Chapter 66 - The House at the Bogs

Brett paced anxiously, he kept trying to work but after Andy told him she'd agreed to come meet three Insurance people he hadn't been able to sleep or focus on work. Travis had kicked him out of the barns. He'd punched Andy when his friend had finally told him that he knew where to find her, it had been over two years and he still couldn't get her out of his head.

The Bogs had suffered in the storm, but the worst was the house: a tree had come down on the kitchen, barely missing her room but smashing the table they'd made together. He'd moved into the bunk house until it could be decided what to do with the house. A part of him wondered if he should leave until after she left but he missed her and wanted to see yet-- he promised himself that if she was still angry with him he'd head to the barns and stay away.

He stopped pacing when he heard an engine turn off and came around the corner to see a woman with chin length purple hair getting out of a little blue sports car. He didn't know what to think: she looked nothing like she had the last time he saw her and he didn't think he would have recognized her if he'd passed her on the street: she had lost weight and looked very different than he remembered. He hesitated on the steps until Henry came tearing out of the car and sat eagerly at his feet. Her laughter rang clear and confident and there was no fear or uncertainty in her eyes anymore. She leaned on the car frame, and muttered under her breath.

"I'm sorry?" he asked her to repeat herself.

"I said, at least Henry seems to know who you are," she grinned and looked around like she'd never been there before and Brett suddenly realized there was no recognition in her face. She realized that he had been expecting a different kind of reunion, "I'm guessing they still haven't told you-- stupid lawyer/patient crap" she sighed, apologetically and decided to just spit it out, "You seem to know who I am but I was in an accident a few years ago: I have amnesia and I wouldn't even know this place existed if it wasn't for Terri-Lee telling me the insurance people insisted I come."

Brett was crouched by Henry, scratching the dog's belly and feeding him treats trying not to react, trying to scare her. He failed and cursed loudly under his breath. "I suppose that explains more than it doesn't," he admitted and stood up, offered his hand, "I'm Brett, we were..." here struggled for the right word.

"Lovers?" she provided, "I'm told I lived here with you for a time after my ex-husband and that we had a falling out the day I was hit." She was looking past him at the home they had shared and around the yard.

"We were more than friends," he admitted, hating the clinical way she talked about what they'd had, "but we'd never had that kind of relationship either, you couldn't after your ex." it was weird defining for her the relationship they'd had.

"Well, that certainly hasn't changed," she chuckled and he was amazed by the lightness in her laughter. She looked around, "Is Doc Andy here or the insurance people? Doc wanted to be sure that he was on hand in case something here triggered a memory."

"Andy and I might have had an argument last night, I'm not sure he thinks he's welcome today."

"Oh dear." she smiled and suddenly Brett felt awkward. This was not what he'd expected, it was worse to know she didn't remember him at all than to have her mad at him. He hadn't stopped thinking about her. "Will you show me around?" she asked cheerfully.

Brett pointed at her footwear, "Once you change your shoes, sure," he pointed at the two inch strappy heels she'd worn with her choice of denim pants rolled up at the ankle paired with an off the shoulder sweater. One of the scars from Luke was visible but it didn't seem to bother her the way it once would have. She stared at him, not understanding, "this is a working ranch, Maisey, animal dung everywhere," she frowned and he sighed before moving toward the house. He had barely been gone when he returned with boots that were her size.

"Won't your wife be upset you're giving me these?" She sat down on the front seat of her car and took off her heels, sliding her feet into the boots.

"Not married," Brett said, "Those are yours: you left a lot of stuff and I couldn't bring myself to get rid of any of it considering this house is yours."

"Oh dear. I'm so sorry, if they'd have told me sooner I'd have cleared it out and given you the house sooner. It must be strange to your girlfriend, you living in another women's house, surrounded by her things, I think if I was a jealous type I'd..." she stopped midsentence.

Brett held her gaze with a mix of pain and relief as she slipped the wig off her head and tossed it onto the front seat, "there's been no other women for me since you, Maisey."

She stopped, her arms midway in the air as she put her long hair up into a loose braid. "I thought you said we didn't have that kind of relationship." Suddenly unsure what to say.

"I..." Brett was interrupted by two cars pulling in, he frowned as a young man climbed out of one and the insurance adjuster from the other. Henry had run eagerly to the sandy haired boy how who immediately sent a toy flying for the dog to fetch. She hugged him and Brett wanted to punch him through a wall but tried to remember her comment about not having been with anyone since she woke up from her accident.

"That's Kyle," she told Brett apologetically, "he looked after Henry when I was in the hospital, he lost his dad recently to cancer, he's the closest thing to family I have. He really wanted to see the ranch, he's never had a chance before."

Brett introduced her to the insurance adjuster, who was joined by a contractor they kept at the Bogs for day to day repairs and they moved into the house. He wasn't sure about the kid, but Henry had always been a good judge of character so he was willing to give him a chance. He took the group around the house, cringing at the damage, seeing it for the first time through her eyes.

"It must have been a lovely house," Maisey admitted, "It looks like it had good bones."

"I can't believe it is still standing," the contractor mused, "That tree was a hundred years old, those two walls there are load bearing," he pointed, "that whole side of the house is going to need to be opened up and rebuilt from the ground up. The porch as well."

Maisey listened but the information meant very little to her. She found herself wandering away from the group, trying to envision herself there. It seemed nice but she couldn't imagine herself living there. She loved the space but, she sneezed, her allergies were something she hadn't lost with the amnesia and she just couldn't see herself staying somewhere that made her sick. She sneezed again.

"Here," Brett handed her a small package, "Allergy pills you left behind, I guess if you lost your memory you didn't know you needed to go for monthly allergy shots." The contractor and the adjuster continued surveying and talking.

"Thank you," she took the package and popped a pill, "It really is beautiful, and I'm sorry I don't remember it."

Brett shrugged, "Maybe it's for the best, you weren't exactly happy with me the last time we talked."

"Why not?" she asked curiously.

"Maybe it's best you don't remember," he shrugged. "I really do not want you to give me back the house," he told her, "My aunt left specific instructions about the house and I think she'd be upset with me if I didn't follow them, even if you don't remember."

"I can't see why I would want to keep a house I don't even live in," she countered, "I have a business to run and a place there, plus all the travelling I do."

"Humor me, please, at least until the repairs are done and you can see it the way it was. If you still feel that way I won't argue."

"You're hoping I'll change my mind," she smiled, "I won't, but I'll agree to your terms."

"Alright, Mrs Barnes," the Adjuster came over, "I need to take this information to my office in Calgary and have it properly formalized. Once that is done it will need your signature."

"It's Ms Barnes," she corrected, "I'm divorced. How do I make it so that Brett has the authority to sign off? I don't want to have to run down here or to Calgary every time a decision needs to be made, he's a capable adult and the home is really his, everything is just in my name."

"That's not how this works, Ms Barnes," the adjuster frowned, "the insurance is in your name, you're the only one who can make changes and requests."

Maisey frowned, "Very well," she turned to Brett, "I guess you'll have to call me when you need me then, but I can't promise I will be around, I really do travel a lot."

"Prob'aly not as much for the next year," Kyle told them with a laugh and dashed off after Henry, "This is a great place, Brett, if I hadn't agreed to work for Maisey at her new shop I would totally be asking if I could hang out here."

Brett raised an eyebrow at Maisey who shrugged, thinking maybe bringing Kyle wasn't such a great idea. "I'll be in touch once the claim has been approved." He started to move toward his car.

"Hold on," Maisey stopped him, "Approved? Are you seriously telling me you dragged us all out here to look at the tree and the damage BEFORE you approved a claim? There is no discussion about this, you can call ahead and get that claim approved now so that Brett and the team can get started on the repairs so he can actually live in a safe home or you can wait while my attorney calls your office to expedite this process. I understand you have a process, but my understanding is this storm happened two weeks ago and you've been out to the property five times. Today was supposed to be getting my signature and now you're telling us otherwise? The longer you delay, the more damage there will be and I will hold you liable."