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the table and went to turn on the stereo. He found racks with hundreds of CD’s lining one cabinet. He chose randomly and managed to get the system to start. Soon, the sound of a soft jazz instrumental wove its magic around them.
    He went and held out a chair for her when she announced dinner was served. Outside the window, he could see headlights of cars traveling both ways on the long Coronado Bridge.
    “Here’s to finding your memory soon.” Robin took a dainty sip and started passing him the food. The roast beef was tender enough to cut with a fork, the potatoes fluffy and full of butter, and the gravy smooth and delicious. He was glad now he’d decided to hire her and take her with him. She was a good nurse, great in bed, and was a top-notch cook.
    “Everything tastes wonderful, Robin.”
    A dimple jumped into her right cheek, and he noticed a rosy tinge to her creamy skin. “Thank you. I enjoy cooking but don’t get chance to do much. It’s no fun cooking for myself.”
    He wasn’t sure how to broach the subject of his upcoming trip, so he decided to simply plow ahead.
    “I have something I need to tell you.”
    She stopped with her wine glass halfway to her mouth. “What?”
    Her face paled, and he wanted to kick himself. He was screwing up before he’d even started. He reached across the table to take her hand, but pulled back just in time.
    “Remember when you asked me how I knew about your…problem?”
    She nodded her head but remained silent.
    “Ever since I got this crack on my head and lost my memory, well, whenever I touch someone, I…know things about them.”
    Robin nodded. “I’ve heard of things like that happening with a head injury, but it’s rare. Are you clairvoyant? Or psychic?”
    “I don’t know what to call it, honey, but that’s not the weirdest part.” He took a deep breath the related his middle-of-the-night conversation with Phelps. “He referred to the ability as a gift.”
    “Where did he come from? How did he get into your room?” She pushed back her chair and stood.
    He pulled the note from his pocket. “Somehow, he got into my room. I don’t know, maybe he appeared as a hologram, or…” Words failed him.
    Robin sank into her chair and read the note. “But, this says you have reservations for tomorrow morning.” A single tear formed in her eye and traveled down her face.
    “Oh, honey, don’t cry. I want to take you with me. That’s why I’m telling you. I know all this is hard to believe. Hell, I’m having a tough time myself, but it must be true.”
    She brushed the tear away with the back of her hand. A tremulous smile formed onto her lips. “For a minute there, I thought you wanted to get rid of me.”
    He pushed back his chair and went to kneel by her side. He put his arms around her and pulled her close. “You’re not getting rid of me so soon.” He pulled her head down and then quickly jerked away.
    “What?”
    “It’s hard to explain, but I got an image, or an idea, something about your grandpa?”
    Her eyes widened, and her mouth formed a perfect O. “My grandpa died when I was five. He’d lived with us all my life, and I didn’t really understand death. One day he was there, the next gone. For a long time, I felt liked he’d abandoned me.” She started to touch him, but stopped. “Wow, that’s freaky.”
    “Yeah, pretty much. That’s why I’m anxious to go to this institute. I can’t spend the rest of my life not touching people.”
    She sat silently for a moment. “Then how can you make love to me?”
    His laugh filled the air. “It’s both a pleasure and a curse. I’ve tried humming to shut out your mind, but it’s not always successful. I hope I’m not shortchanging you in the love-making department.” He stroked her springy curls before dropping a light kiss on the top of her head. “So, what do you say? You want to go to Massachusetts with me tomorrow? I’ve already got an extra ticket.”
    “Oh, Brian, I’ve