Her mother was in her room this time, asleep in the chair with a book in her hand. She looked peaceful, like a child without any worries. Perhaps that was what she was. Maybe being in the state that she was in and being well cared for wasn’t so bad after all. The painting she’d seen Addie doing the other day was hanging on the wall, fresh laundry sat folded on top of the bureau, and the room was clean.
“You watch out for that one.” A woman with a walker was approaching from the other end of the hall. “She’s got sticky fingers.”
“Sticky fingers?” Jane asked.
“Steals things.” The woman stopped at the door. “In fact, I think she has my sweater.”
The woman started into the room. Just then a nurse came along and grabbed her gently by the elbow. “Now, Sadie, come along. Didn’t you want to go to the puzzle room?”
Sadie scowled at the nurse. “Puzzle room? Oh yeah. I did. That’s right. I’m working on that piece with the moose in it.”
She let the nurse lead her away. As they were walking down the hall, Jane heard her ask, “Say, have you seen my sweater with the seashell buttons?”
Addie had been awakened by the noise, and she smiled at Jane benignly. Jane’s stomach swooped. Addie didn’t recognize her.
“Hello,” Addie said in her polite tone reserved for strangers.
“Hi.” Jane stepped over to the painting and pointed at it. “This is a lovely painting. Did you do it?”
Addie smiled proudly. “Yes. Do you see how I made the highlights and contrasted the colors?”
“I do.” Jane noticed the lunch tray on her desk. “Did you have a good lunch? What was it today?”
Addie frowned, as if trying to remember, then she brightened. “Oh yes, it was very good. Hot dogs. I like mine a bit crispier, but what can you do? The service in this hotel isn’t like the Park Plaza.”
Jane sat on the end of the bed, and her mother put the book aside. “Now, was there something you wanted to talk to me about? You’ll have to make it quick. We have a sing-along before supper, and I don’t want to miss it.”
Chapter 23
Maxi stared at the ocean beyond the wall of glass windows in her living room. It was suppertime, and the summer sun was low in the sky, bouncing off the waves and turning the sail on the boat in the distance bright white. What color blue would she use to capture that scene if she were painting. Cerulean? No, it was lighter. Maybe manganese with a touch of green.
She turned away from the window, her thoughts turning to her friend. Jane had talked a good talk at Sandcastles that morning, but Maxi could see she was worried about Tides. Jane needed the money from the wedding to keep Tides going. Jane wouldn’t burden Maxi or Claire with her problems, but Maxi wished there was some way she could help. Maybe she could approach James about giving Jane a low-interest loan.IfJames ever came home. These days he hardly ever showed up for dinner.
As if trying to prove her a liar, the front door opened. He smiled when he saw her, just like old times. It was as if nothing was wrong, which made Maxi wonder if something actually was wrong or if it was all her imagination.
“Hey, honey.” As he walked toward her, she was struck by how handsome he was. Over the last years, he’d gained a few wrinkles, a couple of extra pounds, and some gray hair, but he still made her heart beat faster, just like he had when they’d first met. He came over and kissed her cheek, the spicy smell of his aftershave bringing up all kinds of emotions. Funny, he wasn’t acting like a man who was having an affair.
“Something smells great. What’s for supper?”
“Pot roast.” Maxi wasn’t sure why she still cooked big meals. With the kids gone and James working late most nights, it was usually a waste. But old habits die hard. Or was she just desperate to have things return to the way they were before?
He looked pleased. “My favorite. Roasted potatoes too?”
Maxi nodded. “The way you like them.”
“Can I help you with anything?” He took his jacket off, folded it precisely, then laid it over the back of the sofa.
“I guess you could set the table.” Maxi didn’t bother setting the table anymore, since she never knew if he would be home.
She followed him to the kitchen and checked on the potatoes while he pulled out plates, silverware, and glassware.
“How was your day?” he asked as he meticulously placed the items on the modern granite table.
“Great. You?”Did you inspect any beach cottages with Sandee Harris?
James shrugged. “Boring. You want wine?”
“Sure.”
