The dinner was a trial for Marion. Her confusion was worse than Jenny had ever seen it before. Under his breath, Alex told her it was a difficult time of day. “Maybe we should go home and catch up with you guys tomorrow.”

“Where’s George?” Marion said. “He should be here. I don’t go out to eat without George. Who are these people? Why are we here?”

Since Alex seemed on the verge of breaking, Jenny leaned across him. “Marion, would you like to go for a walk to the ladies’ room with me?”

“Who are you?”

“I’m Jenny, Alex’s girlfriend.”

“Alexander doesn’t have a girlfriend. He’s too young for such things.” Her gaze narrowed as she studied Jenny. “Are you sleeping with him? I’ll have you arrested! You’re taking advantage of a boy!”

Alex’s audible gasp caught the attention of diners all around them. “I’m so sorry. We’re going to call it a night. It was great to meet you. I hope to see you again while you’re here.”

“It was great to meet you, too, Alex, and Marion,” Karen said. “I’m sure we’ll see you again before we leave.”

Jenny got up to walk them out, but he stopped her with the gentle press of his hand on her arm. “It’s okay. Stay with your folks. I’m really sorry about this.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. I’ll call you later?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Without looking back, he escorted his mother from the restaurant.

As Jenny returned to her seat, she told herself it didn’t matter that he’d gone out of his way not to look at her as he said good-bye. The belly that had once fluttered with nerves now sank with dread. His good-bye had felt awfully final.

“Well,” she said to her parents, “that’s Alex. And his mom.”

“She’s so young,” Karen said, her eyes soft with compassion.

“I know.”

“Does he have siblings?”

“He has a brother. They’ve been managing her situation on their own while trying to run their landscaping business. It’s been a struggle.”

“He’s very good with her.”

“Yes, they both are. It’s impressive, but it’s a lot on them, especially living here where there’re no facilities or anything like that. They’re in the process of hiring a nurse to come here to help them.”

“They say the measure of a man is in the way he cares for his mother,” Hugh said. “If that’s the case, then it seems like you’ve found a man truly worthy of your affection.”

Jenny couldn’t agree more, but she also couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom that had come over her as he’d walked away from her.

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

The discomfort grew with every minute Jenny spent away from Alex. At nine-thirty, she sent him a text.