Jane’s mother, Addie, had been there for several months. Jane had been reluctant to move her there at first. Her instinct had been to care for her mother at home. But Addie’s dementia meant Jane also had to take over running Tides, and doing both had become impossible. Tall Pines was a much better place for her, and she was thriving.
Cooper was a frequent visitor at Tall Pines. The management encouraged dogs, as it always seemed to please the residents, and Mike usually brought him once a week. Cooper loved car rides, so he was excited when Jane brought him with her. When she parked in the lot, he knew exactly where he was and walked beside her to the front door.
Jane greeted the receptionist and then unleashed Cooper, letting him run down the hall ahead of her to Addie’s room.
“Cooper! Are you back again so soon?” Addie smiled as the dog rushed to her. Addie always remembered Cooper, even if she did get Jane confused with her sister sometimes. Jane stepped into the room, which had been decorated with all of her mother’s favorite things from the blue-and-white wedding ring quilt her grandmother had made to the bird figurines that had been gifts from her father to the furniture she’d had in her room at Tides.
“Well, it has been almost a week, Mom.” Jane hadn’t brought Cooper the last two times. She usually visited at least every other day, but mostly every day.
“Not you, dear. Mike was here with Coop yesterday.” Addie pressed her lips together and looked up at the ceiling. “Or was it earlier today?”
He was?Cooper had initially been Mike’s dog, but when his living circumstances had almost forced him to give up the dog, Jane had taken him in at Tides. Now that she and Mike were an item, they shared Cooper. He had taken Cooper yesterday, but he didn’t mention coming to visit Addie. Her mother was probably confused about timing.
Jane held out the bakery bag. “Claire sent these.”
“Isn’t she sweet! Did she make them in that culinary school?” Addie reached her weathered hand into the bag and pulled out a muffin. “Nice job. She must be learning a lot.”
Jane didn’t correct her. Claire had gone to culinary school, but that was years ago. Addie’s memory wasn’t always cohesive.
“Did Mike get his sizes?” Addie asked.
“Sizes?”
“Measurements maybe. You know. Wait. Is it your birthday, dear? I didn’t get you anything.”
“It’s not today, Mom. Don’t worry. There’s plenty of time.”
“Oh. Phew.” Addie bit into the muffin, spilling crumbs down her shirt. “Oh, look at me! What a mess!”
Claire had provided napkins, and Addie pulled one out. Then as if just remembering her manners, she tilted the bag toward Jane. “Would you like a muffin?”
“No thanks. I’m full.” She’d eaten more than her share at Sandcastles.
“I’ll save it for later.” Addie winked and slid the bag into a drawer. Jane made a mental note to remove it before she left. Addie would forget it was in there.
“Anyway, I had a lovely chat with Mike.” Addie looked down at the dog. “And you, too, Cooper. Mike is a good catch for you.”
“I know.” Jane did know, but something about the way her mother said that lent her to believe that something strange was going on concerning Mike.
Liz had said Andie was with Mike this morning, and now her mom seemed to think Mike had been here asking about measurements.Could it all be a coincidence?
There was one way to find out. She had plans to meet Mike for a late lunch at their favorite restaurant, and she’d simply ask him.
CHAPTERSIX
Sam broke the biscuit into four pieces and tossed one at Dooley, who caught it deftly. Dooley smiled and wagged his tail, his eyes locked on the other pieces in Sam’s hand.
“Just one for now. Don’t want you to get fat. Gotta keep you healthy.” Sam couldn’t bear losing another person. Well, Dooley wasn’t a person, but pretty close in his book.
As if understanding, the dog trotted over and nudged Sam’s hand with the top of his head, indicating he wanted to be petted. Sam complied. “You liked that walk today, huh?”
“Woof!”
To Sam’s surprise, he’d enjoyed it too. He hadn’t had much energy or ambition lately, but he was starting to find a little more of it through Dooley—and that silly woman with her newspaper in the car. It had sparked his detective instincts, and for a split second, he’d felt almost… alive.
Sam sighed. Those thoughts were foolish. He was retired and too old for investigating. He had nothing to investigate anyway. All he had was Dooley and waiting around for his sons to visit. Brad lived in California, so that didn’t happen often. His other son, Todd, was in Europe, so visits from him happened even less.
He glanced down at the dog, who was looking up at him. “Okay, maybe tomorrow we’ll walk a little on the Marginal Way.”
