She took the remote from his hand and switched on the TV. He stretched out as best he could in the chair and held her other hand. Alma gave him a fond glance. “Look at us. Like old married folks.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

He winked at her and squeezed her hand. She sighed with happiness.

“We can talk about that later,” she said softly. “After the show.”

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Mary Beth felt guilty for leaving Bobby Joe. She told herself that she had earned an afternoon off. The evening, when she would meet up with her dad, was hours away.

She could drive to Iminga and back in that stretch of time. But it seemed like a huge effort with little payoff; she wouldn’t be able to get anything done around the Caine house and her dad had hired day help to come in anyway. She got in the elevator and pressed the button for the lobby. The gift shop was located there—she wanted to pick up something small for Alma, something pretty. It didn’t much matter what.

The cafeteria was right next to the shop. A cup of coffee might snap her out of her own mental fog. She was still analyzing Parr’s abrupt departure from Bobby Joe’s room. Was he angry with her or just sad? She knew why he was upset. Nothing she could do about it. It was impossible to make everyone happy. She felt like she was about to collapse from trying.

To distract herself, she read the notices on the elevator wall.

Caregivers need care too! Our support group meets every Wednesday at six in the conference room by the lobby. See you there so we can share.

No thanks. Mary Beth didn’t want to share. Her troubles were trivial compared to what Alma and Bobby Joe had gone through so far. And it wasn’t over.

The doors whooshed open and she walked out. A sign in the gift shop window said CLOSED. There was no indication of when they might reopen, and the lights were off inside. She browsed the window, making note of several items that Alma might like.

Then she moved on to the crowded cafeteria, getting her own coffee from an urn and adding a muffin to her order. With the cup and saucer balanced on a tray, she went looking for a quiet spot where she would be invisible, lucking out with a small table in a corner.

The hot, strong coffee did the trick. She felt better after the first few sips, but had to force herself to nibble at the muffin. She set it aside on the paper plate.

“Eat that.”

The deep voice startled her. “Parr.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, calming herself. When he’d exited Bobby Joe’s room, she’d thought that he was leaving the hospital, done for the day.