Forget to Remember

Somebody at the pub said the legend was if the tree died the church and village of Rotherfield would cease to exist.
    At one end of the church property was an iron gate that rotated in an arc inside an elongated semicircular frame, so it had two closed positions. A person going through had to move it one way or the other. As Carol was about to enter, a man approached from the other side. It was obvious they both couldn’t go through in opposite directions at the same time, so she waited for him, but he motioned for her to go first.
    She went through the gate and smiled at him. “What is this called?”
    “It’s a kissing gate. Would you like me to demonstrate why?”
    “No thanks. Does it have a practical use?”
    “To keep livestock from getting through it. Although, I guess this one’s outlived its usefulness.”
    That was true. There were no animals outside the churchyard, only buildings and a parking lot.
    Carol returned to the Queens Arms and chatted with Lydia, who told her she hadn’t been able to find any information on a teacher who walked the End-to-end. Carol thanked her and called Rigo from her room. She had talked to him several times, focusing on the sights she’d seen in London, not telling him about her modeling job, because she wasn’t sure how he’d react.
    Now she told him she was in Rotherfield and described the quaint village. She asked him for Aiko’s last name.
    “Hang on. I bookmarked the site—in case we needed more information from it. Here it is. Her name is Aiko Murakawa. Why?”
    Carol explained that Aiko might be Cynthia, not her, and Cynthia might have been using the name Aiko in England.
    “That’s confusing. Looking at the video again, which I am at the moment, I still say Aiko is you. Assuming it’s Cynthia, why would she be using a false name in England?”
    “Why is the grass so green here? I’ll let you know when I find out—if I find out.”
    They talked for a few more minutes. Rigo ended the call by telling her to be careful, as he always did. Carol realized there was something unspoken between them, but she preferred to leave it that way for the moment. She was lonely, especially now she had left Sean and Melanie behind. They hadn’t exactly been her buddies, but at least they’d become familiar to her. In Rotherfield she didn’t know anyone.
    She went downstairs at seven to eat dinner. This time she allowed herself a full pint of lager. There were more people in the pub than there had been earlier, and the place was noisier. She felt self-conscious, sitting alone, and decided not to tarry long. She had purchased several bargain-priced paperback mysteries during her afternoon walk, since, unlike London, there didn’t appear to be any nightlife here except for the pub. She would read herself to sleep with one of them.
    “Aiko!”
    Carol was startled to hear that name, especially since it was obviously directed at her. She looked up to see a woman in her thirties wearing sensibly short hair and glasses, standing beside her table with a surprised expression. When Carol didn’t immediately answer, the woman said, “What are you doing here?”
    Carol’s immediate reaction was to correct the mistake, but in the same instant, she realized she needed to talk to this woman. She attempted a smile. “Hi. Can you sit down for a minute?”
    “I’m with friends, but…” The woman sat in the chair opposite Carol. “When did you get back?”
    Carol felt very awkward. “First, I’m not actually Aiko.”
    “Look, I know you have security issues, but this is bloody nonsense. It’s me, Louise, remember? I taught in the room beside yours for two years.”
    “I’m sorry, Louise. I’ll try again.” Carol had to work through her embarrassment. “I’d better explain. I…I have amnesia. I don’t remember anything that happened before a few weeks ago.”
    Louise looked at her with disbelief but then her look softened. “You poor dear. But you went to the States. If you have amnesia, how did you find your way back here?”
    “It’s a long story. Before I get into it, let me ask you one question. Did you and Aiko…did you and I walk the End-to-end together a couple of years ago?”
    “No, that was Janet—Janet Hudgins. She also teaches at the school. She’ll want to see you. She’s been worried sick about you. You haven’t responded to her e-mails. I think she’s at her cottage tonight. I’ll call her right now.”
    Louise hauled a cell phone out of