Page 93 of Barefoot Lake

“This is where I spread Mom’s ashes,” Alice says, barely above a whisper.

A lump immediately forms in my throat. I squeeze Alice’s hand and step closer as her head falls against my shoulder.

We stand silently side by side for close to fifteen minutes while I say a silent goodbye to my friend. I breathe out a slow, shaky breath.

Alice lifts her head and turns toward me.

“Are you ready?” she asks.

“Yeah,” I reply, nodding. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“I am sorry I didn’t think to invite anybody from Wilcox Grove to her service. I should have done better for her.”

I give her hand another squeeze.

“You’re the best she could have asked for.”

And I mean it.

As we near the truck, Alice gets a call. She looks concerned when she sees the number on her screen.

“It’s Willow Acres,” she explains before answering.

I only hear her side of the conversation.

“Hello?… Speaking… He is?... No, I’m not far.” She covers the speaker of the phone and turns to me, excitement all over her face. “They say he’s lucid. He hasn’t had a day like this since I found him. Do we have time to go there?”

I nod and immediately unlock and open the door.

“Get in,” I direct. “Let’s go.”

“Enter,” William’s voice calls from inside his room after we knock. He’s sitting behind his desk, as he was last time, furiously shuffling papers. He looks more disheveled than he did last time. He isn’t wearing a vest or suit jacket, and his shirt is rumpled like it was hastily thrown on. A facility employee, maybe a doctor, is standing beside him and the concerned look on her face gives me a bad feeling.

William glances up at us before glaring at the doctor.

“I have students,” he snaps. “Like I told you, you need to go.”

I can almost feel the disappointment washing over Alice.

“I’m sorry, Professor,” Alice’s voice cracks. “We can come back later if you’re busy.”

“No,” William answers, still stern. “I am here for students, not for pointless meetings with unnecessary doctors.”

The doctor clenches her jaw but acquiesces.

“Fine, I’ll go.”

On her way out, she pauses beside me and Alice, gently placing a hand on Alice’s arm.

“I’m sorry,” she says and leaves.

William had gone back to his papers but looks up again.

“Well? Sit!” He’s still agitated, and I expect this is what would be considered a bad day.

We tentatively move further into the room and sit.

“I can’t find— I don’t know—” William is mostly muttering to himself again. I’m not sure he knows what he’s looking for. “What do you want?” he barks at Alice, and she jumps.