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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

F orbes had waited outside the doctor’s office for ten minutes before he’d been allowed to enter. The woman had apologized for making him wait—a call she had to take, apparently—then gave him more details about Grandmother’s fall and diagnosis.

“She did have a bout of memory loss last night,” Dr. Shelley said. “She forgot who I was and where she was. She was demanding to see Forbes. That’s her grandson, right?”

Her words had worry churning in his middle. “Weird she’d ask for him. He’s not around.”

“We assumed, since we’ve never met him.”

“Why isn’t she in the hospital? She should be?—”

“She’s all right. This happens when people get older. We’re optimistic that, with enough rest, she’ll be back to normal soon.”

“Meanwhile, you’re just leaving her by herself? What happens if she forgets where she is when she’s alone? What happens if she panics and gets hurt again?”

“We’re keeping an eye on her. We don’t have enough staff to?—”

“Take care of the people you’re paid to take care of?”

“Mr. Baker, we do what we can.”

He didn't like that answer and wasn’t going to pretend he did. He stood. “Is there anything else I need to know?”

“We’re taking good care of your aunt.”

He didn’t dignify that ridiculous comment with a response. If they were taking good care of her, she wouldn’t have fallen.

“Next time something happens, I expect you to notify me immediately, not the next day. Immediately.”

The doctor nodded once. “I’m sorry they didn’t get in touch with you sooner. I’ll make sure the staff knows you’re to be informed.”

He ground out, “Thank you,” and left the office.

He was making his way down the long hallway when Dr. Shelley called out to him from behind. She was hurrying toward him.

“Your aunt pulled the emergency cord.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know.” She reached him, and he hurried alongside her.

Grandmother’s door was open when they arrived.

Please, let her be okay.

Brooklynn was with her. She’d take care of her.

A nurse and two staff members were in the living room.

Dr. Shelley hurried into the bedroom, and he followed. Grandmother was tucked into bed. There was no sign of Brooklynn.

He shook off worry about Brooklynn to focus on Grandmother.

She was sound asleep.

A nurse followed them in, scooted past Forbes, and held something out to the doctor. “She was disoriented and weak.”

The doctor took the piece of paper and read it, then handed it to him. “I think this is for you.”

Forbes read the handwritten note. Read it again. On the top, Brooklynn had written exactly what the nurse had said, that Grandmother had been disoriented and weak. Brooklynn had helped her into bed, and she’d fallen asleep immediately.

Below that, she wrote,

She forgot to lie.

-B

Forbes’s heart dropped to his knees.

Brooklynn knew. Grandmother had told her. And Brooklynn…

He looked around, already knowing what he refused to believe.

She was gone.