The bracelet was silver with tiny angel charms dangling between lavender and clear crystal beads. It was delicate and I could imagine it on Violet’s dainty wrist as she waved to her friends. I was wrapping it in tissue for my jewelry box when I’d noticed one angel was missing. That made it perfect to me.

I took the bracelet out the next day as I dressed for work but decided against wearing it. I was a little teary-eyed as I gathered my purse and keys, both because I missed Violet and because she’d suffered so much and never told me.

I spotted construction trucks all over the back parking lot at Fairfield Springs. This could mean only one thing—Violet’s entertainment room was being built at last. The detailed plans had been posted on a bulletin board for us to ogle for a month.

She had designed a place I personally hoped to experience as an eighty-year-old. Only Violet could have envisioned it: a huge area for Wii and X-Box games like bowling and golf, a mock corner “cafe” with low lighting and four plush booths for romance (there is a lot of swooning in Fairfield Springs; precious few places to swoon effectively), and a fifties-style soda fountain where we’d distribute ice cream several times a week. There would be a jukebox stocked with songs she’d personally selected. She’s created a place for residents to date. How very Violet.

I put my stuff in a locker and straightened my new scrubs in the mirror with a grin. They were two sizes smaller than usual and featured tiny police badges. Rick found them on eBay and made me promise to wear them at least twice a week. I texted a quick “I love you” and walked to the desk, where Kait was reassuring Mrs. Hartness that she did indeed live in Fairfield Springs, fetching Tylenol for Mr. Quattlebaum, and listening to Audrey condemn her mattress as “some sort of medieval torture device.”

She smiled sweetly and muttered, “Well, Mrs. Haynes, we were trying to replicate the era when you grew up.”

Audrey held a hand to her ear. “What’s that, girl?”

“I said I’ll send maintenance to take a look.” Kait waved goodbye to Audrey in a futile attempt to get her to leave. “How are you, Miss Eternally-Free-of-Speeding-Tickets? Those scrubs are pretty cute.”

“Wonderful, fabulous, in love with the man of my dreams, waiting for his children to murder me in my sleep.”

“Have they been back to visit?”

“No, but Rick says they’re taking karate lessons and can’t wait to show us what they’ve learned. I’m taking that as a veiled threat.”

Kait laughed and swatted my butt. “Come on. It’s almost time for bingo, and you need to help Mrs. Hughes find her lucky pink pants. I’ll go set up.”