The Maid

Chapter 17

Bo eventually arrived home, and slowly walked into her front door.

"Tea? Coffee?" Trick asked as he entered behind her.

"No, I will be in my study, I don't want to be disturbed."

"Yes, Miss Dennis," Trick said and headed toward the kitchen.

Bo sat behind her desk and just stared into thin air.

"ANNA!" the blonde yelled. "Don't speak to me like that, young lady."

"MUM! I'm not a kid anymore, I'm 16." Anna said back.

"Yeah, and I'm fully aware of that fact, but you need to respect your elders, young Missy!"

Bo listened from her study to all the commotion coming from the entry. Footsteps banged loudly on the stairs.

"You better be going up there to write an apology to your teacher, Miss Clark." Lauren said to Anna.

"Yes, Mum," Anna said with teenager attitude.

The blonde burst into the library.

"We spoiled that girl, way too much." Lauren said to Bo, who was still sitting behind her wooden desk.

"I wasn't the one who spoiled her," Bo exclaimed with a smile on her face.

"We both did," the blonde said, walking towards the desk.

"Yes we did!" Bo moved her chair out from under her desk and Lauren straddled the brunette.

"Did you know that I love you,so much?" Lauren said after giving Bo a kiss on the lips.

"I love you more" Bo said as her hand travelled up underneath Lauren's top.

"We can't. Anna might come in," Lauren said, looking back at the open study door.

"And? We will just ground her as she is supposed to be doing her written apology." Lauren's lips covered Bo's…"

Bo woke up suddenly and frantically sat up in her chair. She was still in her study, and she looked at the clock. It was 8 past 10. She thought that she should head to bed and try to get some proper sleep.

Bo woke up later with a smile on her face, her dream had been wonderful. It had Lauren and Anna and Kitty and Jennie and they were all happy. Bo lost her smile when she realized that the love of her life can't even remember her. Then Bo slowly got out of the bed and headed towards the ensuite. She turned the shower on and started to get undressed. She stood there letting the water cascade over her body. She watched the water run down the drain. Then Bo looked up quickly when she got an idea.

Bo unfortunately got a call from the hospital telling Bo not to come in, as the tests weren't done yet, and they thought it was best for the patient not to have any visitors. "My plan will have to wait a little longer, then," Bo said to Kitty, who sat on her lap.

The next day, Bo entered the familiar place once again. She travelled in the elevator to where Lauren was. She held an envelope, a big yellow A4 envelope. Bo slowly walked up to the door of the room. She stopped and looked at the door. This was the first time she had to knock on this door, Bo thought. Bo knocked lightly.

"Come in, " the blonde called out.

Bo opened the door and Nadia was standing beside the bed. The blonde was standing on the opposite side of the bed, folding clothes into a bag. Lauren was out of the hospital clothes and was in more casual clothes. Jacket, jeans and a lovely red top.

"Miss Dennis," Nadia said.

Bo just nodded her head.

"I will be back." Nadia said to Lauren. The blonde nodded and the doctor moved towards the door. Bo moved out into the hallway and Nadia closed the door behind her.

"How did the tests go?" a worried Bo inquired.

"Really well, besides the memory loss. Everything went according to plan. She had another MRI scan and it was all clear. Lauren's scar is healing nicely and her hair will cover it up well."

"I don't care about the scar; I want to know about her memory," Bo snapped impatiently.

"She hasn't got it back and we don't know when she will get it back."

"Or if she will get it back?" Bo muttered softly, filling in the unspoken part of the doctor's statement.

"Yeah, or if she will," Nadia acknowledged.

"Will jogging her memory help, like showing her pictures? Anything that will help trigger her memory?"

"There are lots of ways you can trigger memories. Smells, visual aides, but you can't force a brain to remember something. Sometimes you can just trigger the painful memories and only the painful ones. What if you bring a memory of you and her having a fight? Then you will have a person that you love, either hate you or despise you."

Bo pondered on what Nadia has just said. She thought about what was in the envelope that she had in her hand. "I understand doctor!" Bo said sincerely.

"Look, Miss Dennis, I know it's a bad situation and I'm sorry for the outcome. I will keep you posted with Lauren's healing process and she will have to return for regular check ups."

"What are you saying? She's allowed to leave?" Bo said surprised.

Nadia nodded, "She's good and everything checked out. There is no reason for us to keep her here."

"But she only just came out of the coma, three days ago!"

"And we ran the tests that we needed to do and everything is good. She has her strength back and is functioning perfectly, except for the memory loss."

"She's not a machine that you can just fix overnight." Bo snapped again.

"Miss Dennis, you need to get your anger under control. The time she was in her coma, allowed her body to recover at a faster pace. The body works in mysterious ways and only focused its energy to heal the things that were important. I'm sorry that it's not the outcome that you wanted."

"Well, sorry isn't good enough Nadia. I personally hunted you down for this job because you were the best surgeon in the country and yet you couldn't do your job." Bo said angrily.

Nadia leaned forward, closer to Bo so that only she could hear. The doctor spoke in crisp and angry tone. "I followed procedure, so don't you dare tell me that I didn't do my job! The tumour is gone and she will be able to live a full and happy life. A small case of memory loss, is better than Lauren being dead, is it not?" Nadia returned to her polite professional voice. "I'm sorry and I sympathize with what you have lost, because of the memory loss, but surely Lauren being healthy and alive trumps that. I have to go now. I have other patients to see. You have a nice day now, Miss Dennis." Nadia took her leave before Bo could say anything else.

Bo looked at the envelope that she had in her hand, and looked at the door of the room that Lauren was staying in.

Bo knocked lightly once again and waited to be admitted entrance.

"Come in, "she heard from the other side of the door.

Bo entered. "Hi," was all she could think of to say when she reached the end of the bed. The blonde was still folding clothes.

"Hi," Lauren said.

"How are you feeling..."

"Miss Dennis, I'm sorry, but I need to stop you right there," the former maid and love of Bo's life interrupted.

Bo took a deep breath and swallowed. She held her hand behind her back with the envelope still in hand. She waited for Lauren to continue speaking.

"Look, I know that you know me, but I still can't remember you or anything about London. Kenzi has told me a few things, but to be honest, they felt like they were just stories. It's hard to explain, but please don't try to make me remember. I rang my sister and we booked the first flight back to New York. I'm sorry that I can't stay for long, but I really need to get back."

"You're leaving so soon? Can't you stay for at least a week, or even just a few more days?" Bo asked softly.

"I'm really sorry, Miss Dennis. I know this is hard, but we need to live our lives and move on. The doctors say that I may never get my memory back of you, or of London, or anyone that I've met here."

Bo fought back the tears that began to swell in her eyes. She can't leave just yet, Bo thought, it's just too soon.

Bo grabbed something out of the envelope.

"I better make plans for your cat and dog. Will you be coming back to the house to pick up your things?"Bo asked.

"Kenzi and I have already sorted out the travel for the animals, and I'm just waiting for Kenzi to pick me up."

"Where will you stay until tomorrow morning?" Bo inquired

"At a hotel that Kenzi had organised." Lauren said.

Bo felt that Lauren was avoiding eye contact. It just hurt that she knew Lauren, but Lauren thought of her as a stranger.

"Well, aren't you very organised…" Bo smiled and Lauren smiled back.

"I wish I could remember you, I'm sorry that I've caused you so much pain because of it."

"No, don't be sorry, don't ever be sorry. I'm just glad that you are well, truly."

"Thanks you, Miss Dennis, for everything that you've done for me."

"Can I give you something before you go?" Bo asked.

"Sure," Lauren finished folding the clothes and zipped up the bag.

Bo handed her the picture that she held in her hand. Lauren looked at it.

"Thank you." Lauren said.

"It's up to you, whether you want to keep it. We took it when we were in Paris".

"I went to Paris?" Lauren said, her voice showed a tone of sadness.

"Didn't Kenzi tell you? It was on your bucket list." Bo said, remembering all the things that were on there.

"She didn't tell me. Maybe she didn't want me to stress out, because I can't remember it."

"Yeah, maybe."

There was a knock on the door. "Hey, are you ready?" Kenzi said, standing in the doorway.

"I believe I am." Lauren smiled at Kenzi.

"I'm sure I will see you again before I leave, Miss Dennis. Once again, thank you for everything."

Bo watched as the blonde and the petite woman grabbed the bags off the bed and left the room. As soon as the room was empty, Bo's cheeks were streaming with tears. Bo took out a piece of paper. Bo read it out loud to the empty room.

"This is a statement of approval that Miss Bo Dennis and Miss Lauren Lewis have been declared the new guardians in the eyes of the law and God in the adoption of Miss Anna Thomas."

More tears flowed.

Epilogue

Bo watched as Lauren's plane taxied down and took off from the runway. Trick was by her side.

"I'm sorry it wasn't a better outcome," Trick said.

"Where's Mummy going?" Anna said, who stood on the other side of Bo.

"She's going home," Bo replied. "Remember when I told you, Mummy can't remember meeting you or me?"

"Yes, I do, because of the sore brain, that's why she was in the hospital," Anna answered.

"Yes, that's right. It's just going to be me, you and Belle." Bo replied, talking about the little white Terrier that Bo had bought for Anna. Lauren had promised her a puppy, and Bo felt that she should keep Lauren's promise, for her.

"Does that mean Mummy is never coming back?" Anna asked.

"Mummy has to go back to her old life, for now," Bo kneeled down and kissed Anna forehead.

"Okay," Anna said and held Bo's hand. They exited the airport.

6 MONTHS LATER

"Mummy, Belle ate my socks," Anna came running into the study.

"I've told you, you need to keep your room clean. Belle is still a puppy." Bo sat behind her desk.

"Yes, Mummy, I'll go clean my room now."

"That's my girl" Bo said as Anna rushed out of the room, nearly knocking Trick over in the process.

"Sorry Trick."

"That's okay, just watch where you're going and stop running through the house," Trick said sweetly.

"Yes Trick, sorry Trick," Anna said as she walked away, then ran up the stairs taking two steps at a time.

"I swear that girl is going to be the death of me," Trick said to Bo, as he put the tray of coffee on her desk.

Bo laughed. "You're being dramatic."

"I've brought you some coffee and cake."

"Thanks Trick," Bo said.

"Heard anything from Kenzi?" Trick asked.

"Yeah Lauren is doing good, she started back at medical school."

"That's good to hear." Trick smiled.

"Yeah, she's doing so well," Bo said sadly.

"What's wrong Bo? Lauren is happy and well."

"Yeah, I know, but I miss her and I still love her. I feel like I didn't fight for her hard enough," Bo said.

"Then there only one thing you can do. Fight for her." Trick said.

"But how can't I fight for her when she doesn't even remember me?" Bo said and ran her fingers through her hair.

"You made her fall for you once; you could make her fall in love with you again."

"But how?" Bo asked.

"What do you mean, but how? You did it once, you can do it again, I'm sure"

"I wasn't even trying, it just happened," Bo stated. "Anyway, I can't just leave Anna alone, plus she has school."

"She will be alright with me and the other staff. I mean, how hard is it to look after a 9 year old. She's a good girl, I'm sure she will understand."

Bo pondered for a while. "Are you sure?"

"Yes Bo, go!"

Bo smiled and was starting to feel excited and hopeful for the first time in months. Bo called Hale.

"Hale, fuel up the jet. I'm going to New York. "

"Right away, Miss Dennis."

New York

Bo stood in the auditorium, and had hundreds of eyes upon her, even Lauren's.

"I would like to extend Miss Bo Dennis a massive thank you. She has generously given a donation to help our medical centre. Miss Dennis, would you like to say something?"

Bo nodded and stood up and walked to the podium.

"Thank you Miss Margret Smith. The reason I have done this is to help future doctors. With the donation that I have given, this will help with the purchase of new medical equipment. This will assist students with their research and help them to gain a better understanding of the human body and how to heal them in new and innovative ways." Bo looked up and looked straight at Lauren, who had her hand up.

Miss Margret Smith stood up and said loudly to the students, "No questions."

"No, that doesn't bother me, I can answer a few questions," Bo replied. "Yes?" Bo said, giving Lauren full eye contact.

"Miss Dennis, why do you feel that your donation is going to make a difference?" Lauren said politely.

"Well, to be honest, it began when I watched a loved one lose her memory after having a tumour removed. Now if I could have helped those doctors be better prepared or informed of the possibilities and dangers, it might never have happened. That better equipment and knowledge could prevent it from happening to someone else, well, isn't it worth a try?"

"So basically, the doctor who did the surgery wasn't good enough? So you feel that this money will create better doctors?"

"They will have better equipment to learn and study the mysteries of the human body and possibly be able to create new treatments and procedures in the future. I give donations to dozens of learning institutions all over the globe. I feel that the pursuit of knowledge is very important." Bo said, feeling that it was only her and Lauren in the room. There were no more questions, so Bo just wished everyone good luck in their pursuits and she took her seat.

"Thanks you, Miss Dennis" Margret said, once she was back on the podium. "Now everyone please leave in an orderly fashion and class starts tomorrow at 9."

The room filled up with chatter and everyone started piling out. Bo waited outside the front door of the auditorium, to see if she could see her.

Bugger, I must have missed her in the huge crowd, Bo thought as the crowd thinned out. Bo started to walking down the stairs leading towards the staff room, for afternoon tea with the teachers, when a familiar voice came from behind her, stopping the brunette in her tracks.

"Miss Bo Dennis."

Bo turned around to see Lauren there, holding a huge pile of medical text books.

"Miss Lewis, lovely to see you again."

"What a coincidence," Lauren said, smiling even though they both knew it was no coincidence. They both laughed.

"Sorry, I just really needed to see how you were."

Lauren took a deep breath. "I know that you know me well, but let's start from scratch."

Bo gave her a confused look.

"Hey, my name is Lauren Lewis, did you want to grab a coffee with me?"

"Well, that was quick, already asking me to go out for coffee, when you don't even know my name."

The blonde laughed so hard, she snorted. Then Lauren turned crimson red, feeling embarrassed.

"I'm Bo Dennis, and I sure would love to go with you for a coffee."

"Are you free now? I've finished all my classes for the day, and I know the perfect coffee place, Miss Dennis."

"Please, just call me Bo"

"Sure thing,... Bo," Lauren said and gave her the brightest smile she had even seen.

"Lead the way, Lauren. Oh, and allow me to carry a few of those books for you," Bo said, her heart swelling with the possibilities of getting to know the woman that she loved all over again.

Lauren smiled at Bo again as she handed over half of the book, and the twinkle she saw in the blonde's eyes told her that she wasn't the only one looking forward to getting reacquainted.

THE END.