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“He said that’s why he liked her, that she could buy him anything he wanted and that he was making so little money here.” Pe
Susan, who didn’t think that a change in lifestyle justified taking up with any woman just for her money and suspected her companions would agree with her, tried to ask the next question without sounding judgmental. “Do you think he’s with her, the other woman, now?”
“Oh, no, I’m sure he’s not!”
“How do you know that?” Kathleen spoke up for the first time.
“She’s… well, she’s…”
“She’s married, isn’t she?” Kathleen continued.
“Yes. And Mike isn’t the first… or the only… man she’s been involved with! He said she’s had lots of lovers, that she only stays with her husband because he’s rich.”
Susan was begi
“Then you do know where he is right now?”
“I know he spent some time on the island. There are lots of empty houses this time of the year and Mike liked to… to explore them. I know this sounds bad, but he didn’t steal things or damage anything. He just liked to look around. But the police were looking for him and had started checking out some of the empty properties, so he left and I don’t know where he is now. Really,” she ended sadly.
“When was the last time you heard from him?”
“He was here and then that’s the last time. I’ve been so worried. If something has happened, if he’s been arrested or something, don’t you think I would have heard?”
“I’m sure you would have,” Susan said.
“Probably,” Sally said more abruptly. “But you know there are other men in the world.”
“Oh, not for me. I’ll always love Mike,” Pe
“If you hear from him, will you let me know?” Sally asked. “Ask him to talk to me if that would be easier for you. I don’t believe he killed anyone, but he does need help. Ru
“I do. I do know that. I’ll try to talk him into talking to you. Mike always said you were the best of the… of the residents. He likes you.”
“I’m flattered.”
Susan thought Pe
“And I’d better get back to work,” Pe
“And I have a date with a jigsaw puzzle,” Sally said, standing up.
The four women parted. Pe
“Poor girl. She really loves him,” Kathleen said, looking down the hallway.
“She’s young. She’ll get over it,” Sally said.
“Are you surprised at what she said about Mike?” Susan asked.
“Not surprised. Sad, but not surprised. I’m afraid that young man has a tendency to get in over his head. I hope he grows up before he gets in serious trouble.”
“This is my phone number.” Susan handed a small slip of paper to Sally. “Will you call me if you hear anything else about him? If I’m not at home, you can always leave a message.”
“Of course. And will you do the same? Of course, you won’t have to leave a message. I’ll be here. I’m always here,” Sally ended with a rueful smile.
TWENTY-EIGHT
HE WAS SCREWED AND HE KNEW IT. THIS PLACE MADE Perry Island Care Center look like Canyon Ranch. The pay was rotten, the staff incompetent, the management only interested in making a profit. The residents… He couldn’t help himself; he woke up in the middle of the night worrying about the residents. Not that they were worth it. Poor and old and boring. Maybe they’d be better off dead. He sure hoped he didn’t end up like them, all alone in a rotten nursing home.
Susan stopped at Kathleen’s house only long enough to say hello to Jerry’s parents before heading straight home. Chrissy was walking out the door as she turned into the driveway.
“Have to run, Mom,” her daughter called out without slowing down. “I’m meeting Erika and I’m fifteen minutes late!” She climbed into her car and had the key in the ignition before her mother could protest.
“Where are the twins? And Sha
“The babies are in the nursery and Sha
Susan parked her car in the garage and used the co
Sha
“No, thanks. I’ve already eaten.” Susan wasn’t sure whether to mention P.I.C.C. or not.
“The babies are both bathed and are sleeping. Chrissy and I didn’t know if you had any plans, but we thought I could make di
Susan smiled. “I don’t know a single woman who wouldn’t be thrilled to have someone cook di
“Sounds great to me, but Chrissy is trying to lose weight.”
“I’ll do fruit in brandy. There’s Ben & Jerry’s vanilla in the freezer. Chrissy can skip the ice cream if she’s worried about calories, and the men can have double scoops. You, too,” she added glancing over at Sha
“I’ve been thin since my first year of nursing school. You burn lots of calories being a nurse.” Sha
“Even in a nursing home?” Susan asked. She removed her jacket, draped it on a chair, opened the refrigerator, and began pulling fruit out and placing it on a nearby counter.
“Especially in a nursing home. When people are in wheelchairs someone else has to do their walking for them. When I was growing up, my mother used to say that taking care of people at the begi
“And you’ve done both,” Susan said, examining a quart of blueberries for any signs of mold. “Which do you prefer?”
Sha
“Rosie and Ethan are your second job with babies?” Susan asked, picking up a pineapple and breathing in its tangy scent.
“Yes. They’re so adorable and this job is a dream-nice family, nice home. What more could anyone ask for.”
“Cookies?” Susan muttered, opening a cupboard door.
Sha
“They would go well with the fruit and ice cream and I know the men would love some. I was just wondering if I had some stashed away. But no. When I buy them, I eat them.”
“I’m the same way,” Sha
“Good idea. I use the basic Joy of Cooking recipe and add a half teaspoon of almond extract.”
“Yummy. My favorite brownie recipe has a layer of raspberry jam in the chocolate.”
“That sounds wonderful.”
“It might be interesting to combine recipes. You know, make the brownies with almond extract the way you usually do and then add a layer of raspberry jam. If you have jam.”