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Later in the late morning, Becky offered to give Carter and Callie a tour of the community. “Carter has been here before, but Callie hasn’t so I have some cool things to show you.”
Candace shared some places she thought would be interesting and let the group of three go on their way. Once out of the house, they begin to investigate every part of Becky’sfamily’s life and the people in it, ending up at her Uncle Karl’s store.
“Hi, Bobby. Where is Uncle Karl?”
“Oh, hi, Becky. Sorry I missed you the other week.”
“Hey, sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk. This is my fiancé Carter and my friend Callie.”
He reached out to shake hands. “I didn’t know you were coming in. Karl is at the warehouse, awaiting a delivery.”
“Oh, I thought Monty did all of those.”
“He used to, but he and Karl haven’t been getting on that well lately. They had an argument or something.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Anyway, I have to get back to work. Karl has been kind of cranky these days. You know how he can get.”
She smiled. “I do. Nice to chat with you. See you later.”
“Bye. Nice to meet you, Callie.”
Once outside, Becky giggled. “Wow, you made an impression.”
Callie rolled her eyes when Carter, who had been rather solemn since they left home, broke a slight smile.
“He’s got to be what? Twenty? I am not into potty training my men.”
Becky laughed. “So, it’s men, is it? Does Garrett know?”
“Shut it.”
Carter, who had finished with the ribbing, grew serious again. “It’s getting late, so I vote we go grab takeout and go back to the Carrington’s and eat. We can send the information we’ve gotten to Sharlee and see if any of it goes with anything else.”
“Fine, but no takeout. My mom will simply be mortified. Let me call her and ask if she needs anything from the store.”
They stopped for a bottle of wine and a six-pack of beer and enjoyed a hearty home-cooked meal of pot roast with all the fixings and apple pie. They relaxed in the evening, talking like they were there for nothing more than a visit. Jamesseemed to grow fuzzier as the evening progressed. His memory and concentration diminished enough to feed Becky’s fear that something like Sundowners Syndrome for early dementia was beginning. She mentioned it.
“How long have you been feeling fuzzy, Dad?”
Her mom answered. “I’d say about four months or so. Around Thanksgiving. When he thought something was going on at the store.”
“Did I?” James laughed. “It must’ve not been important. Nothing happened.”
“Do you remember what that was, Mom?”
“No, I don’t pay that much attention to the business side of things. You know that.”
“No, but I don’t want you to go jumping in where you don’t need to be,” said James. “It’s caused too much trouble as it is.”
“Like what?” pushed Becky.
“Like Karl and Monty are barely talking anymore. Just turn in your paperwork to the accountant and let it go.”
“Okay, Dad. Don’t get upset.”
“I’m not, honey. I’m just tired. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”
Becky looked at Callie and Carter and then offered to help her mom with the clean-up.
“No, I’m really all done. You go to your rooms or watch a movie in the den, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
