My Regretful Ex-Husband novel · Chapter 8 of 24

Chapter 8: Three Signatures

Wren walked past the aide and opened the door to her mother's room.

The bed was made. The lilac cardigan was gone from the chair.

"Where is she?"

"Ms. Hollister, please. You can't."

"Where is my mother?"

The aide's eyes slid toward the window.

Wren crossed the room and looked out.

Below, in the garden, Ruth Hollister sat on a stone bench with a blanket over her knees.

Margaret Pryce sat beside her in a cream coat, pouring tea from a silver flask into a paper cup.

Wren was down the stairs and through the garden door before the aide finished saying her name.

"Mom."

Her mother looked up. Her braid had come loose, and her hazel eyes were pale and cloudy.

"Mom, it's Wren."

"Oh, there you are." Margaret lifted the cup. "Ruth and I were just having tea. Weren't we, Ruth?"

"Take your hand off her," Wren said.

"I'm not touching her."

"You took my name off her visitor list."

"A precaution, dear." Margaret's voice was low and warm, meant to carry.

"You've had such a hard month. Pregnant, alone, no home. The staff and I agreed Ruth shouldn't be upset."

A couple on a nearby bench had stopped talking.

An orderly with a laundry cart slowed down on the path.

"Agreed with which staff?" Wren said.

"The director, of course."

"Then get the director. I'd like to hear that in front of him."

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