Love's Deception
Written by Holly M. Custer
Copyright © 1999

Marcus stared down at his wife who was lying in a hospital bed. She had been in car accident that had left her unconscious.. He had stayed with her since she had been brought into the hospital.

Marcus wondered what would happen when she awoke from her unconscious state. Just days before, Jordan had filed divorce papers against him. He didn't even want the divorce. He loved his wife and wanted to stay with her. He was very afraid that things might not be able to be worked out at all.

"Help me!" Marcus looked up to see his wife sitting up in bed. She had a look of total confusion on her lovely face. He gently eased her back on the pillows with soothing words.

"It's all right, sweetheart. I'm here."

Jordan looked up into his handsome face with a puzzled expression on her face. "Who are you?" Marcus jerked back in shock. She didn't know who he was? How could this be? They had shared so much of their lives together. They had been friends, companions and lovers for more than fifteen years. They had known each other since they were teenagers. He was the first one to ever kiss her. How could she not know him, her husband.

Marcus called for the nurse. He let her know what was going on and she called the doctor. The doctor would arrive very soon. He was at the hospital all ready.

Marcus slowly faced his wife. He sat down next to her. "I'm Marcus, Jordan. I'm your------I'm here to take care of you." He had a sudden, impulsive idea. Maybe, just maybe there was a way he could make things right between him and his wife. Maybe they would be able to start over again. He decided not to make things more stressful for Jordan, so he conveniently avoided the fact they were husband and wife.

The doctor came in and examined Jordan. They knew that she had hit her head. Now they knew that the bump had affected her memory somewhat. He couldn't or wouldn't say if she would get her memory back or not.

That night, Marcus hurried home. He had his younger sister, Karen, take down all the wedding pictures of him and Jordan. He moved all of Jordan's possessions into the guestroom. Karen, reluctantly, dusted and vacuumed the room to give it a more lived-in look.

"Marc, I can't believe you're doing this. You are deliberately deceiving your wife." Karen said pushing blond hair back from her pretty face. She stood facing her brother with her hands on her hips. Karen was sixteen, but she could face her brother anytime.

"You have to understand, Karen. I'm trying to start over with Jordan. I want her to fall in love with me without our problems hanging over our heads. God knows, I don't want this divorce. I love her with all of my heart. Please help me, Sis." Marcus pleaded. Karen gazed at him for a long moment struggling with her conscience.\

"All right, but I don't like this one little bit." Karen conceded unwillingly.as she turned back to her cleaning. She knew in her heart that this plan of Marcus' was going to backfire on him, but at this point he was too stubborn to listen to reason.

Several days later, Marcus brought Jordan home from the hospital. She looked up at him with no knowledge that he was her husband, although he did look familiar.\

"Why did you bring me here?"

"You live here, Jordan. You live here with my sister and me." Marcus answered gently showing her to her room. He wanted so much to hold her in his arms and kiss her passionately, but it was too soon. Now was not the time.

"Where's my family?" She asked staring at the unfamiliar surroundings.

"Honey, we are your family. Your parents are both gone and you didn't have any brothers or sisters." Marcus said tenderly placing his hand on her slender shoulder. This was going to be more difficult than he thought.

"Would you mind showing me around tomorrow? I would like to see what the place is like. Maybe it will jog my memory."

"Okay, how about we take a picnic lunch with us?"

"Sounds good." Jordan paused for a moment. Her brow was furrowed in thought. "Marcus, were we more than just friends?"

"Yes, we were. I called you 'Angel'." He said softly. He watched her face. She seemed to be trying to remember. He watched as she placed her hand to her head. "I'll go get you some Tylenol------Angel." Marcus whispered the endearment hesitantly.

"Thank you." Jordan didn't seem to notice his use of the endearing term. She went and sat down wearily.

Marcus fetched a glass of water and three Tylenol for his wife. After she took the medication, he made her lie down for a while before dinner. She was glad to take the opportunity to rest. She lay down and closed her eyes. Marcus left the room quietly.

The next morning after their ride, Marcus dropped Jordan off at the house. He took the horses back to the stable. He unsaddled them and groomed them. He cleaned the tack and hung it up carefully. He washed his hands and went up to the house. He went inside and walked down the hall. Jordan was standing in the doorway to the master bedroom-------their bedroom. He wondered if she was all right. She was standing as still as a statue.

"Are you all right, Jordan?" He asked softly not wanting to startle her.

Without turning to him, Jordan spoke quietly and without emotion. "Marcus, this room had a lot of memories for me------for us." She paused. Marcus saw her hands tighten visibly on the doorjamb. "You lied to me!" She whirled on him. He stepped back knowing what was coming and not knowing how to stop it. "Why didn't you tell me that I was------am your wife? Did you hate me that much?"

"Please, Jordan, listen to me. I can explain." Marcus grabbed her arms and tried to pull her to him. She jerked away from him. She was very angry and upset.

"Explain?! You don't need to explain anything! I understand everything now! Just leave me alone, Marcus Harridan!" Jordan ran from him. She stopped on the porch and realized that she was crying. She felt so hurt and betrayed. She had thought that Marcus had cared about her.

Yes, Jordan remembered everything. She remembered the car accident. A semi had shoved her car off the road. She was lucky that she hadn't been killed. She also remembered that before the accident she had been going to Marcus' office to tell him that she had decided not to file the divorce papers. She had been so excited and happy. She had wanted to give their marriage another chance. Now it wouldn't be possible. All was lost. Jordan let out a single sob and ran to the gazebo behind the house. This was her place of solace and solitude. This was where she came when she needed to think or be alone. She sank down on to a bench and burst into tears.

Back at the house, Marcus was still standing in the doorway of the master bedroom. His head was lowered and he was almost in tears. Karen walked up behind him and put her arms around his waist.

"I heard, Marc. I'm so sorry." She whispered. Marcus turned around and put his arms around his sister. He buried his face in her hair and wept.

"What am I supposed to do, Karen? I've lost her. I just know I have. She won't even listen to me." He said wiping tears from his face.

"This is your own fault, Marc. You should have told her the truth from the very beginning. She's hurt and shocked and vulnerable. None of this would have happened if you had just been honest." Karen chided gently. "Would you like me to talk to her? Maybe I could smooth things a little so you can talk to her."

"Thanks, Sis. I accept your offer.:

Jordan sat quietly. All the tears had been drained from her slender body. At this point, she was numb. She didn't know what to think or what to do.

"Jordan,, can I talk to you for a minute?" Jordan looked up and saw her sister-in-law standing in front of her.

"Please, sit down." Jordan invited. Karen sat down next to her on the bench.

"I wish you would listen to what Marcus has to say. He loves you so much, Jordan, and this is killing him. He thought he was doing what was best for you and him."

"Did I tell you that I never filed the divorce papers?" Jordan laughed at herself. "I guess I didn't. I only just remembered myself. I was on my way to see Marcus when the accident occurred. I was going to tell him that I wanted to give us another chance. I love him, Karen. I love him as much as any woman can love her man. He is my whole life. If I lost him, I would lose myself." Jordan said sadly.

"I feel the same way, Angel." Jordan jerked her head up and saw her husband standing in front of her. she had never seen a more wonderful sight in her whole life. Slowly, she stood to her feet. She suddenly felt shy. They stood apart from each other for several long seconds. Marcus took the initiative and stepped closer to his wife. He brushed his fingers down her cheek to her chin. He raised her chin so that he could look into her hazel eyes. They were eyes that bared her soul to him. Eyes that caressed his face with love. Marcus leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers ever so tenderly. Jordan threw her arms around his neck and held him close. They looked into each other's eyes. They put their arms around each other and walked away. Karen smiled and sighed. Everything was going to be all right. What a relief!

For the next few days, all was as it should be. Marcus and Jordan were happier than ever. One day, however, Karen heard them arguing at the top of their lungs. She raced into the living room.

"What's wrong now?" Karen shouted wanting to be heard above their yelling. Marcus and Jordan turned to her with surprised expressions on their faces. They shrugged their shoulders and started to laugh. Karen stood staring at them not understanding anything.

"Honey, you can't have the fun of making up unless you have a good argument. Right, Angel?" Marcus stated turning to his wife with a grin.

"That's right, sweetheart. Let's go make up." Jordan grabbed his hand and they ran down the hall to their bedroom. Karen heard the door close gently behind them.

"I'll never understand grown-ups." Karen muttered under her breath. She stalked outside and slammed the door shut behind her.

The End