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Caleb and I have each other. If Dean is alone, he has no one.
“Adam,” Caleb says, holding his phone to his ear after calling his brother. “Did Dean come into work last night? He’s not home, and we’re a little worried.”
I stare, waiting for a response.
Caleb looks at me, his expression shrouded in disappointment. “He didn’t? Okay. Yeah, if you hear anything, let us know.”
He hangs up his phone, and I bring my hand to my forehead.
“Where could he be? He never goes anywhere this early in the morning.”
“It’s too early to start panicking,” Caleb replies, and I turn away from him, annoyed with that response. All of a sudden, he’s the calm and collected one. Normally, it’s the other way around.
As the minutes roll by and Caleb and I spend the next hour pacing around and waiting, the worry starts to congeal and turn into guilt. I promised his father I wouldn’t let Dean be alone. I promised that we would always have him. We would always be there to protect him.
Suddenly, I stop pacing and quickly pull out my phone. It’s a long shot, but I do a quick search of the nursing home where we met Dean’s father. Biting my lip nervously, I hit the call button. After a couple of rings, someone picks up.
“Hi, I’m looking for information for one of your residents, Sal Sheridan,” I say, trying to remain calm.
“Can I ask who’s speaking?” she replies.
“I’m…his daughter-in-law.”
The line goes quiet for a moment before the woman says, “Unfortunately, I can’t give you any information about a patient over the phone.”
I let out a huff of frustration, ready to call it a dead end.
Then the nurse continues, “But I remember you. You came in with Mr. Sheridan’s son, right?”
“Yes, Rhonda,” I say, holding a hand to my chest as I remember the kind woman who spoke with us. Somehow, I know where this is going.
“I was the nurse who spoke to you and your…husband. It was a good thing you signed that release for your father-in-law while you were here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to tell you anything.”
My brows furrow as I try to think back to that day that we visited. I definitely didn’t sign anything, but judging by the nurse’s tone, I think she’s trying to tell me she can help me.
“Yes!” I reply. “I did…sign that release. And I’m just looking for my…husband. Have you, by chance, seen him?”
“Your husband is here, Mrs. Sheridan,” the nurse replies somberly.
“Oh, thank God,” I mumble.
“And I don’t think he should be alone right now.”
“He’s alone?” I cry.
There’s movement on the line, and Rhonda replies in a hushed whisper. “I’m so sorry to have to tell you this over the phone, but Mr. Sheridan passed late last night.”
A yelp escapes my lips as I press my fingers over my eyes. I have to breathe for a moment, gathering the strength to speak again without sobbing.
“Thank you for telling me.”
“I wish I had your information to call you sooner. Your husband is not doing well. We’ve let him stay because we feel terrible, but he won’t leave Mr. Sheridan’s room.”
“Oh god,” I cry.
Caleb is suddenly by my side. I give him a quick nod to signal that I know where Dean is. He runs to grab his keys as I finish with the nurse on the phone.
“Thank you,” I say through my tears. “We’re on our way.”
