well to his new meds. The night assistant I talked to said he keeps asking for you. Glenn’s convinced himself that you’ve been killed or kidnapped because it’s been so long since he’s seen you. I’m sorry, honey, I know you’re busy and I would go, but…”
She glanced up as Branden reached her. “I’ll go, Mom. Just so you know, I was there last week. He was sleeping the whole time, but I was there.”
“Oh, honey, I know you take good care of him. You take good care of both of us.”
Branden sat down and was giving her a quizzical look.
“I have to go, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” her mother said.
Cara hung up and looked at Branden. She accepted a glass of water from him and took a generous swallow. “Thank you,” she said. She stared at the glass.
“Is everything okay?” he asked quietly.
“Um…my mother needs me.”
“Tonight?” He glanced at his watch. “It’s awfully late. Are you going to go?”
She nodded. “I—I need to.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Her head jerked up. “No.”
“Cara—”
“I’m sorry. I feel bad for cutting short our fun, but you can stay.”
He frowned. “You want me to stay and dance without you?”
Of course she didn’t. “Or—or you can work. I’m sure you have work to do.”
He reached out and covered her hand with his. “Cara. What’s going on?”
“What’s going on is I have responsibilities. Responsibilities that have nothing to do with you, Branden.” Nothing to do with the fantasy life that you live, she thought almost bitterly.
He frowned. “I want to help you, Cara. Take care of you.”
“No. I’m used to taking care of these things by myself. I want to keep it that way. I have to keep it that way.”
“You don’t have to, Cara. You could try letting someone in every once in a while. You could try letting me in.”
She stood. “I’m sorry. I have to go. If you’d prefer I go back to my own place afterward—”
“No. I’ll send my driver. That’s not negotiable, Cara. It’s late. Either I take you to your mother’s myself or you go with my driver.”
“Fine! You might as well take me yourself since your driver will just report back to you anyway.”
“Report what? Where are you going?”
“To Suffolk County. Windorne Care Home. And we’re not going to see my mother. We’re going to see my brother.”
“Cara.” His hand on her arm was gentle. Soothing. Yet firm. “You’ve said nothing of this, which makes me think there’s something you don’t want me or the world to know. Why is your brother in a care home?”
Tears stung her eyes but she tipped her chin upward. “Let’s just go. You’ll know soon enough.”
Branden walked with Cara down a long hallway, taking in his surroundings. Windorne Care Home was a residential facility—like an apartment complex but with services for those who had special needs. It appeared very nicely decorated, with big open windows that faced the east and probably picked up the rays of the sun during the day quite nicely. They entered an airy day room with a large-screen plasma television and big, plush couches. The tile floor was new and shiny. There were lush green plants in pots that sat around the room and pictures of colorful flowers and birds on the walls. It looked like a comfortable and safe haven.
Cara turned to him. “Can you wait here? I—I’m not sure what kind of state he’s in, and if he sees you…”
Branden nodded. “I’ll stay out of sight.”
She walked to another hallway and past two big linen carts. It looked to Branden like staff had been busy distributing the laundry before they got called away. She stopped about halfway down the hall, then glanced back at him before entering a room.
It was quiet for the most part; he could hear the occasional snore or the sounds of soft crying here and there. It reminded him that even as nice a facility as this one was, it was still a facility for those who couldn’t care for themselves, and that would always carry a hint of sadness.
Ever since she’d received the call from her mother, Cara had tried to hide it, but Brendan had sensed the sadness in her. She was tired. She was here for her brother, but she needed help, and he felt like an idiot sitting here. He was curious about her brother even as he wanted to respect her wishes to not be seen.
He walked past the laundry carts and by the open door