"Being sad fills most of my days. I want you to take me there."
"Maybe you should check with your granddaughter," she suggested. "Is she back from her trip?"
"Yes, but she's at work. And she doesn't like to hear me talk about the past, especially when it's about people I knew before my wife, before her grandmother."
"Who was Reina to you?" she asked. "If you don't mind sharing."
Walter hesitated. "That's not an easy question to answer. And some days I'm not sure if I remember it the way it was or the way I wanted it to be. It's not easy getting old, the memories slipping in and out like shadows in the night. But seeing that place again would help me, I think." Walter paused, wonder filling his eyes. "I can't believe you found it. Or that you even went looking for it. Why did you?"
"It seemed important to you," Jax said. "Unanswered questions are difficult to let go of."
"That's the truth." Walter stopped abruptly as a key suddenly turned in the lock. "That's Catherine, my granddaughter."
The door opened, and a woman, who appeared to be in her late thirties, stepped into the apartment, looking at them with surprise. She was a curvy, brown-haired woman in a navy-blue dress and heels.
"What's going on?" the woman asked warily, her gaze flying to Walter. "Is everything okay, Grandpa?"
"It's fine, Catherine. What are you doing home so early?"
"I brought you a salad for lunch." Catherine held up the brown paper bag in her hand.
"A salad? That's rabbit food."
"It's healthy, and it has tuna on it," she said, forcing her grandfather to take the bag. Then she turned to them with a weary sigh. "I'm sorry. Who are you?"
"I'm Kaia Mercer, and this is Jax Ridley."
"She's the girl who comes every time your nosy neighbor calls 911," Walter put in, as he set the bag on the coffee table.
"You're a paramedic?" the woman questioned in surprise.
"Yes, I've seen your grandfather a few times. I'm glad to finally get to meet you."
Catherine did not look at all pleased to meet her. "What are you doing here? You're not in uniform."
"This isn't a professional call. We ran into your grandfather the other day, and he mentioned that he was looking for a building with a red door."
"Oh, my God, you asked them about the red door?" Catherine asked Walter. "I told you that there's no building in town with a red door. Why can't you believe me?"
"Well, they found it," Walter said, giving his granddaughter a smug look.
"Not exactly," she said quickly as Catherine's gaze turned to hers. "The nightclub is no longer in operation, and it hasn't been for decades. It also doesn't have a red door anymore, but the club was located in the basement of what is now the bookstore."
Catherine gave her an annoyed glance, then turned to Walter. "This is ridiculous, Grandpa."
"Not to me," Walter bristled. "And this is no concern of yours. These are my friends."
"Friends?" Catherine questioned, her gaze moving back to Kaia. "Are you supposed to get this involved with the patients you see on duty? What are you doing? Going along with his crazy ideas? You think that's going to help him?"
"Don't talk to her like that. She is helping me, and my ideas aren't crazy," Walter said sharply. "You don't have time to help; she does. And so does he." Walter tipped his head toward Jax, who had remained silent throughout the encounter, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
Catherine shook her head. "I can't do this right now. I have to get back to work." She turned to them. "I'd appreciate it if you would leave now. My grandfather needs to eat lunch, and I have to go."
"I'll eat when I'm done talking to them," Walter said. "Don't treat me like a child, Catherine."
"Then don't act like one," Catherine snapped. "Eat your lunch. And then do whatever you want."
"I'm sorry if we upset your granddaughter," she said when the door had slammed behind her.
