“Evelyn,” she whispered. “He’s mentioned she’s his mother, but didn’t tell me more.”
I sat down hard, still confused.
Grace grabbed her coat.
“I’ll give it back.”
“Avery, drive. Now. And don’t lecture me about seatbelts; I’ll put it on.”
***
We found Richard in a small room, holding a tiny woman’s hand and reading a picture card aloud as if it were a lifeline. He looked up, saw us, and went the color of paper.
“Grace, please! I was going to tell you! My last partner left when she found out. I couldn’t. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Grace walked right past his shame and sat on the edge of the bed.
We found Richard in a small room.
“My mom is 86 and has dementia. It gets really bad after dark. She becomes disoriented, and the only way to calm her down is for me to be right here. I’ve been sleeping here for months. That’s why you’ve never seen my house. There’s barely a house to see.”
