DIAMOND KEYS

TWENTY-SEVEN

I got up and we went downstairs to the kitchen. Marc was about to prepare something when someone knocked on the door.

“Are you expecting someone?”

“Nope”
    
Clay went to open the door. “Hey guys!” I heard and rushed out to see Justin, Valerie, Nathan, Beauty and Charlotte.

“Michele!”
    
Before I could even blink, they were all hugging and kissing me.

“We’ve missed you!”

“How have you been?”

“It’ll soon be over.”

“We can’t wait for you to come back to school”.
    
I struggled to get them away from me before I smiled and said “Thanks.”
    
They had their seats and the contrast between how the house was two hours ago and how it was now was so evident.

“Do you have any food?” Justin asked and that reminded me immediately of Logan.
    
I just smiled at him and walked to meet Marc in the kitchen.

“What can we cook?” I asked Marc.

“I have no idea.”
   
I looked round the kitchen and I found a freshly baked cake. Mum must have made it that morning.
    
I went to the sitting room and asked if they cared for cake and they all did.
    
I served them a slice of cake and a glass of apple juice each.
    
I sat beside Marc while Clay went to sit beside Charlotte.

“When will Debonair be back?” Valerie asked.
    
I wanted to cough but the question was not asked jokingly. Really, Debonair? I had forgotten all about that. How would the group be without Claire and Logan?
    
Clay chuckled and answered. “We’ll be back soon.”

What!

“Really?!” Tasha exclaimed.

“Yup” Clay smiled and nodded.
    
Since when did Clay start making decisions for the group? I turned to look at Marc and he just smiled and shrugged.
    
I was feeling good about the visit. They were cheering me up.
    
We talked about school, the Lions-how they had won the tournament, the talent show, Elise Wright and Logan.

“I heard there were treatments for amnesia.” Beauty said.

“Yeah,” Marc replied. “Dr. Patterson had mentioned them but there are no specific treatments like medications.”

“Okay.”

“But the patient would be reminded of some things with the use of note books, wall calendars, pill reminders and photographs of people and places.” he continued.
    
Wow, I didn’t even know that! “So why don’t we do it. I mean, why don’t we start with the reminders?”
    
Marc’s smile seized as he said “His mum said we shouldn’t. She doesn’t want to risk it.”
    
Damn her! It’s because he remembers her.

“But we could do it without her knowledge.” Justin suggested and we all laughed.
    
There was a knock on the door again and Clay went to open it. “Hey.”
    
Mum and Nathan walked in with Maxwell in Nathan’s arms.  My friends stood up to greet them. “Good day Mrs. Harmon and…”
    
I had never felt so embarrassed in my entire life. Only my best friends knew about Nathan, the rest didn’t know. I wondered who they were thinking Nathan was. The plumber? The babysitter?  My uncle? Mum’s business partner? Mum’s boyfriend?
    
I felt guilt washing over me. I felt guilty of everything I had said and done to Nathan for the past three years.  I understood at that moment how mum felt and how he felt. That was the way I was feeling with Logan.
    
I could feel the pain Nathan felt because someone he loved didn’t care about him any longer.
    
I was in his shoes now.
    
Mum gave me a hard glare before turning to smile at my friend. “This is my husband, Mr. Harmon, Michele’s dad.”

“Oh, good day sir”

“Nice to meet you sir”

“I’m Justin.”

“Valerie Mendes.”
    
Nathan smiled at them. “Nice to meet you guys too.”
    
They made their way upstairs and mum gave me that look again before she disappeared up the stairs “You never told us about your…”

“Ehm, I need some time to myself, can you guys please leave?”

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Love,
Prisca.