Angels Walking Read Online Free PDF Page B

call.”
    “What happened?” Cheryl sat in the nearest chair and rested her elbows on her knees. Dear Jesus. Not again . . .
    “I found her at the front door trying to leave. She was inher nightgown and a wool coat. She was pulling an overnight bag packed with most of her things.” Frustration sounded in his voice. Harrison had been manager of Merrill Place for ten years. He practically lived there. If he was worried, then things were bad.
    “You really think she was going to leave?”
    “Definitely. If the door hadn’t been locked, she’d be halfway down the boulevard.”
    Heartache welled up in Cheryl. Her mother had always been so strong, the pulse of their home. Even after Dad died twenty years ago, her mom had been sharper than women half her age. How could her mind fail her like this? “Did she say anything?”
    “I couldn’t understand most of it. Something about finding Ben.” He hesitated. “She’s said that before, of course.”
    Cheryl closed her eyes. Ben. Her older brother. “At least that makes sense.”
    “You want to come down and talk to her?” The manager hesitated. “I mean, she’s your mother but I understand she doesn’t . . .”
    “Know me?” Every time Cheryl thought about the fact, her heart broke a little more. “No. She doesn’t.” She stood and paced a few steps. The sentence was never easy to finish. She thought about her granddaughters in the other room. “You think it would help? If I was there?”
    “Maybe. Either way we need to agree on a plan.” Harrison sounded weary. “When patients get like this, we have to move them. She needs much higher-level care. There’s a facility in Destin.” He hesitated. “And yes. I think if you came it could help.”
    “Okay.” They had talked about it before. Destin was nearly an hour from Pensacola. Too far for Cheryl to drop in throughout the week. Too far for a night like this. “I’ll be right there.”
    “Thank you.” Relief punctuated his words.
    Cheryl walked to the back of the house where the girls were cuddled, one on each side of their grandfather. They were four and six this year. Every hour with them was priceless.
    She smiled at them. “Meemaw’s got to go out for a little bit. Check on Great-Gram down the street.” She walked to the bookcase and pulled out Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches and Other Stories from the middle shelf. A quick look at Chuck, her husband of forty years, told him all he needed to know. He would help delay the start of the movie. “Papa will read while I’m gone.” Cheryl patted their blond heads. “I’ll be back soon.”
    “You need me?” Chuck took the book, his eyes warm with empathy.
    “Stay here.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead. “Pray.”
    His eyes didn’t leave hers. “Always.”
    The drive to Merrill Place was less than ten minutes this time of night. Most of Pensacola was at the Blue Wahoos baseball game. It’s where she and Chuck would be if they weren’t watching the girls. Cheryl felt her heart sink. Her poor mother.
    She rolled down the window and let the ocean air clear her mind. The night was cooler than usual for August, the stars overhead brilliant. Father, what’s happening? My mother is getting worse. I’m out of ideas. Help us . . . please.
    No answer came, no immediate sense of direction or help. Cheryl prayed until she arrived and then she found Harrison Myers in his office. “I got here as fast as I could.”
    “She’s in her room.” He picked up a folder from his desk and handed it to her. “Here. Information about the center in Destin.” A shadow fell over his kind brown eyes. “We can’t help her much longer. Not if something doesn’t change.”
    Cheryl took the packet. “Thank you.” She nodded toward the door. “I’ll go see her.”
    Mr. Myers folded his hands. “I’m sorry.”
    “It’s okay.” They shared a sad look and then she walked from his boxy office down the white tiled hallway to her mother’s room.