Chapter One~394

Maxine: Mom, please. Please tell me what’s wrong with me. Tell me how much time I’ve lost. No one will tell me exactly how long I’ve been- I’ve-

Teresa: Oh Maxine. This is so difficult. 

Maxine upset: I’m not seventeen.

Teresa: No, my darling. You’re not seventeen.

Maxine fearful: How- how old am I? Who am I?

Teresa: You’re Max, you’re my sweet beautiful precious Max. It doesn’t matter what you can or can’t remember. You’re MY Maxine.

Maxine: I’m trying so hard to remember anything at all and I can’t. I just CAN’T. 

Teresa: What was the last thing you remember?

Maxine: The Wind Island Fair. I was there and I was a part of the kissing booth.  Ingrid won second prize in the bake-off! And Ava was so mad at Manny, she didn’t want to talk to him even though they were supposed to-

Maxine stops. Manny and Ava’s elopement was a secret. Her own pregnancy was a secret. But they were secrets for seventeen-year-old Max. Where they still secrets now?

Teresa gives her daughter a sad smile and answers as if she had read Maxine’s mind.

Teresa: Manny and Ava eloped. They’re still married. And Ingrid won second prize in the bakeoff- Reggie won first prize, I remember. They’re engaged now. They have their own bakery on the island.

Maxine: They’re engaged…she always loved him…

Teresa: Maxine, you’re 22. Almost 23. And my darling…so much has happened since you were 17…at the county fair…so much…

Chapter One~393

Teresa slowly opens the door to the hospital room, her slippery palms barely able to get a grip on the handle. The last time she’d seen her daughter…there had been such tremendous hate in Maxine’s eyes. She wasn’t sure what she was going to see in her daughter’s eyes now. It was a terrifying moment for her- as terrifying as when Maxine had run away with Cooper, as when Anais was kidnapped… 

She enters the room and the two take each other in.

Maxine spoke first, her blue eyes widening. Time had passed, this she knew. But seeing her mother drove it home. 

Her mother didn’t look the same at all. Her last memory of her mother had been of a woman flushed from working long hours at the estate, wearing comfortable but dowdy clothes because of the long hours on her feet, a chubby woman with tired eyes and a weary smile.

This slender, stylish woman wasn’t the same woman at all.

Maxine bewildered: Mom?

Teresa afraid: Maxine…

But there was nothing to fear. There was no hatred in her daughter’s eyes. Confusion, shock…but no hatred. None at all.

This was her daughter. The daughter she’d lost. For a moment, Teresa was too overcome to talk. She covers her hand with her mouth to keep from sobbing.

Maxine worried: Mom…please don’t cry. Please. I don’t think I can take it if you cry. I just want…

Teresa: Oh Maxine, menininha …

Maxine: Mom, I need a hug. I’m scared and I-

Teresa cuts her daughter off, pulls her daughter tight in her arms.

Teresa whispers: Oh Maxine. Maxine. All these years…without you…eu quase morro…

Chapter One~392

Cooper: What about me, Max?

Maxine: I know you’ve been here round the clock. Caring for me. We’ve always been good friends, Coop. But why? Why do you care so much? Why were you here before my mother? And where is here? I’m in a hospital- but this isn’t Wind Island. I see all these huge tall buildings when I look out the window. I’m in San Myshuno- the nurses and doctors all have badges that say San Myshuno. Why am I in San Myshuno? 

Cooper: You’re in San Myshuno because San Myshuno is where you live now. 

Maxine: When? Since when?

Cooper rubs his neck. The hospital had given Maxine her diagnosis, but it wasn’t up to them to fill in the blanks. And Cooper was beginning to see the enormity of all the blanks to be filled.

Cooper: You’ve lived here for several years. And- and so have I. We moved here a long time ago.

Maxine: A long time ago? How long ago? And what about-

Cooper had never felt so overwhelmed in his life, overwhelmed and at a loss as to how to explain. His next words felt cowardly to him but he didn’t know where to even begin.

Cooper sad: Your mother can better explain, Maxine. About these last few years…she can explain.

Chapter One~391

It would be Teresa to give the personal details of Maxine’s condition but Cooper was still her next of kin. He was the one responsible for all of her medical decisions-he was her partner even if Maxine didn’t know it. He enters Maxine’s room first, to advise her of her mother’s arrival.

Cooper: Hey, Max. Have the doctors been in to speak with you? To tell you more about- about your diagnosis?

Maxine: They said I’m suffering from memory loss. But they won’t tell me anything more. I feel like- like there’s this big secret everyone is hiding from me!

Cooper: It’s not a secret, Maxine. You have significant memory loss. 

Maxine confused: But I remember who I am, I remember you, I remember everyone! I know all of you seem to be much older than I am, but I want to know- I want to know how bad this is!

Cooper: Your mom is here. She just got here. If you want to see her, she’s here.

Maxine frustrated: Why wouldn’t I want to see her, Cooper? Do you see what I mean? That’s so confusing to me…why wouldn’t I want to see my own mother? And I want to know something else- something about you.

Chapter One~390

“Make her aware of what role you have in her life”.

Cooper Russo wasn’t sure how he could possibly explain to Maxine his role in her life when for years, his role had been nothing but a lie. They’d recklessly ran away together years before but nothing good had come of it. And now he wanted out- he wanted to make a life with Nialla Holmes while still playing a part in Anais’ life- but none of that would make sense to Maxine.

Nicky Holmes pressed his fingers together, his mind and heart racing. He knew exactly where Teresa Esparza was coming from in her desire to keep Maxine unaware- he’d always fantasized about a do-over with Maxine, a chance to repair all the damage he’d done. But not like this- never like this. He hadn’t spoken to Maxine since Luke had managed to reveal the truth from her. He was afraid of what she’d ask, what’d she want to know. He was afraid to tell her what his role was- that he was someone she both loved and hated.

It was decided it would be Teresa to tell Maxine of her condition. Maxine believed herself to be seventeen and her mother had been her primary caretaker. Getting the information from her mother would be easier on Maxine’s state of mind. Still, Teresa knew once Maxine recovered, there was a possibility her role would go back to what she’d been for several years- a mother Maxine no longer cared about.

There was a heaviness in the room as they all pondered their role in Maxine Esparza’s life.

Chapter One~389

But if Teresa had any illusion of keeping Maxine in the dark about her true age- it was shattered after meeting with the doctor caring for Maxine.

Dr. Foster:No, Mrs. Esparza. We don’t keep patients suffering from amnesia unaware of their condition. We have to tell Maxine of her diagnosis, and we have to try and assist her in recovering her lost memory, in any way that we can. In most cases, the memories return on their own but we do need to try and help Maxine recover them or help her learn new information to replace the information she’s lost.

Teresa: But Maxine- she and I no longer speak- we haven’t for years- and I fear that-

Dr. Foster sympathetic: I understand your concern. However, amnesia is not treated by building a false world for the patient. It’s treated through psychotherapy, occupational therapy, memory training-  but even more importantly- through the help of family and friends. All of you are key in helping Maxine recover.

Cooper alarmed: So we have to remind Maxine of everything she forgot? It’s  years of lost memory.

Dr. Foster: Actually, reminding her will have no effect on her recovery. The information where memory is stored isn’t triggered by reminders. Amnesia recovery is usually spontaneous. But I cannot advise you to pretend she’s still a teenager. She’ll see for herself that she’s not. 

Teresa: So, what do we do?

Dr. Foster:Make her aware of what role you have in her life. Support her. Be honest with her. I can’t pretend this won’t be a painful process for Maxine and for all of you. But amnesia is not a do-over. It’s a loss of critical information t

Chapter One~388

Teresa: You’re right. You can’t change the past. But I’m telling you now I want you away from my daughter. I don’t want you to hurt her any longer. 

Nico Jr: Maxine is Anais’ mother. I can’t stay away from her- at least not until our own daughters turns 18.

Teresa: 18. Max believes she’s 17. Did you know that?

Nico Jr: I know but I researched online and I’ve asked questions of the medical staff and it all indicates amnesia is usually temporary. Max won’t think she’s 17 forever- it will all come back to her eventually.

Teresa: I ask that you stay away until she gets her memory back, until Max recovers. Cooper and I will care for her. 

Nico Jr:What kind of person would I be if I didn’t help Max in any way that I could? We have a child together, Teresa. Are YOU forgetting that?

Teresa:I’m sure you can find a way to balance caring for Anais and keeping away from Maxine. 

Nico Jr raised eyebrow: What are you afraid of, Teresa? That I’ll tell Max how she hates you? How she hates me? You want to keep her seventeen and innocent until it all comes back to her? That’s unrealistic.

Teresa: I don’t think it is. I think if we can spare Max any more pain…we should. This is my chance to get my little girl back, Nicky.

Chapter One~387

Teresa: For years I’ve wanted to tell you how much I deeply despise you. How I wish I’d never laid eyes on you. I’ve gone so far as to wish I’d never worked for your family, even though I spent the best years of my life with my husband on that estate. If I weren’t a civilized human being? I’d spit in your face and curse your dark soul to hell, you and your foul parents.

Nico Jr calm: I respect that. I know I wasn’t the easiest person to deal with in the past. I was unkind to you and for that- I’m truly sorry.

Teresa angry: Unkind? Unkind is how you see it? Unkind is too light of a word for the havoc you created in my life, in my daughter’s life! I remember asking you- begging you- years ago to leave my child alone. And you refused.

Nico Jr: I was a child myself, Teresa. A terrible one, but it’s what I was. A boy. And I was very much in love with your daughter. I couldn’t leave her alone.

Teresa sneers: Love? You ruined her! Your actions caused her to break apart from everything she knew and held dear! From me, from her friends, from her island! Your parents tore down the home Max grew up in, I barely had time to take out all of our belongings, our memories. You walked away from Maxine, alone and pregnant, you left her DESTROYED, and you have the audacity to call that love?

Nico Jr: I’m sorry for what I did to Max. To you. To everyone. More than you know. But what’s the point of dragging up the past? Why fight over it? I can’t change anything.

Chapter One~386

Cooper soothing: Yes, Teresa, she remembers you. She’s asked for you, is very desperate to see you. She doesn’t seem to remember that-

Teresa sad: That we no longer speak. 

Cooper: Yes. She doesn’t remember she’s not on good terms with you. She also remembers me, her friends, Wind Island- she remembers who she is.

Teresa frustrated: So then, what can’t she remember? How her accident happened? I’m so sad she was here for days with no one knowing- my poor helpless baby- but maybe it’s best she doesn’t remember how she got injured- it might have been something very traumatic-

Cooper: She remembers Nicky Holmes. She’s asked for him over and over.

Teresa: Of course she would- he’s the father of her child-

Cooper hesitant:But- she doesn’t remember Anais. In fact- she seems to believe she’s still pregnant.

Teresa shocked: What? She doesn’t remember Anais? Her own child?! How could that be? I don’t understand! How horrible!

Cooper: It’s all very upsetting Teresa, but the truth is- Max thinks she’s a teenager. She’s told us and the medical staff that- that she’s seventeen years old. They’ve asked her questions about the present day and she hasn’t been able to answer any of them. She doesn’t remember anything beyond 17- she has no recollection of the years after. She doesn’t know she’s 22- almost 23.

Teresa gasps: Oh my God. She thinks she’s 17?!

Cooper nods, while the man beside Teresa gently kisses her on the forehead.

Aleric: It’ll be fine, Reese. We’re here now and it will be fine. *turns to Cooper* I’m Aleric, by the way. I’m Teresa’s fiance.

Cooper murmurs a greeting, still shocked at Teresa having found love again.

Teresa: Is- Nicky- Nicky Holmes here?

Cooper: He is. He’s slept here and-

Teresa dark: I want to speak with him.

Chapter One~385

Teresa Esparza arrived in San Myshuno a day after her daughter woke up. She’d traveled as swiftly as she could from Australia. Cooper didn’t want to give her all the details of Maxine’s condition over the phone- he thought it would be best to tell Teresa in person.

He almost didn’t recognize the woman who anxiously greeted him in the hospital waiting area. He hadn’t seen Teresa in several years and was surprised to find she looked much different than he remembered. She was slimmer, tanner, her strawberry blonde hair fashionably styled, and if it weren’t for the deep worry lines on her face, he would have thought her to be much younger than a woman approaching her 50′s. He was also surprised to see her hand in hand with an older gentleman, and it was apparent he was a love interest.

Cooper puts his surprise to the side and gently tells Teresa of Maxine’s ailment.

Teresa upset: Amnesia?! My God, but how? How did this happen, Cooper?

Cooper: She doesn’t recall. She was found unconscious in the street and a good Samaritan called an ambulance and she was brought here. The medical staff haven’t disclosed her condition to her. Not yet. But they’ve done all of the diagnostic treatments and her diagnosis is retrograde amnesia. She can’t remember any recent memories. They believe her amnesia was caused by a head injury.

Teresa: A head injury? Is the injury severe? 

Cooper: Her brain is fine, there’s no sign of a brain tumor or bleeding or swelling or infection. She can talk, walk, eat. But the fall did cause some significant damage to her memory. 

Teresa: How much damage? How much does she remember? Does she remember me?