He literally tore himself away from her. “We’re going on a vacation. Just you and me by ourselves. Very, very soon. You hear me?” Their busy season was coming to an end, and they’d earned some time alone.

“Ohhh, yes, please.”

“Very, very soon.” He kissed her again, taking a close look at her gorgeous face. “You okay?”

“Never been better in my life.”

“All right. I’m going, then.” One more kiss. “We’ll get over this craziness someday, won’t we?”

“God, I hope not,” she said with a happy sigh.

One last kiss. “This time I’m really going.”

“This time I’m really letting you.”

The chatter on the radio indicated the accident was a bad one, which propelled him out of the store and into bright sunshine that nearly blinded him. Pulling his aviators down from the top of his head, he walked toward his department-issued SUV to head to the accident scene. But all he could think about was going home to her later to collect on that promise she’d made him. This was going to be a very long day.

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Sitting in the doctor’s office, Paul heard what was being said, but he couldn’t seem to process it. Late-stage dementia, difficulty swallowing, bedridden, vulnerable to infections, risk of pneumonia, unable to speak or communicate…

This was a whole new ballgame.

“I know it’s a lot of information to take in all at once, but we feel it’s imperative for you to prepare for what’s ahead sooner rather than later.”

Hope’s hand covered Paul’s, and her warmth made him realize he was freezing in the air-conditioned office.

“Mr. Martinez, I’m sure you must have questions.” The doctor’s deep voice permeated Paul’s frozen state. The man looked at him with piercing blue eyes, but the only thing Paul could seem to focus on was his paisley bow tie. Who wore paisley these days?

Paul couldn’t think of a single thing to say. There would be questions. Hundreds of them. But right now, there was only despair.

“What are your thoughts about continuing to care for Mrs. Martinez at home on Gansett Island?” Hope asked.

Paul would have to thank her for that later. It was a good question and one that needed to be asked.

“I believe it’s going to become increasingly more difficult to care for her at home. That’s not to say it can’t be done, but it won’t be easy.”

Over the next thirty minutes, Hope quizzed the doctor on every aspect of his mother’s care. While Paul sat like a useless zombie, reeling from the shock, they covered practicalities such as medication and equipment and how to handle the inevitable agitation that Marion would experience as her symptoms worsened.