Page 12 of Easton Island

Morgan sniffed the air. “I smell a hint of smoke.”

Elizabeth sucked in a breath. “I do, too.”

Prissy’s eyes grew round as saucers. “I…think I may have left a candle warmer plugged in the bathroom.”

“There’s no power, so I don’t think it caused any harm.” Morgan made a beeline through the living room, down the hall, and to the bathroom. A candle warmer sat on the small shelf, the cord unplugged and dangling.

Morgan turned to go when she heard running water. Easing the shower curtain aside, she found the tub faucet was on. Not full blast, but not a trickle either. She turned it off and traipsed back into the kitchen.

Her grandmother and Prissy sat at the table, waiting for her return.

“Well?” Elizabeth prompted.

“The candle warmer was unplugged.”

“Good.” Prissy fidgeted in her chair. “I wonder why the power is off.”

“The bathtub faucet was on.”

“Running?”

“Not full blast, but more than a trickle. Thank goodness you weren’t filling the tub.”

Prissy placed her head in her hands, her shoulders slumping. “I could have flooded my house.”

Never one to mince words, especially if she had something on her mind, Elizabeth blurted out, “You’re not doing well.”

The woman leaned back in her chair, a pained expression on her face. “I feel fine, other than the fall and colliding with my bush.”

“I’m not talking about physically.” Elizabeth tapped the side of her forehead. “Up here. We found you asleep behind the wheel of your car with the engine running. You don’t know what day it is and you couldn’t remember where my art gallery was.”

Prissy opened her mouth and promptly shut it.

Her sister-in-law’s tone softened. “I would like you to move up the date of your next doctor’s visit. I want to go with you.”

Her face crumpled. “It’s getting bad,” she whispered.

“How bad?” Morgan asked.

“I’m putting Lawrence’s clothes out again. I can’t find my cell phone, and when I woke up this morning, I thought there was a tractor in my living room.”

“A tractor?”

“A gold Minneapolis-Moline with a bucket on the front, the kind Lawrence used to have. I was furious. I planned to chew him out and went from room to room looking for him. When I got back to the living room.” Her voice trailed off.

“The tractor was gone,” Elizabeth said.

Prissy nodded. “I guess you’ll have to put me in a home.”

“Do you want to move into a home?”

“No,” she said in a small voice. “I would have to leave the island.”

“My suggestion is for you to move to Easton Estate. We have plenty of room and staff to keep an eye on you.”

“I don’t…”

Morgan cut her off. “Why not? It would be like living in a five-star hotel. Maid service, all your meals cooked, a driver when you want to go somewhere.”