Chapter 6

• Chapter 6: A Different Xenois
• The hospital room was dimly lit, monitors beeping steadily beside the bed where Xenois lay, his head bandaged, an IV in his arm.
• He looked smaller somehow and more vulnerable in a way I'd never thought I would associate with him.
• The boys approached the bed cautiously, Troy reaching for my hand.
• "Daddy?" Soren called softly.
• Xenois's eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first, then focusing as recognition flashed through his eyes as they landed on the children
• He smiled, at them as he looked at each of them tenderly.
• "My boys," he murmured, his voice hoarse from tiredness. "Come here."
• They moved forward eagerly then, their caution earlier forgotten after the explicit permission from their dad.
• Xenois winced as they climbed onto the bed but he made no move to stop them, instead gathering them close with his uninjured arm.
• "Careful," I warned, stepping forward getting in his line of vision. "Daddy's hurt."
• Xenois looked up at me, and something in his eyes made my breath catch.
• He looked at me with something...was it relief? Warmth? Something I'd never seen directed at me before.
• "Celeste," he said, stretching his free hand toward me. "You're here."
• Confused by his tone and his emotions he seemed to be processing, I gently took his hand waving the strange feeling as a result of being drugged which made all his walls crumble.
• "Of course. Dmitri told us what happened."
• "I knew you'd come," he said with such certainty that it startled me as I didn't know what to say.
• Then, before I could respond, he tugged me closer and pressed his lips to mine in a kiss as he seemed to plunge his tongue in mine as I widened my eyes.
• I pulled back, stunned. "Xenois?"
• He frowned, looking between me and the boys with confusion like I was the one acting strange from pulling away from a kiss. This was the first time that the triplets had even seen us kiss and the last time that happened was on the night they were conceived.
• "What's wrong? Why do you all look so upset?"
• "You were in an accident, Dad," Troy explained slowly. "You got hurt."
• "I see that," Xenois agreed, touching his bandaged head slowly as he winced at the touch before pulling away.
• "But I'm fine now that my family's here." His eyes returned to me, warm and... loving? "I'm sorry I scared you, sweetheart."
• Sweetheart? My eyes widened in surprise as I looked behind me wondering if Claudia has somehow appeared at my back cause this was unbelievable.
• In six years, Xenois had never used a term of endearment with me. Not once.
• The boys exchanged bewildered glances with each other as they looked at me and back at the door trying to see if Dad was talking to someone else.
• "Dad's acting weird," Soren whispered to his brothers.
• Lake tugged at Xenois's hospital gown, gaining his attention as he spoke. "Dad, are you mad at Mom still? About the divorce?"
• "Divorce?" Xenois repeated, his frown getting deep as he glanced at me and back at the boys. "What divorce?"
• A cold dread settled in my stomach. I turned to find Dmitri watching from the doorway as he has entered quietly closing the door behind him, his expression confirming my suspicion.
• "Dmitri," I called softly. "A word?"
• In the hallway, I confronted him without punching punches. "My husband kissed me and called me and endearment so I am only going to ask once. He doesn't remember, does he?"
• Dmitri shook his head as he replied,
• "The doctor said there might be some memory loss from the concussion. Temporary, probably."
• "How much has he forgotten?" I pressed him for more information trying to understand what was happening.
• "Not sure," Dmitri admitted. "But he keeps asking for his wife and kids. Seems to think..." He trailed off, looking uncomfortable.
• "Seems to think what?"
• "That you're a normal family," Dmitri finished. "That you love each other."
• The irony nearly made me laugh. For three years, I'd loved Xenois silently, hopelessly, knowing he could never return my feelings.
• Now, when I was hours away from leaving forever, he'd forgotten that our marriage was nothing but a business arrangement.
• "Mrs. Kingston?" A nurse approached, holding a familiar envelope. "We found these in your husband's jacket pocket. I thought you might want them."
• The divorce papers. I took them from her, my mind racing.
• "Let me speak to the doctor," I said to Dmitri. "Keep an eye on them, please."
• Dr. Harris confirmed what I'd feared the most as I held onto the papers for support.
• "Retrograde amnesia. It's not uncommon with concussions. From his questions, it seems he may have lost months, possibly years of memories."
• "Will they return?" I asked.
• "Most likely, yes. But it could take days, weeks... sometimes longer." She hesitated for a moment before she continued speaking in a lower tone.
• "It's generally best not to force memories. Let them return naturally to avoid additional trauma or rather additional loss of other memories."
• I nodded my head slowly, numb with shock. "Thank you."
• When I returned to the room, Xenois was listening carefully as the boys recounted some adventure from the park that morning, his expression, one of genuine interest and affection.
• "Celeste," he smiled when he saw me. "The doctor says I can go home tomorrow if everything looks good."
• "That's... wonderful," I managed to say to him not sure of what I should tell him.
• Dmitri stepped forward, looking uncomfortable as he looked at me as I nodded my head.
• "Boss, about today's plans. I can still take Mrs. Kingston to the airport if—"
• "Airport?" Xenois interrupted, frowning. "Where is my wife going?"
• "Nowhere," I said quickly, shooting Dmitri a warning look.
• "Just a... trip we were discussing. It's not important now."
• Dmitri cleared his throat. "I found these in the car, sir." He handed Xenois the divorce papers I'd signed that morning. "Thought you might want them."
• I held my breath as Xenois examined the documents, his frown deepening as he read. Then, without warning, he tore them in half, then quarters, then eighths.