Bessie stares at the bandaged, sleeping woman in the hospital bed. How did Ash’s mother get in such a bad state, and they hadn’t noticed? Shame on me. I swore I would take good care of her. Why didn’t I visit more—?
Shame on me. I swore I would take good care of her. Why didn’t I visit more?Her thoughts are interrupted by Sophie stirring, opening her eyes, and glancing around. “Where am I?”
“You’re in the hospital, Mrs. Moreno. You … you were in a fire in your bedroom. A candle …”
The patient sits bolt upright, her eyes darting around. She runs a hand through her messy hair.
“Lee and I, we found you. I should have kept a better eye on you. I meant to but—”
“Hush, Bessie, dear. This is all my doing.” She collapses in tears back onto the pillow. “Does Gianni know?”
“We … we don’t know
