As he got closer, Andy could hear raucous laughter coming from behind the half-closed door. He stood for a moment, listening to some outrageous comments about the residents.

“Abigail was walking around with her diaper in her hand stark naked, for I don’t know how long. Mr. Kimble was beside himself. He kept running behind her with a blanket trying to cover her up, but she would have none of it.”

More laughter ensued along with some unpleasant suggestions regarding the couple. He’d heard enough. Knocking once to mitigate his poor manners, he threw open the door, which heralded the screeching of chairs as eight guilty staff members stood in a panicked half-circle.

A middle-aged woman peeled off from the group and took a step forward. Just the one. She had a slight sheen to her upper lip. Nervous, then. Good. She had every reason to be.

“Good morning. I’m Gladys Nixon, the manager. I’m afraid visitors or contractors aren’t allowed in the staff lunchroom. You need to sign in at the front desk, which you would have passed on your way here.”

He took a step closer. “I did pass the reception area, which had no one on duty to help or give me information.”

Gladys crossed her arms, full of her own importance. “They must be on a break.”

“Which means anyone can walk in here, and that the residents aren’t safe.”

A young man laughed. “Why would anyone bother to come in here?”

“Shut up, Harold,” Gladys sent a glare the man’s way.

The man slipped back into the group looking fearful, and Gladys seemed sadistically satisfied with her achievement.

“Who is it you wish to see, and what relation are you to them?”

“I’m here to see my mother. Patsy Carlile.”

She frowned. “No one’s ever been to see her. I’ll need some ID.”

Andy pulled out his driver’s license, and a business card when what he really wanted to do was frog-march this witch around the complex until he found his mom.

The woman took them, blanching at the card which stated he was a private investigator. “I don’t understand. Is there an issue with your mother’s care? Since you haven’t visited before, it does seem unlikely,” she blustered.

“I’ll tell you after I see her.” He didn’t feel the slightest need to justify his reasons for not visiting. It was none of this woman’s business.

Since he’d mentioned his mother, Gladys had looked very uncomfortable. This made Andy more worried than he’d been before he’d walked through the front doors.

“Very well. If you’ll give us a few minutes to make sure she’s dressed, one of my staff will bring you to her.” She tried to get past him, but he stood his ground.

“No.”

She jumped back with fright. “Excuse me?”

“I said, ‘no’. You’ll take me to her now.”

“You can’t come in here and talk to me like this.” Red-faced with anger, she spat the words at him.

“I’ll talk to you any way I see fit after what I just heard from you and your staff.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she bluffed, her face red.

He took another few steps towards her and she cowered behind her nearest staff member. His voice boomed in the small room. “I’m talking about your total disregard for the residents, who are packed together in a room out there like animals. I’m talking about your lack of empathy and respect. Now take me to my mother.”

He stood sideways and held the door for her. She shuffled past and almost ran ahead down yet another corridor. Near the end, they turned into a dark room. A body lay curled in the fetal position on a small bed, wearing a grubby nightie. She didn’t move when they entered, not even when he threw open the curtains. He crouched down to check her pulse as he focused on her face. Was it her?

Her eyes were closed, her breathing shallow, and her wrist was thin enough to be able to feel each bone. Her cheekbones were too prominent, and the rest of her body which was visible had skin hanging from her frame.

Andy pulled up the only chair in the room, still unsure. This poor woman looked so old. He took a steadying breath. “Mom?”

Her eyes flickered, opened, closed, and opened once more. She licked cracked lips and her voice rasped softly. “Andrew? Am I dreaming again? You look so big. So real.”

He’d recognize those eyes anywhere. They’d been electric blue and were a little faded now, yet still a memorable color. Especially for someone who didn’t have much to hold on to when it came to good memories.

“I’m real, Mom. I’m here, and I’m going to take you away from this dump.”

The manager huffed in the corner. “Excuse me! We do the best we can with our resources. You don’t know what it’s like to deal with old people all day.”

“It’s your job, lady,” he snarled at her and she headed for the door. “I suggest you get another one if you can’t handle it because your best is nowhere near good enough. Then again, I don’t think you’ll be working here much longer if I have anything to do with it. Now get out of this room.”

She glared for a second or two, but she was a classic bully—full of bravado and not used to being challenged. Another second and she turned for the door as fast as her legs would take her.

His mother’s eyes were wide as they looked their fill, and he took her hand. So small, it lay shaking in his large paw. He heard someone enter, and knew by her scent and footsteps that it was Caris. His emotions were a mess, and he didn’t trust himself to look at either of them.

“You’re all grown up, and I missed it. I looked for you, Andrew, I promise I did. I hired people, using every dime I earned, but the lawyer said they couldn’t find you.” His mother began to cry softly.

“Don’t, Mom, I know everything. I’ll tell you all about it later. Right now, I want you to see a doctor.”

She sniffed, “I don’t think it’s his week to come, dear.”

The thought sickened him—that a person should have to wait so long. Then Caris touched his shoulder, and he covered her hand with his spare one and the tight feeling in his chest eased a little.

“The doctor’s right here. This is Caris Knight, and she’s going to give you a check-up. If she says we can move you, then you’re coming home with me.”

“Home? I like the sound of that. My sister passed on a couple of years back and I had to move in here. Until then, I’d never given up hope I would see you one day before I died.”

Tears coursed down her haggard cheeks, and the lump in his throat threatened to choke him. He stood and nodded to Caris, not trusting his voice. She took the vacant seat and his mother’s hand.

“I’m so pleased to meet you, Mrs. Carlile. I’m a friend of Andy’s and I’m a doctor. May I take a look at you?”

“Any friend of Andrew’s is a friend of mine, dear. You’re so young and pretty, not like any doctor they bring in here. You do what you must, and please call me Patsy.”

“I’ll try not to hurt you.”

Andy turned away while Caris did the examination, waiting impatiently for the prognosis, but glad Caris was the one to do it. She had a great bedside manner, as she explained everything she did or was about to do in a soft voice. It felt a lot longer than it was until Caris called to him.

“Andy, your mom is seriously dehydrated and weak because she’s undernourished. I’ll need to organize some tests to make sure that’s all it is.”

He turned to see Caris holding his mom’s head to allow her to sip from a cup which wasn’t as clean as he’d like.

“Nothing’s broken, and her heart rate seems reasonable. We should get her out of this place, but she can’t walk in her current state.”

Relief flooded through him. “That’s okay.” He picked his mother up as gently as he could, shocked at how little she weighed. Her arms clasped around his neck and she snuggled her head under his chin with a sigh. Caris wrapped a shawl around her for decency then he carried her back the way they’d come.

There was no doubt most of the other residents had heard the ruckus because they lined the corridors. A few called out to his mom, wishing her well, while others looked wistful, and still others cried softly.

The depressing sight could bring a grown man to his knees, and he could hear Caris sniffing beside him. When they got to the reception desk, Rebecca, the young woman from earlier was waiting for them.

“I’m so glad you’re taking Mrs. Carlile home. She’s been a pleasure to have around, and the others will miss her.” She smiled nervously. “I’m sorry to ask, but could you sign this release form, please?”

“The manager too chicken?” he growled.

She blushed and nodded.

“I’ll do it.” Caris took the papers and began to read through them. He didn’t give a damn if it was legal or not as he headed out to the car, managing to push the unlock button in his pocket and open the back door, without moving her about too much. He laid her inside, then took off his coat to put behind her head.

She leaned back to watch him, with a weak smile. “Don’t be angry, son. We’re together again. That’s all that matters.”

Her sweet face lined now, but filled with love the way he’d remembered it, held him in check, when all he wanted to do was smash something. Or someone. “Caris shouldn’t be long.”

“I’m in no hurry to be anywhere else. Being with you is good enough for me.”

He coughed, praying that Caris wouldn’t be too long.