Tracy spent a large part of the weekend worrying that she had applied too much pressure to convince Alice to teach at the center. By Monday morning she was almost certain Alice wouldn’t show up, but Alice arrived with Wanda, just as they’d planned, and although she seemed unsure of herself, she was prepared with simple instructions in neat, legible handwriting.
Tracy made copies and set out supplies she had bought on Sunday. She checked on Alice frequently, but by ten o’clock she was relieved to find it wasn’t necessary. The counselors kept the kids under control, and the bright yarn captivated the girls. The boys were less enthused, but when they saw the Hacky Sack instructions and were told there would be a Hacky Sack tournament at the end of camp, they perked up considerably.
“The boys are hooked now,” she told Gladys, who pointed out that the pun wasn’t worthy of Tracy’s talents.
By Tuesday Alice seemed more at ease. Sometimes she had to search for words, but the kids caught on quickly and suggested possibilities, the way Olivia did at home. In one-on-one interactions, she was patient and able to get right to the root of a problem.
On Wednesday, Tracy was at the front desk when Lee came striding into the center. She intercepted him before he got as far as Gladys.
“Is Alice here?” he demanded.
“Let’s go for a walk.” She put her hand on his arm. “I need to stretch my legs, anyway.”
“I don’t.” He didn’t shake off her hand, but he made it clear her touch wasn’t welcome.
“I’d like to talk to you about this, and not right here.”
“I’m in no mood to talk. I’ve come to take Alice home.”
“She’s busy. She’s happy. Please, can’t we discuss this?”
He was not in a mood for discussion; that was written all over his face. But he gave a curt nod and started back toward the door. She exchanged looks with Gladys, who shrugged. Gladys knew the basics of Alice’s situation.
A blast of heat greeted them, and Tracy wilted. Her staff shirt, a polo with the same grinning alligator logo as the children’s, plastered itself to her back and breasts. She didn’t think the athletic-female gig was going to go over big this morning, so she started her pitch as the door swung closed.
“First, I asked Alice to teach the kids to crochet. It was completely my idea. We needed somebody to do crafts, and this is a skill they can carry into adulthood. And your mother-in-law is a champion.”
“So you knew I wouldn’t approve and went straight to Alice because, what? Because you knew she’s not capable of resistance?”
“That’s not what happened. I went over to your place on Friday evening to talk to both of you. You weren’t home, so I discussed it with Alice. She was so enthused, Lee. She perked right up. And she taught when your wife was in Girl Scouts. I think the idea brought back a good memory.”
“You think dredging up her past is helpful? You think remembering activities they did together will make her feel better her daughter is dead?”
The depth of his anger seemed out of place. She wondered if the possibility Alice might be getting better worried him. Was Lee so entrenched in being her caretaker, in giving comfort and help as a tribute to his late wife, that he wanted to slow down her recovery and keep her dependent?
He was walking so fast she had to put on a burst of speed. “I think Alice needs to find herself again. She’s been so lucky to have you taking care of her, but she seems ready for a little independence. She’s doing really well with the kids. They already love her, and she’s got a bunch of budding crocheters hanging on every word. How can this be a problem?”
“You went behind my back.”
“We thought we’d just try this and see how it worked, then we were going to tell you. We knew you might be miffed, but I thought you’d be so pleased Alice was doing well, you’d get past that fast.”
“Miffed?” He faced her, stopping just short of the parking lot. “I have to live with this woman, Tracy, and so does my daughter. Do you hear Alice crying at night because she can’t remember something? Do you watch her do things, then have no memory of them an hour later? The last two nights have been hell. She paces. Last night she put the kettle on