Secret: A country romance

Eight

When they got inside, Carlos closed the door behind him, Elaine walked forward and dropped her bag on the couch before turning to face him. He was just standing there, his back resting on the shut door, his arms crossed on his chest, his midnight blue eyes watching her intently, the lantern placed beside his right foot with the light casting a faint shadow on his face, making him look like a night god.

She took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, she opened her eyes as she let out the breath, "I think we should talk."

Carlos smiled faintly to the floor, "yes, but are you up to it now? We can leave it tomorrow."

"No" she shook her head "it has to be now. You deserve to know the reason I'm avoiding you" she sighed "which have been very difficult."

"Elaine..."

"Tom" she interrupted "I don't know why this is happening or why it happened but I'm glad it did, at least, it stopped me from delving deeper."

"What are you talking about Elaine?"

She sniffed and closed her eyes, the tears strolling down her cheeks "you might not remember now but that morning, I was awake beside you and I heard you" she wiped away her tears and sniffed "you were telling your daughter you are safe."

Carlos Froze.

Daughter?

When did he have a daughter and he doesn't know?

"Daughter? I don't understand."

"I know you don't, after all, you don't remember any of your memories and you don't remember most of your dreams when you wake up. But I'm telling you now, you have a daughter, it's possible you are married."

"I'm not married Elaine" he left the door and approach her "and I don't have a daughter either."

"Tom, you don't understand because you don't remember. You were calling out to your daughter that morning."

"Elaine..."

"Tom please, don't make this harder than it already is. Just because you lost your memories doesn't mean you have to cheat on your wife."

"What are you talking about Elaine? I'm not married."

"How would you know? Tell me Tom, how would you know? You don't remember anything about you, not your last name, or where you are from or what even happened to you before you came here. So tell me, how would you know that you are not married?"

Carlos bit his lip, should he tell her? But he can't. What if she hates him for lying to her in the first place? What if she refused to see him anymore, what is he going to do then? But can he afford to lose her now? "Elaine listen..."

"If only we know your last name, it will be better to find you so that you can return to your family. With them you will remember faster because you will be in a familiar place. A place that holds all your memories."

Carlos stared at her, he doesn't know what to say or how to tell her otherwise. He closed his eyes as he fought an inner battle on telling her the truth or not, but at the end, he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to say anything about himself. John died because he was with him and knew who he is, he can't let that happen to Elaine too by telling her who he is, he just needs to find another way to make her believe that he is not married "I'm not married. I don't believe I am."

"Tom please, you don't have to deny that, especially not your daughter."

"I don't have a daughter!" He yelled, Elaine flinched as she sobbed silently. Carlos took a deep breath and licked his lips, "I'm sorry" he sighed "I just don't understand why you are so keen in believing that I have a daughter."