Mandy snorted again as she started pulling out scrapbooks from the cabinets. “There’s one whole scrapbook devoted entirely to your father, but only until his sixteenth year. There’s one concerning that day when your…accident happened. I’m the one who kept it up. Lola didn’t want to. It was too painful. I offered it to your parents, and they said no thank you. Are you going to…stay on…after? Whenever after…happens. I don’t know what Anthony and I are going to do,” she said, wringing her hands.

“You’re both going to stay right here is what you’re going to do. This is your home. I’m sure Lola provided for you.”

“It’s not the money. She’s paid both of us ten times what we’re worth over the years. It’s all been invested. Both of us have always taken care of Lola. We won’t know what to do without her.”

“You can take care of me and Atlas. But that’s a long way down the road. It looks like I’ll be staying on here.”

Mandy wiped her eyes with the hem of her apron. “She loves you so much. I thought she would have a breakdown when your parents took you away. She was never the same after you left. I’ll never forget that day. You didn’t want to go either. You were wailing and carrying on just the way Lola was. She thought you would come back here after you finished college. That’s why she built this big place. The tennis court, the pool, this fancy house, all those books in the library, it was all for you. She wanted you to come on your own. She said she would never ask or beg you. She said if you came, it would be because you wanted to come.”

“I wasn’t ready to come back. Lola knew that,” Cady said. “Mandy, fear does terrible things to people. I’m still not comfortable being here. I love Lola more than anything in the whole world, you know that. I probably wouldn’t have come now if I didn’t feel she needed me. I don’t think she needed me before. I could be wrong about that, but I don’t think so.

Mandy nodded. “I’m cooking up a pot of gizzards, chicken, and some rice and vegetables for Atlas. Lola always fed that to her dogs, and they all lived long, healthy lives. I’ve been giving him cod liver oil, and his coat is getting nice and shiny. He’s put on some weight, too, since he’s been here. He does like his cheese treats.”

“Yes, he does, and he loves to play with that sock you made him with the bell inside. I don’t think he ever had any toys. He’s a good dog.”

“Yes, he is. Would you like some coffee, Cady?”

“I would, Mandy. How long will Lola sleep?”

“She’s not sleeping. She’s just lying there talking to your dog. She’s afraid to sleep for fear she’ll die, and she isn’t ready to do that yet. It’s almost like she’s waiting for something. Whatever it is, she isn’t sharing it with me.”