Maddie nodded.
Then she leaned against me.
“He should not have left.”
For the first time that morning, I held her without needing another explanation.
***
A week later, Friday came again.
Maddie stood by the front door with the same faded overnight bag.
“Memory care,” she said. “Frances and her mom are gonna be there. Movie ends at 10:30. You’re picking me up at 11.”
I held her without needing another explanation.
“Thank you.”
“I can give you the room number too, Mom.”
“Don’t get sarcastic.”
She smiled.
At 11:00, I went inside myself.
Frances was painting her grandmother’s nails purple.
Maddie was playing cards with the same old man, who was very obviously cheating.
Carol’s mother saw me.
“Carol!”
“Don’t get sarcastic.”
I glanced at the real Carol.
She shrugged.
I sat down.
“Good movie?”
The woman smiled.
“My girls came.”
***
Later, Maddie walked out beside me carrying that faded overnight bag.
