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EDEN
On Monday morning, I awaken to a note from Samuel on my bedside table.
Morning Eden,
My parents have caught an earlier flight.
I’ll pick them up from the hotel after work. Please don’t worry yourself with my parents staying at our house.
Enjoy your day.
See you tonight.
Samuel x
For him to mention not to be concerned, I’m now thinking have I missed something, and should I be?
The house is clean.
There’s plenty of food.
Are they fussy?
Do they have allergies?
Shit, we don’t have fancy cutlery or crockery or—
Stop.
This is exactly what Samuel didn’t want me to do.
Yesterday on the trip home, he didn’t talk about his nightmare. Instead, he talked about his parents and the places they would like to see. When I brought up Rose’s first birthday, he played it down, saying Rose won’t remember anything and to keep the celebrations to family.
I intended to keep it to family, only I wanted to decorate the house.
And today I hoped to shop with Mum, but she has appointments all day. Faith is also busy with errands.
My friends are not here.
My thoughts go to Yasmine and how she’s coping in the jungle.
Then I’m thinking about Gran and her journal.
Looking around the room, I find it on the coffee table stacked with other books. This isn’t something I want on view when Samuel’s parents arrive. I pick it up and start daydreaming about Gran.
And then I think of Brenda…
* * *
The white hallways of the care facility are empty.
I had called ahead to register my visit and confirm Brenda is up to visitors today. All the doors to the residents’ rooms are closed, and something doesn’t feel right.
A door swings open, and a nurse in a blue surgical gown appears. She stops with the door half ajar. “Can I help you?”
Flicking the brake latch on Rose’s stroller, I stop in the hallway. “Have I come at an awkward time?”
She peels disposable gloves from her fingers and drops them in the waste. “And you are?”
