Joe and Jules left, and Tom sat there in silence for a moment, looking around the cozy apartment. One wall was exposed brick, the rest painted a nice cream color. The furniture was slightly worn but comfortable, the sofa and armchair a pleasant chocolate color with quilted throw pillows. A plush clean rug lay on the wood floor, and the rest of the furniture was dark oak, from the bookshelves flanking the small entertainment center to the coffee table. Vintage prints of coffee and old New York City were elegantly framed and painstakingly arranged along the walls. There wasn’t much by the way of trinkets, but the mantel above the small fireplace had photos. It wasn’t fancy, by any means, but it was clean, tidy, and comfortable.

  Tom was used to bigger surroundings. For some reason that occurred to him just then. Something about Joe’s place felt so warm… like his life had been lacking in it for a long time. Did he want to remember who he was? Of course he did. How could he not? He wanted to know where he came from, what he did for a living, his own damned name, for Christ’s sake. Mostly he wanted to know the kind of man he was. He couldn’t lose faith. After all, he had Joe. And for now, that was more than enough.

  Five

  This should be interesting.

  Jules had that look on her face. One Joe knew too well. He escorted her down the steps leading into the hallway just outside the shop’s kitchen, bracing himself when she came to a stop at the bottom. Something was weighing on her mind, something she didn’t want to say in front of Tom.

  Jules turned to him, her lovely face filled with genuine affection. He’d known Jules since she was in college, coming into the shop for her mandatory cup of coffee in the morning, chatting away to Joe about everything and anything. They’d gotten along from the first day, when she’d asked Joe to marry her after taking a bite of his pie.

  “I’m sorry about your job, sweetheart.”

  “It’s okay, Joe,” Jules said with a smile and a shrug. “I have no intention of giving up so easily. If it’s worth having, it’s worth fighting for, right? Joe, Tom should really go to a hospital. He needs proper medical attention.”

  With a deep frown, Joe shook his head. “I’ve tried. There’s no talking him into it. I promised to help him, and I have every intention of doing that. Is that what’s on your mind?” He peered at her warily. “Because I know that look.”

  Mischief twinkled in her big green eyes. “You like him.”

  “What?” Where had that come from?

  “Don’t even try it. I saw the way you two were eye-sexing each other.”

  Joe gasped. “I was not eye-sexing him!”

  “You so were. And you wouldn’t stop blushing! There you go, blushing again!”

  Dammit! Was he that obvious? He dared to sneak a peek at her and groaned at the smug smile on her face. Nothing got past Jules. She had a way of making him squirm under that sharp gaze of hers. It was like she took lessons from Bea or something.

  “He is hot,” Jules added with a wicked smile.

  Joe’s eyes widened as he clamped a hand over her mouth. “You’re not supposed to notice things like that,” he whispered hoarsely. “You’re a nurse.”

  “With eyes,” Jules muttered after moving his hand away from her mouth. “Tom is not my patient. He’s a friend of yours who I was helping out. Joe, don’t you go shying away from this one. Not only is he gorgeous, but he’s clearly attracted to you. He kept sneaking glances at you the entire time I was examining him. I thought my stethoscope was going to melt from the heat he was giving off.”

  “Why is everyone so concerned about my love life?” he grumbled.

  “Probably because you haven’t had one in over a decade.” Her expression softened. “You two need each other, Joe. You deserve someone who will treat you right and make you happy.”

  “The man doesn’t remember who he is, Jules. What if he has someone?” Even if Tom didn’t, it wasn’t the “falling for someone” part that had Joe worried. It was everything else that went with it, and everything that came after. That was the average relationship. What he had with Tom, he couldn’t even begin to comprehend. There were more unknowns in this mess than there were holes in Swiss cheese. “Besides, I don’t want Tom to be with me because he feels indebted to me.” He didn’t know whether he was saying that for Jules’s benefit, or his own.

  Jules gave his arm a sympathetic pat. “Give the man more credit than that. You think a man like that’s going to hang around someone just because he feels he owes something? Being grateful is one thing. Wanting to jump a guy’s bones is something else.”

  “For crying out loud,” Joe groaned. “You’ve been gossiping with Bea again, haven’t you?”

  Jules let out a giggle. “No more than the usual. I’m just saying, don’t get so caught up in what you don’t know and pay attention to what you do know. Take a chance. The man lost his memory, but who he is at his core hasn’t changed.”

  Joe could stand here all day, giving perfectly logical reasons as to why he shouldn’t jump headfirst into this insanity, and get no closer to changing Jules’s already made-up mind than he was now, so he gave up. If only he had half the doggedness the women in his life possessed.

  Letting out a little sigh, Jules shook her head. “Joe, I hate to say it, but you knew the kind of man Blake was, and look what happened there.”

  Again with Blake. The man seemed to torture him even years after Joe had the misfortune of getting involved with him. Every time he thought about it, he felt like such an idiot, even more of an idiot than Blake had made him feel at the time. “Exactly how is that an argument against what I’m saying?”

  “I’m saying it because you can’t have one rotten jerk ruin your chances at happiness. You deserve better, Joe.” She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Look after him. Tom’s going to be feeling frustrated and miserable. You’ll want to reassure him, get his mind off trying to force things. All it’s going to do is give him a headache.”

  “I will.” He gave her a kiss in return and squeezed her tight. “You take care, sweetheart, and call me if you need anything at all.”

  “You bet.” With a wink she was gone, and Joe released a steady breath. He sure hoped she was right. Well, he’d promised Tom they’d do some online sleuthing, so he best get to it. He asked Bea to make him and Tom a hearty breakfast before he ran upstairs. Inside his apartment, Tom stood by the window, looking out. He looked so lost. Joe had gotten used to Tom’s big dopey grin, and seeing him without one was just… wrong. Maybe he couldn’t do much in the way of helping Tom remember, but he could damn well help him keep his spirits up.

  “Hey, Tom. Hope you’re hungry. Bea’s making us enough food to feed an army.”

  Tom gave a little start and turned. His smile nearly took Joe’s breath away. “Hey, you came back.”

  “Of course I came back. What? Did you think I was going to forget my promise to feed you?” Joe teased.

  “I wasn’t worried,” Tom replied

  “I’m just going to get my laptop. Be right back.” Joe hurried to his bedroom and grabbed the laptop from his small desk in the corner. He brought it out and motioned to the couch. Taking a seat, he hadn’t expected Tom to sit so close. Their legs were all but pressed up against each other. Of course when he opened his laptop, he realized Tom’s proximity was likely due to him wanting to see the screen rather than any desire to plaster himself to Joe.

  Trying his best not to fidget, Joe booted up the laptop then opened his browser. “Why don’t we start with missing persons?” Tom gave him a nod and Joe looked up the NYPD Missing Person’s database. They started with Manhattan, scanning all the photos. When they found no matches, they moved on to the other boroughs. Tom was tense beside Joe, and the closer they got to the end of the final borough’s listing, the more Tom fidgeted.

  “Nothing.” Tom sighed. He glanced over at Joe, his expression unreadable. “I guess that leaves the Wanted list.”

  Joe couldn’t bring himself to say anything. He gave Tom a curt nod and clicked on the Wanted link in the sidebar. What if Tom was on that list? Tom pushed to his feet and started pacing.

  This was a bad idea. If Tom was on there, at least they’d have more information, but it would also mean it was Joe’s moral obligation to inform the police. Seeming to sense his hesitation, Tom turned to face him.

  “Do it, Joe. I have to know. Whatever comes up… we’ll deal with it then.”

  Joe nodded. He stopped overthinking, and started going through the extensive list of victims and perpetrators. Once he’d scrolled through the list, he played all the Crime Stoppers videos. A huge sense of relief washed over him. “Nothing.”

  Tom visibly relaxed. “Okay. That’s good, right? I mean, at least I’m not wanted in New York City.”

  Which of course didn’t mean he wasn’t wanted elsewhere. As if reading his thoughts, Tom resumed his seat on the couch beside Joe. “Maybe we should have a look at the surrounding states?”

  For the next couple of hours, they searched the Missing Persons databases for the surrounding states, along with their Wanted listings, and got nothing each time. Bea had brought them their breakfast, and they’d eaten on the floor picnic-style while Joe continued to search. There was no sign of Tom on the web. Giving up that search, Joe pulled up a website on baby names and went through the list with Tom to see if any of them might jog his memory.

  Nothing.

  Moving on, they tried scrolling through the different state websites, looking up pictures, monuments, towns, but nothing triggered anything in Tom’s memory.

  “I think we’ve done enough for one day,” Joe suggested softly. He could see Tom growing more despondent with every nothing they turned up. He shut his laptop and tossed it onto the couch cushion beside him.

  “Joe, we need to talk about how I’m going to earn my keep.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I can’t just live off your generosity. It could be weeks, even months before I might remember anything. I’m grateful to you for letting me stay, but you have to let me do something. I can help you downstairs taking out the trash, washing dishes, serving. You name it and I’ll do it. Please, Joe. It’s the only way I’ll feel good about you putting yourself out for my sake.” Tom looked around the room and sighed. “Also, I need to keep busy or I’ll go crazy. I’m not very good with sitting still for very long, or being cooped up.”

  Joe wanted to protest that having Tom’s company was hardly putting Joe out, but Tom was right. Keeping him busy would be a good idea. He seemed like the type of guy who wouldn’t be content sitting around doing nothing. “All right, since it’s so important to you. You can help me in the kitchen downstairs. Believe me, you’ll be plenty busy, but it’ll keep you from being spotted. The garden between the shop and the boutique next door is locked and shrouded enough where you can go out if you need some air but can keep out of sight. How’s that?”

  “That’s great! Thank you.” He gave Joe a hearty squeeze.

  “Okay, okay,” Joe replied with a gentle shove. “You’re really touchy-feely, aren’t you?”

  Tom grinned sheepishly. “Sorry, can’t seem to help myself around you.”

  “Well, please do.” At Tom’s faltering smile, Joe cleared his throat. “At least in the shop, you know. The last thing we need is Bea trying to get us to pick out color swatches or china together.”

  “Right.” Tom chuckled. “She’s pretty persuasive.”

  “She also raised five mountainesque boys, one of whom went on to play professional football, so the woman’s got whacking skills. Do exactly what she says and you won’t end up with her handprint on your ass.”

  Tom stared at him. “I’ll, uh, keep that in mind.”

  “Good. Let’s get baking.”

  Joe had to admit he’d been a little apprehensive about having Tom downstairs in the shop, even if it was just in the kitchen. He’d been worried Tom would get bored or frustrated. Tom surprised them all. He was quick to adapt, and after having something explained to him once, he picked up a knack as if he’d always been doing it. By midweek, Tom knew his way around the kitchen like he’d been working there all his life. Despite being unable to recall past memories, his mind was sharp. Bea was left speechless, and Joe had even taken a picture on his cell phone for posterity, and proof the impossible had been achieved.

  “That boy is something else,” Bea murmured at Joe behind the counter up front. “He’s memorized all the ingredients for all our pies and exactly how much of what goes in which. And he’s darn quick. You should see the way he handles a knife. I’ve never seen anything like it. I wish I could say he might be a chef, but”—Bea looked up at Joe, her concern evident—“not with the way he moves. Very precise. Methodical. Procedural. The way he remembers every detail? The boy’s had some kind of training.”

  Joe swallowed hard and did his best to smile. “I think you’re overthinking this, Bea.” A thought occurred to Joe. “Do you think he might be in the military?” Why hadn’t he thought of that before? “It makes sense. He’s in really good shape.”

  Bea considered that. She was about to reply when the little bell above the door rang. Joe turned to greet his new customers with a smile, but the moment he saw the two men dressed in slacks and leather jackets, the smile fell off his face. Something about them gave Joe pause. One of them smiled politely as they approached the counter.

  “Mr. Applin?”

  “Yes? How can I help you, gentlemen?”

  “Could we step outside for a moment?” The taller of the two men looked around the shop before returning his smile to Joe. He leaned in to speak quietly. “We don’t want to alarm your customers.”

  “Um, sure.” Joe gave Bea’s arm a reassuring squeeze and followed the men out the front door onto the busy sidewalk. They stepped to one side, away from the shop window, and showed Joe their badges.

  “Mr. Applin, I’m Detective Romero, and this is my partner, Detective McCrea, NYPD. We’re looking for a man we believe is in the area. He’s about six foot four, two hundred and ten pounds, black hair, gray eyes, and was last seen wearing dark jeans, black shirt, boots, and a leather jacket. Have you seen him?”

  “A lot of folks come into my shop,” Joe replied, pretending to give the question real thought. What should he do? Maybe these men could help Tom. Or maybe they were here to arrest him. “Is this man in some kind of trouble?”

  “I’m afraid we can’t disclose any information at this time, but he’s wanted for questioning. We just want to talk to him.”

  Joe opened his mouth, but instead of the truth, he went with his gut. “I’m afraid I haven’t seen him. I would have remembered someone like that.” He gave them an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help, but if I see him I’ll certainly let you know. Do you have a card or number where I could reach you?”

  The taller man smiled again. “No problem, Mr. Applin. We’ll be in touch. Thank you for your time.”

  With a nod, the two walked off, murmuring to each other quietly. Something wasn’t sitting right with Joe. He casually went back inside and to the counter, where he finished ringing up a customer.

  “Who were they?” Bea asked. “Looked like thugs to me.”

  “They were asking for Tom,” Joe replied quietly as he removed his apron. “Would you and the kids close up for me, Bea? I need to have a word with Tom.”

  “What did you tell them?”

  “That I hadn’t seen him. I don’t trust those men.”

  “Joe….”

  It wasn’t like Bea to look so worried. He’d brought her enough worry over the years. He gave her cheek a kiss. “Don’t you worry, Bea. I’ll take care of it. It’ll be fine.”

  Bea didn’t look happy about it, but she nodded and went back to work. Joe went into the kitchen where he found Tom and Donnie huddled together, smiling like a couple of kids.

  “What are you two up to?”

  Donnie glanced up with a huge grin. “Tom’s showing me how to do something.”

  “Oh?”

  Tom turned to Joe and held out his hand. “For you.”

  Joe blinked down at the apple in Tom’s hand. Except it wasn’t just an apple. It had been carved into a rose.

  “I don’t know what to say.” Joe took the apple and inspected it. Each petal had been sliced to perfection. “It’s… beautiful.” He felt like a bit of a jerk now. Tom looked happy and Joe was about to take that smile away. He had no choice. He had to let Tom know. “Thanks, Tom.” Joe couldn’t help the way his stomach filled with butterflies when Tom winked. “Could we go upstairs? I need to talk to you about something.”

  “Sure.” Tom gave Donnie a gentle pat on the back. “Keep practicing. Elsie will love it.”

  “Thanks, Tom.” Donnie beamed at him and went back to carving his apple.

  Tom followed Joe upstairs to the apartment and into the kitchen. It was Joe’s favorite room and made him feel relaxed. He placed the apple in the center of his table and took a seat at the breakfast nook. Tom followed suit.

  “Donnie’s a great kid. He’s crazy about Elsie. I told him he needs to take a shot at it or he’ll never know what could be.” Tom cocked his head to one side, his smile fading. “Everything okay, Joe?”

  “Yeah, um, I don’t know. Two men came into the shop looking for you.”

  Tom leaned in, his hands gripping the edge of the table. “What? Who?”

  “They said they were detectives, showed me their badges. They described you, said you might be in the area, and asked if I’d seen you?”

  Tom sat up. “What did you say?”

  “That a lot of folks come into my shop. I asked if the man they were looking for was in trouble, and they said they couldn’t disclose that information. When I asked if they had a card or a number where I could contact them, they said it wasn’t a problem and they’d be in touch.”

  “Did you ask them anything else?”

  Joe frowned. “What else was I supposed to ask them?”