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Dan made it to the senior-care center just before five. He had hoped to bring Dinah, but she was still training at the children’s museum, and this place would close to visitors at six. He would bring her next time.
Once he was in the room, he took a chair and stared at the resident. She looked older than she was. She wore a comfortable dress that was basically a nightgown. Or hospital gown. Or pajamas. She was gray-haired and wrinkled, especially around the eyes.
And how well he knew those eyes.
She did not appear to recognize him. “What brings you here, mister?”
“It’s Tuesday. I come every Tuesday.”
“Well, that’s fine then. I don’t get many visitors.” She had some crocheting in her lap, but she did not appear to have made much progress.
“Have you been outside? Lovely day. Not too hot, but hot enough.”
“Mister, I live in Florida. Every day is a nice day.”
Bit of an exaggeration, but he wasn’t going to argue with her. He spotted a puzzle book at her feet. “Been doing the crossword?”
“Not so much,” the woman said. “Anymore I find it hard to focus. I don’t know why. curiouser and curiouser. Used to love solving puzzles.”
“Runs in the family. You get out of this room much?”
“Some. They have activities. I don’t like the dancing. They play the music too loud. And I can’t stand the Bingo. Stupidest game ever. Pure luck. Nothing to it.”
Almost everything about her had changed...but some things would always remain the same. He leaned forward and took her hand.
“You’re being a bit forward, mister.”
“I realize you don’t remember this. But you’re my mother. I’m your son.”
“Nonsense. I have a son. But he never comes to see me.”
“He does. You just don’t remember.”
“He got mad at me. Long time ago. They took my husband away, you know. Took him away and locked him up and we had to find some way to survive without him. My son blamed me.”
Dan’s chin lowered. “I know I did.”
“I didn’t want him to do that. I didn’t ask him to help. I was going to take care of it.”
“You were going to get yourself thrown in prison. He didn’t want that. So he took care of it.” Dan paused. “He took care of you.”
“I don’t really remember it all. It’s hard to remember anything these days.”
He squeezed her hand tighter. “I know, Mom. But I’m going to keep visiting you, just the same. And since you brought it up, I want you to know—I’m sorry I was so bad to you when I was a stupid ignorant kid. I know you tried. I know you did the best you could.”
“I tried to make it better,” she said. “But sometimes your mistakes haunt you. Sometimes they just plain tear you apart.”
“I know exactly what you mean.” He scooted even closer to her and lowered his voice. “Mom, I want you to know you can stop worrying about Dinah. I found her. She’s safe. I took care of my family—just like my daddy did. No one is ever going to mistreat Dinah ever again.”
“Dinah. I love that name. Isn’t that a pretty name?”
“It is. And let me tell you something else, Mom. Your husband, my father, loved you. More than you could ever know. He would’ve done anything for you. In fact—he gave up everything for you.”
“I had a husband,” she said. Her eyes seemed to retract. “He was a good man. I loved him.”
“I know you did.” He wrapped his arm around her and hugged her tight. “He loved you too, Mom. And so do I.”