays, he had patients to see. But apparently he’d come to check on her. Are you all right, Cari?

She nodded. I just got bad news.

I’m sorry to hear that. Anything I can do to help?

She shook her head. Buzz was in a jumping accident and is in a coma.

Cameron Evans, MD seemed older than mid-thirties, perhaps because of his receding hairline and quiet, wise manner. His kind, firm voice reassured patients and instilled confidence and trust. Two other doctors each worked two days a week at the Drake Springs office, but Doctor Evans anchored the practice taking appointments four days each week. He’d been the one to hire her as office manager.

He gazed at her now, his brown eyes filled with sympathy. He’s at Fort Benning, right?

Yes, sir. His brother’s on his way there now.

Did you want time off to go with him? We can manage—

Deputy Blanco says I can’t go. I assume since Buzz and I aren’t married, the Army won’t let me see him.

He narrowed his eyes and cocked his head. Since when did you and Buzz let anything come between you? Go up there. Make a scene.

She almost smiled at that. Yeah, we do have a record, don’t we? But I think I’ll wait to hear from his brother before I pack a bag.

When he comes out of the coma, they will let you see him.

I need to calm down before I attempt the drive. She studied the doctor’s gentle expression. Give it to me straight. Do you think Buzz has a chance? Do you believe he’ll recover?

He shrugged. You know I can’t make a prognosis without examining him, or at least seeing his records, but many patients recover from head injuries. Don’t lose hope.

What wasn’t he telling her? Is it true patients can hear you even when they’re in a coma?

Some do. His eyes filled with concern. Are you sure you don’t need some time off?

She shook her head. At home, she’d have too many hours to imagine the worst. I promise I’ll stay focused. I need to work to keep distracted, or I’ll worry myself sick.

Mandy would tell you to pray. He smiled, and his eyes brightened with affection as they always did when he spoke of his wife. She’s a very wise woman.

I enjoy talking with her when she’s here to see Doctor Maddox. So please ask her to pray for Buzz, and I will, too.

Of course. He stood. I have a patient waiting, but tell Deputy Blanco if he wants me to look at his brother’s medical records, he can request a copy and fax it to me.

We may take you up on that. After she finished drinking her tea, she forced herself to stand. Weakness seemed to replace her earlier unsteadiness. At the refrigerator, she grabbed her lunch—not that she’d regained her hunger, but she must keep up her strength. Buzz would need her when he left the hospital.

If he left the hospital.

With that morbid thought, she took her own advice and said a silent prayer.

****

Friday evening, Cari rang the doorbell at the old familiar house where Tiffany Blair lived. After Tiffany’s mother died and then later her father remarried, Tiffany remained in her family’s house on Coronado, along with her six-year-old son.

She opened the door with her usual bright smile. Hey, Cari. Come on in. Tiffany gripped her forearm and pulled her into the living room. It’s so good to see you. Now that we’re finished with school, you’d think we could get together more often.

I know, right? This is sort of an emergency and I need girlfriend time.

Tiffany pointed to the overstuffed chair perpendicular to the sofa. Sit and take a load off, girl. I’ll make tea. Or would you rather have a Coke?

Coke is fine, and don’t dirty up a glass.

Tiffany headed toward the kitchen. Okay. I’ll bring you one Coke, straight up.

Too edgy to sit, Cari bypassed the living room and followed her into the kitchen. Where’s your boyfriend?

Woody works tonight at the pharmacy. Sean ran into the room clutching a DVD. And here’s the other guy in my life. Say hi to Miss Cari.

Hi, Miss Cari. He held up the DVD. "Do I have to wait for Mister Woody to watch Big Hero 6?"

Again? She chuckled. No, I’m sure he won’t mind if you watch it alone.

"Big Hero 6? I didn’t realize there was a Big Hero 1 through 5." Cari shook her head and grinned at the boy.

Huh?

Tiffany opened the refrigerator. She’s teasing you, honey.

Mister Woody got it for me. He bent down to hug the poodle mix dog that followed his every footstep. He got me Amber, too.

She’s adorable.

Sean disappeared into the living room, Amber at his heels. Tiffany had gotten pregnant their junior year of high school, and Sean had been born that summer. Although Tiffany returned to