CHAPTER NINE
Dark had long since fallen by the time Carly drove her mother home. Bruce might be an adult, but Patsy had refused to leave the hospital until she’d seen her youngest settled in a room and as comfortable as possible. Carly parked in front of the house. Her brother was alive and reasonably well, considering he’d been in a major accident and his girlfriend had been murdered. The combination of sadness and relief had left her spent. Exhaustion weighted her limbs.
She looked back over her seat. Brianna and Charlotte were both sound asleep.
Patsy’s head rested on the back of the passenger seat. “I should have stayed with Bruce.”
“Visiting hours are over. Bruce needs rest,” Carly said, as if the end of visiting hours would have been able to keep a determined Patsy out if she had wanted to stay.
“I’m not sure he should be alone right now.”
“He’s not alone. He’s in the hospital. Someone will be watching him all night.”
“We all grieved your father’s death together, but Bruce will feel isolated this time. This loss is his alone. I suspect he had deep feelings for that girl.” Patsy sighed. “When he comes home, we’re going to have to keep an eye on him. I’m worried about him.”
“Me too.” Carly studied her mother’s profile in the dark. The strain of the past year was showing. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take Charlotte back to the cabin? I can put the portable crib in Brianna’s room.”
“No. I volunteered to take care of that child, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“But . . .”
“No buts.” Patsy turned to face her. “I raised four children. I can handle one toddler. You and Seth have enough to do. I won’t put that strain on your marriage, not when you two are doing so well.”
“I’m just trying to help.” Even in the dark, Carly could see the approaching we-need-to-get-something-straight discussion on her mother’s face. People often confused Patsy’s gentle nature for weakness, but they didn’t make that mistake a second time. Even Carly sometimes forgot how tough her petite mother could be. Patsy had no trouble issuing firm reminders.
“Honey, I appreciate that you all want to shelter me, but I’m fifty-five years old, not a hundred and five. I miss your father terribly, and I always will. I can’t deny that a piece of me died with him, and I look forward to joining him when it’s my time.” Patsy had already had her name engraved on the double headstone that marked Bill’s grave. “But he would be disappointed in me if I wasted the rest of my life. Your dad lived every day to the fullest. He enjoyed life more than anyone I know. For me to do any differently would disrespect his memory. I have children and grandchildren and animals to love and care for. I’m not done living yet.”
“I’m sorry. I just want to make things easier for you.”
“And I love you for it.” Patsy touched her cheek. “But life isn’t supposed to be easy. No one appreciates things that are easy.” Her mom hefted her purse strap over her shoulder. “And speaking of things that aren’t easy, I would appreciate help setting up that portable crib.”
“Of course.” Carly laughed.
“Mama?” Always game to be awake past her bedtime, Brianna sat upright in her booster seat.
“Yes?” Carly sighed. Now that she’d had a nap, her daughter would be awake for hours. So much for crawling into bed.
Brianna stifled a yawn. “I’m hungry.”
“Then we’d better get you a snack,” Patsy said, getting out of the Jeep. She went to the back, opened the rear door, and took out the portable crib Debra had loaned them.
Carly heard the click of Brianna’s seat belt as her daughter scrambled to catch up with her grandmother. Carly climbed halfway into the backseat to free Charlotte from the car seat. Her back muscles protested as she lifted the limp child out and hoisted her over one shoulder. Patsy walked up the front steps and opened the door. Brianna was right behind her.
Small Town Rule #2: No need to lock the door.
The jingle of dog tags made Carly turn. Trina came around to the front of the house just as her mother opened the front door.
Alarm prickled on the back of Carly’s neck. Had Patsy left the dog outside? No way. Her mother never forgot to let the dog inside.
“Don’t go in—” Carly bumped the car door closed with her hip.
Too late. Patsy and Brianna were already inside.
Running in circles, Trina barked.
Carly jogged up the steps and slipped into the house. Her mother and Brianna were halfway down the hallway. Turned as if to enter the living room on their right, they stared through the doorway. Shock whitened their faces.
“What happened?” Carly asked.