Stanley froze solid right where he stood, unable to wrap his head around what he'd just heard for ages.
It wasn't until the caregiver turned to leave that he grabbed onto her and blurted out the question in a ragged, urgent voice.
"What did you say? What happened to Ellie's mother?"
The caregiver jumped at his sudden movement, but she repeated herself sharply, no patience left in her tone.
"She's dead! Can't you understand? The woman is dead!"
For a heartbeat, the whole world went dead silent.
How could she be dead?
Panic coiled in his chest, and he fumbled clumsily in his pocket for his phone.
He was just about to dial Ellie's number when a sharp, hurried voice cut him off, belonging to Zoey, who came rushing over with a wedding dress draped over her arm.
"Stanley! Why haven't yo
