As he listened intently, he seemed to shrink. He normally kept his emotions locked away, choosing to cover them over with a rug made of the unflappable, offbeat jokester. Veronica had never seen him cry before. Not even at Carsten’s funeral, where she could tell he felt it was important to keep it together for Maggie and Jamie. But on the rare occasion when Veronica witnessed his emotions seep out, they were raw and primal, just like now.
When the call ended, he wound up and threw Veronica’s phone at the trunk of a large oak tree, shattering it into pieces.
Chapter 12
The trip to Chappaqua took only ten minutes. Eddie provided them with an official escort, complete with lights and sirens. Veronica wasn’t sure what the hurry was. She’d identified one dead body in her life and that was enough for her. It’s not like you could bring them back.
She trailed close behind in the Tahoe with her kids in tow. Zach and Youkelstein also joined her carpool, probably too afraid to ride with Eddie in his current mental state.
They drove up the tree-lined driveway to Sunshine Village. Eddie cut the sirens on the police cruiser, presumably out of respect for his elders.
Geyserland, as Eddie referred to it, was an impressive park-like campus built around a man-made lake, reminding Veronica of a rural New England college. Groups of “active” elderly were scattered around the grounds, power-walking or feeding the geese, as if they were auditioning for the cover of next year’s brochure. The many residents inside who were crippled by depression or hooked to ventilators never seemed to make the brochure.
The lobby looked like that of a swanky hotel, featuring a large open area that was crammed with fake ferns and furniture that always appeared to be brand new.
A peppy teenager working the front desk explained to them that Mrs. Rhodes would be with them in a moment. It was obvious to Veronica that their arrival had been anticipated. The only other time they were granted an audience with Mrs. Rhodes was during the sales pitch. Once they signed on the dotted line, she had no time for them. Even when they demanded to talk to her personally about the security after the “aliens” incident.
Veronica noticed a sign in the lobby for the Sunshine Village Holiday Sale. It reminded her of how rapidly Ellen went downhill. Veronica’s grandparents on her father’s side were the same way. One day they were traveling to France like some infomercial for retired life, and the next thing they knew they were practically paying rent at the hospital.
Carsten and Eddie had dragged Ellen here kicking and screaming, literally, almost two years ago. It hurt them to do so, but it was clear she could no longer live by herself in the New York apartment that she’d called home for almost forty years. First, she fell down the stairs and broke her ankle. And after surviving that, she ended up getting robbed at gunpoint by a couple of crack-heads while on her way to the grocery store.
But once she lessened the kicking and softened the screaming, Ellen took to the place, or at least tried to make the best of it. Maybe it was out of respect for Carsten and Eddie, or more likely, she hoped to get released based on good behavior so she could return to the city. But regardless of her motives, she got involved in the sale her first year, knitting numerous sweaters for the event, despite throbbing arthritis in both her hands. She even played the lead in the spring play. But in June of that year, Carsten died. From that point on, it seemed as if this day was inevitable.
Veronica suddenly felt Maggie missing. Her eyes roamed the room, searching for her. She’d reached her limit of missing kids for one day.
She quickly located her—practice makes perfect—surrounded by a mob of older gentlemen, standing around a pool table and pretending to play. During Maggie’s many trips here for her project, she’d become the most popular person in the place. Veronica noticed her working the room like she was running for office, which she probably would one day. She had few friends at school, but she was Miss Popular at Sunshine Village. Veronica just shook her head—Maggie didn’t come with an instruction manual.
Not to be outdone, Jamie was playing the role of Maggie’s running-mate. The residents were doting on him like he was their own grandchild, taking special notice of his police