He Thought I'd Forget novel · Chapter 7 of 32

Chapter 7: Grand Rounds

A second black car was idling at the curb.

The driver held up a card that said ALDANE.

"Dr. Aldane sent me for you and the little guy," he said.

Of course he had.

I could have walked back upstairs.

I could have knocked on 4C.

But Byron had every page of my book, and he'd told me to bring my son.

If I didn't go, he'd come and get us.

I got in the car.

The memory clinic was on the ninth floor of the university hospital.

Byron's name was on a brass plate by the doors.

So was the book cover, framed, five feet tall.

The Woman Who Wakes Every Morning.

It was a photo of me from behind, standing at a window in a white nightgown.

I didn't remember anyone taking it.

A receptionist walked me down a hall to a conference room.

It was full.

A dozen residents in short white coats sat around a long table with notebooks open.

Two older doctors stood at the back with coffee.

At the front, Alexis sat behind a laptop, lanyard on her bump.

On the screen above her, in big letters: PATIENT L. SEVEN YEARS.

Her badge said DR. ALEXIS NEVILLE, RESEARCH FELLOW.

I read it twice so I'd have it.

Byron stood up from the head of the table and came to me with both hands out.

"Here she is. Everyone, this is Mrs. L."

He took Davey's car seat from me and set it on the table, right in the middle.

Davey grabbed a plastic brain model and tried to eat it.

A few residents laughed.

Byron pulled out a chair for me.

"Lee, we're just going to have a little chat, okay? Nothing scary. These are doctors in training. They've read all about you."

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