Thursday's Child Read Online Free PDF Page A

Wife? ” She didn’t know who this guy was. What other surprises waited for her? Maybe she was still asleep and in some kind of weird dream.
    “Yes, Niamh. You’re my wife. I’m Jared. We’ve been married for eight years.” He tore his anguished eyes from her and looked at the doctor. “Why can’t she remember? I want to stay while you check her over.”
    She shook her head. “No. I’d like you to leave. Please.” He claimed to know her intimately, but she had no idea who he was and was most definitely not stripping off in front of him. It’d be embarrassing enough in front of a strange doctor.
    Fortunately the doctor seemed to agree. “I think it would be best if you waited outside, Mr. Harkin. I’ll come and speak with you when I’m done.”
    Jared scowled, sighing as he pushed up from the chair. He snatched up his coat and crossed the room with heavy steps, pausing only to wash his hands before leaving the ward.
    The coat slung over his arm swayed as he left. Was she really married to him? Did the sticking plaster on her left hand hide a wedding ring? The ward door shut and she turned her full attention to the doctor. “I know my name is Niamh and my brothers are Liam and Patrick. Can you tell me a bit more before you start poking and prodding me?”
    “Sure.” Dr. Anders perched on the edge of the bed next to her, her notes in his hand. A nurse pulled the curtains around the bed. “The ID in your bag, your brother and husband all confirm you’re Mrs. Niamh Frances Harkin. You’re thirty-six and live here in Headley Cross and work for the CPS. Your birthday is February the twenty-ninth. You’re married, no children. Your husband is the man who just left, Jared Harkin.”
    “He’s a firefighter. I know that from his uniform, but I don’t know him. I don’t understand. It’s like there’s a big hole in my mind.” She frowned.
    Thirty-six? That’s not right. I’m sure it’s not. I’m not that old, but then how can I be sure of anything?
    “OK.”
    “What I don’t understand is how do I know some things and not others? Like I know I have an IV in my hand and you’re a doctor and what things are called. I know I have a twin called Liam and an older brother, Patrick, but not who that man is. And I’m sure I’m not thirty-six. Do you have any idea why?”
    Dr. Anders smiled. “It’s not unusual for there to be some memory loss after a head injury. You were in a very nasty traffic accident.”
    “See I don’t remember that either.” She lay there, studying his face and body language, trying to take everything in. “And the rest of my family?”
    “All fine as far as I know. We’ll give Liam a call and let him know you’re awake.” He took her wrist again as he gazed at the readouts on the monitors. “What’s the last thing you remember?”
    “Other than waking up a few minutes ago with a total stranger holding my hand?” She thought for a moment. She hadn’t lost her sense of humor, which she guessed was a good thing—although Liam probably wouldn’t agree. “A blue light, sirens, it was raining. There was a voice. I remember being cold and wet. Umm…Fireworks. Lots of fireworks. There was a child, a little girl on a swing and a funeral with a flag over the coffin, but I don’t know. It could have been a dream. Everything is so foggy. That’s it, I’m afraid.”
    “No worries. I need to check you over.”
    “Sure.” She lay still as the doctor pulled back the covers and started examining her. “Was anyone else in this car crash? Or just me?”
    “There were several cars and a lorry involved. The police want to speak to you, but that can wait until tomorrow.”
    “Not that I can remember anything to tell them. How badly hurt am I? And I want the truth, none of your doctor speak or soft coating it.”
    “You coded twice. Once at the scene, and again in the ambulance on the way here. But we’ve had you on a monitor ever since and your heart is perfectly normal and