“I guess I’m just used to it. I’ve worked with dementia patients for years, and I’ve learned not to take their abuse personally. Most of them are lovely people who, in their right minds, would be appalled by their behavior. I try to stay focused on who they were rather than who they are now.”

“I feel guilty because sometimes I forget who she used to be.”

“Tell me what you remember.”

“She loved to cook and fuss over Alex and me and our dad. They were crazy in love, constantly dancing and kissing and whispering to each other. It used to gross us out when we were teenagers.”

Hope laughed. “I’m sure it did.”

“Alex used to tell them to get a room.”

“And isn’t he one to talk these days?”

“I know, right?” Paul laughed. “Such a hypocrite.”

“I think he and Jenny are adorable together.”

“I do, too, even if I could do with a little less PDA.”

“They’re moving out soon.”

“None too soon, if you ask me. I’ve had to learn to sleep with headphones on or hear things that can’t be unheard.”

Hope lost it laughing. “Aww, poor Paul. How do you stand it?”

“I can’t stand it. I’ll be first in line to move them the hell out of here.”

“Anyway, about your mom…”

“Right,” he said, wondering how he’d gotten off on a tangent, with her of all people, about sex. “She ran the business after my dad died. Did all the paperwork, managed the retail store, dealt with the customers. We had a good groove going for a long time, and then she started forgetting stuff, confusing one customer with another, arguing with the college kids in the store. I couldn’t figure out what the hell was up with her until one of the kids took me aside and told me the same thing had happened with her grandmother. She was the first to use the word dementia with me. I felt like I’d been electrocuted or something.”

Overcome by the painful memories, Paul took a drink from his bottle and stared out at the darkness. “I asked David to meet me for a beer. He wasn’t the official Gansett Island doctor yet. He was home recovering from chemo.”

“Wait, what? David had chemo?”

“He had lymphoma. He’s in remission now and doing great, but he was pretty sick for a while there.”

“Wow, I had no idea. So what did he say when you told him about your mom?”

“That what she was displaying were classic signs of dementia. He recommended I take her to a doctor on the mainland for an official diagnosis. You should’ve heard that battle. She accused me of all sorts of things, including conspiring to get rid of her so I could have the house and business to myself.”