Shadow of Doubt by Melissa Gaye Perez

in return as he flipped a perfectly golden pancake.
    Dolly smiled widely now.  “He does want me around,” she thought.  “You're gonna take me with you?  Really?” she asked with surprise.
    Jordan thought she looked like a young child when she smiled like that, but could tell she was actually much older now he just wasn't sure how old.  Twenty-two?  Twenty-three maybe?  He just couldn't make up his mind.  Sometimes he just wanted to grab her up and kiss her, but the doubt kept him from it.
    “Yes really.  You'll finally get to see me race,” he answered rather proudly of the fact.  He removed the pancake from the pan and placed it on a plate with the rest of the stack he had already prepared for them.
    He didn't much care what his friends thought anymore about his becoming such a softy.  He liked this curious little lady and she made him feel good.  He liked the conversations they shared together and she seemed more interested in his career than anyone else he had ever known.  This pleased him very much.
    Jordan looked at her strangely as they sat together now at the small kitchen table.  Dolly felt suddenly uncomfortable about it.
    “What's wrong?” she asked with near fret.
    “About last night...did anything else come back to you after I left?” he asked, trying to change the subject.
    “Oh...uh-uh.  I just remembered I was in the water and I couldn't breathe.  It seemed so real though.  I really thought I was gonna die.”
    “Probably was real.  It's a good sign though, I guess, maybe it won't be so long until it all comes back to you after all.”
    Dolly wasn't as hopeful as he seemed to be.  She passed the syrup over to him and took a bite of her food.  She was enjoying being here and was beginning to dread whatever it may be that she didn't remember.  No one else seemed to be concerned about her whereabouts either or they would be looking for her and now she feared her real life may turn out to be lonelier than this one.  Only with Jordan she didn't feel alone anymore.  But sometimes it was hard to figure out if he was happy about her presence here or not.
    “Is Martin gonna be there too?” she finally asked remembering he was supposed to be Jordan's alleged racing manager.  He seemed more of a pain to her yet she hoped he would be there.  Then she would at least have someone else to talk too when Jordan was in his car racing around the track.
    “Yes, he'll be there...why?  You finally getting used to him?” Jordan asked rather suspiciously, almost with a spark of jealousy in his tone.
    “Not really...just wanted an advance warning,” she teased without being able to produce so much as a false grin this time.  She sipped at her orange juice.
    “Oh c'mon...he's not that bad.”
    “Huh...he gives me the creeps.”
    “Didn't look that way on the beach the other day,” he implied rather sarcastically.
    Jordan must have been watching through the window Dolly thought to herself.  It was the only way she could think of that he even knew she had talked to Martin that day.
    “He was pestering me.  I finally got rid of him though,” she answered trying to make it quite clear that she had no romantic interests in Martin Slater what so ever.
    “If you say so,” he mumbled back as he continued his breakfast.  Dolly didn't rebel anymore.  She didn't want him to think she was only making excuses.
    She rose to clear the table after they had finished their breakfast.  Jordan let her do it herself this time and disappeared into his bedroom to pack for their journey.
    Dolly was excited about going away with this man.  He was so kind hearted and courageous.  It almost felt as if they were taking a honeymoon or something.  She looked forward to seeing him behind the wheel of his car speeding around the North Carolina Speedway.
    She finally ran to her room to pack her things as well.  It didn't take her long.  Her excitement sped her along.  She ran to living room to wait for