“Maybe the cat doesn’t miss you, but everyone else would sure miss you at the home, since you take care of half the residents.”

“Only a few and not permanently. Just helping some get back on their feet so they can stay there. When I’m not there to do it, senior services sends volunteers around. But senior services is overworked and underpaid, so I’m glad to help out when I can.”

“I’m happy to hear that.” Ginny smiled. “I was afraid the other people you help would be neglected.”

Amalia waved her crochet hook. “Oh, and your phone sang several times, but I let them all go to voice mail. One was MJ, so she called me to make sure you’re all right.”

“Did we have a good time at the UFO the other day?”

“We seemed to. You didn’t get a lot done on your project, but that’s okay. The evening group is on Monday night.”

Addy set the plate of cookies on the table between them and sat cross-legged on the deck, leaning against Ginny’s lounger. Spook sniffed her face and licked one cheek before lying down with his head on her thigh. Addy leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Where’s your ball?” That made it twitch. He shook his head and got up, searched the deck, and waited at the door for her to open it. Then he cased the upstairs, pounded down the stairs, and returned with it in a couple of minutes. “Boy, you must have hidden it well. Come on.” She tossed the ball over the railing and away he went after it.

Amalia announced, “Before I came out here, I made the salad dressing for tonight and set up the tray for the hamburgers. The scalloped potato casserole is in the oven with the timer set to start at five.”

“You are a godsend.”

“I can only sit still so long before I get the heebie-jeebies.”

“Right.”

Spook left the ball chasing and loped barking down the driveway.

“They’re here.” Ginny tried to blow out the tears that immediately clogged her throat. “Here I go again.”

“What triggered it?”

“Fred isn’t here to grill the hamburgers. He never let anyone touch his grill, said they might take his job away.” She blew her nose but the sobs only worsened. “I don’t want them to see me falling apart again.” She rose from the lounger and headed for the bathroom. “I’ll be out as soon as I can.”

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

What did you say his name was?” Roxie checked with her GPS to see how far before the turn.

“Richard Donald Owens, he goes by Rich.” Loren stared at her mother. “What’s with you? You meet new people all the time, why is this any different?”