Rumor(20)

“Josh…” Tammy said thoughtfully, shifting toward the counter and scooping a spoonful of salad onto one piece of bread. “Oh, Josh.” She turned again, face open with excitement. Her eyes were light and bright, some shade of hazel. “Navy SEAL?”

He smiled, confused, but comfortable with this warm welcome. “Former, yes.”

“Right, right. A shoulder injury?”

His confusion deepened, unsure who’d been talking about him, Carolyn or Grace.

“Oh, I’ve heard so much about you.” Tammy gestured with the spoon, and a dollop of tuna salad hit the tile. “Oh dear… I’m sorry.”

Josh grabbed a paper towel from the roll on the sink. “No worries. I’ve got it.”

“Thank you. I’m so excited to finally meet you. Carolyn talks about you nonstop when she’s lucid. My, oh my, she couldn’t have been more proud of you if you’d been her own son.”

“I think you have me mixed up with her former son-in-law, Isaac Beck. He’s also a SEAL.”

“No, no, I know all about Isaac. And all the other men in your team. I think there was a Boomer, Digger, Big Joe… But there’s no doubt you were her favorite. Yep, I’ve heard all about you, Mr. Charmer.” Her grin made Josh wonder just what Carolyn had said. “Carolyn will be so thrilled you’re here— Oh…”

She trailed off as if she’d just remembered something, and a shadow darkened her expression.

“What?” he asked when she didn’t continue.

“It’s just… She’s having a rough day, and there’s no guarantee she’ll remember you. People from the past can be a positive trigger, bringing back a whole range of memory, but they can also cause stress and anxiety, which…well…

“I’m sure Grace has told you that Carolyn hasn’t recognized her since Betty passed. That was her roommate.” She shook her head and gazed out the window at the women. “It’s been really rough on Grace. I’m so glad she has someone to lean on now. We all need that, don’t we?” She smiled sadly at Josh. “Even you big strong SEALs lean on each other, right?”

“I’ve got you covered, buddy. They’ll have to get through me to get to you.” Beck’s words to Josh on that horrible day filled his head.

Josh cleared his throat, emotions cluttering his heart. “Yes, ma’am. Everyone needs help once in a while.” He watched Grace and Carolyn through the window. “I was surprised to hear about this. Carolyn is so young…”

“She’s about ten years younger than average for memory issues, but not the youngest resident I’ve had here. Last year, we lost a fifty-eight-year-old woman who’d been suffering for somewhere between five and seven years.”

Josh’s heart sank, and he nodded in acknowledgment of Tammy’s statement.

Outside, an angry outburst drew Josh’s gaze back to the women. With a frustrated cry, Carolyn slapped her hands on the table. She hit the bowl, shooting Cheerios everywhere. And when the little Os hit her, she screamed, batting them away like bees. Josh gripped the counter with one hand, muscles coiled to act. “Should we—”

“Not yet.” Tammy closed a hand around Josh’s forearm. “I’m going to have to stop letting Carolyn do this project.” A wry warmth filled her voice. “We string the Cheerios for the birds because she loves watching them through the window, but when she’s lucid, she says they look like feathered bowling balls and claims we’re promoting sparrow obesity.”

Grace jumped up, wrapping her arms around Carolyn from behind, trapping her arms at her sides while she spoke in her ear.

“Grace is really good with her.” Tammy’s hand eased off Josh’s arm, and she set the spoon down. “The less chaos for Carolyn when she has a moment, the better.”

Carolyn burst into tears and slumped in her chair. Grace pressed her face to her mother’s hair. Then she laid her cheek against her mother’s head, rocking her gently, while tears glistened on Grace’s cheeks.

“Oh dear…”

The empathy in Tammy’s voice resonated in Josh’s chest. His eyes burned. His heart ached. And his whole view of his role in Grace’s life shifted.

“I can see this isn’t the best day for a visit,” he said.

“I’m so sorry.” Tammy turned an uncertain smile on Josh. “Please come back another time. When Carolyn is in a better place, I know she’ll enjoy your visit. I know seeing you with Grace will bring her absolute joy and peace.”

Joy and peace.