Chapter 10

Better. Lot better. Should have been working at it longer, but the mental energy hadn't been there. He made his way out to the garage, into the Trailblazer. Jessica didn't have to catch him once.

Maybe he wouldn't fall on his ass in front of the other guests.

"Frank and Emma rented a banquet room at the Longbranch," Jessica had told him. "There'll be quite a few of us."

She drove them into Jonesboro and parked at the restaurant, called Alisyn.

"They're about ten minutes away." she said. They were driving down from Paragould.

"Pretty big affair."

"It's been a while since they've seen you. And Frank and Emma are bringing their significant others. With Alisyn and Doug we'll be a little much for a regular table, and they'll want to talk a lot."

I'm supposed to know these people. Guess I do, and they're somewhere in there, wherever my past is. Guess those old couples are Frank and Emma. Guy about my age must be Doug. That leaves Alysin."

Alysin was about thirty. Average height, just about. Ponytail, windbreaker with company logo. B&H. Just those big letters. Guy that must be Doug was wearing one too.

Good-looking woman, looks kinda like Jessica, long dark hair, athletic build.

Jessica must have briefed them on his situation. She did introductions. Easy enough keeping them straight once that was done.

Hugs all around. Enthusiastic ones from Emma and Alisyn. Handshakes with the guys. Sit down, order drinks.

"We were hoping for so long that you'd be back." Emma told him. She was a good ten years older than Doug and him. "But we're just glad your back in the world. That was quite an ordeal"

"I didn't mean to deprive you of Jessica." Alex said. "I know you miss her too."

"We do. But you never know. Things happen for a reason. Maybe it's time for us to retire. Let someone else have it."

What was the reason for me? What am I supposed to learn from this? I was gone, dead. But I'm back. What's the reason for that?"

He and Jessica hadn't discussed it much. Too busy just getting through the days, one at a time.

But what is next?

"We're going to be selling the company." Frank said. "As soon as possible. Money's obviously not important, at our age and as much as we have already. You and Doug are in for a five percent cut though, in case you don't remember. So we'll try to get a good price."

He didn't remember. Along with everything else. What was five percent? Even if it went for just few million it would be a nice chunk of change. Probably more than just a few million though, from what Jessica had told him.

Alisyn would have to deal with the transition. Doug would be gone, like Jessica and him. He wondered what Doug would do.

"Early retirement." Doug told him later, as they retired to an outside patio. "Cigar?"

He extended a cigar.

"We haven't gotten around to that yet." Jessica said. "Go ahead, Alex. It's about time to pick up another old habit."

Alex took the cigar. One end was ragged, like a bad hand-rolled job. Doug handed him a lighter.

So I smoked cigars. Alright, don't remember anything else.

Jessica held the lighter and he got it lit. The ragged end didn't seem to cause any problems.

"I guess is this is the rustic version." he said.

"Backwoods." Doug said, holding up a package. "A brand thing. It's being copied, but these are the best I've found."

"You smoked Swisher Sweets." Jessica said. "A couple a day,usually. Chewed on them a lot, before you lit them."

"These taste pretty good."

"They have quite a few flavors." Doug said. "Swisher has started making something similar. There are quite a few flavored cigars these days They're pretty popular."

"So you're going to be doing a lot of nothing?" Alex asked.

"For a while." Doug replied. "Catch up on some fishing. Put the band back together.

"Literally?"

"You don't remember the band? Actually there isn't much to put back together. People-wise. But I want to give it a go. Drop by as soon as you get a chance, it may help with your memory recovery."

The Backwoods cigar was interesting. He could chew on it forever, enjoying the flavor of the tobacco, without it falling apart. Need to try some.

Now that I've rediscovered my cigar habit.

It did seem completely natural though. He enjoyed the taste of the tobacco, the aroma of the smoke. As if he'd always done it. And apparently had.

Hope the rest of my life comes back as readily.

Or do I? Are there unpleasant things in there? Jessica and I need to do some serious talking. See where I stand.