During Marion’s last few days at home, Hope packed her most treasured photos to send with her. She lovingly sewed nametags into Marion’s clothing and made sure her medication was well organized for a smooth transition. In short, she did everything she could to make the move as easy for Alex and Paul as she could, and they would be eternally grateful to her.

They moved Marion on Wednesday, three days before Alex’s wedding. In the end, she went somewhat quietly. Her confusion had gotten worse than ever in the last few days she’d been at home, and even though their hearts were breaking to know she’d probably never again return to the home she loved, they had no doubt anymore that they were doing what was best for her, even if it about killed them to actually do it.

Jenny and Hope had offered to come with them, but the brothers had declined their kind offer, wanting to see to the move themselves. They returned to the island six hours after they left.

As the ferry broached the breakwater in South Harbor, Alex said, “After spending years stressing out about this day, it was almost too easy.” They stood at the rail and watched the town of Gansett come into view.

“I suppose it was easy because it was time.”

“Maybe.”

“Hopefully, Lizzie will get her rest home off the ground, and we can move her back to the island,” Alex said.

“Mom might be better off to stay where she is if she’s gotten used to it.”

After a long pause, Alex said, “Dad would understand why we had to do this, wouldn’t he?”

“Yeah, he would.” Paul said what Alex wanted to hear, but he was no more certain of what their father would have to say about this than his brother was. As they’d made preparations for the move, Paul had tried not to think about what their father would think about it. He could only hope that George Martinez somehow knew that they’d done everything humanly possible to postpone the inevitable for as long as they could. Paul would never admit to anyone that he felt oddly relieved to have the weight of the responsibility for his mother’s care off his shoulders and Alex’s. Once again, he felt like shit for even having the thought.

“We did the best we could for a long time,” Alex said.

“We certainly did. Longer than most people would have.”

“And one of us will see her every week.” They planned to take turns going to the mainland, and Marion’s friends, including Daisy, had also promised to visit as often as they could. “Do you feel like shit for being relieved that it’s not up to us anymore?”

“Total shit.”