Page 64 of Find Me in California

JULIA

It’s late afternoon by the time Julia arrives at Rosemont. She spoke with Matt early in the morning but didn’t get the chance to ask if he meant what he’d said last night about not coming for Liza before he hung up on her. She’d listened to him ramble about flowers and crystals, and she admittedly got sucked into talking about love. Her heart broke when he told her about his mom. Their circumstances are different, but if anyone understands the agony of being left behind, it’s her.

She hurries toward the administrative offices. Lenore’s door is open, and she’s seated at her desk. Julia called earlier and gave her a heads-up about Matt, that she suspected Matt was high when they spoke and had started drinking before their call. He probably won’t remember that she called him. Lenore didn’t know where he’s been staying when Julia asked her. If she had his address, Julia would have sent an officer to do a wellness check. She’s worried about him. But, as Lenore reminded her, what Matt does and where he’s gone is not their responsibility. Though he could use a friend or confidant.

She pokes her head into Lenore’s office. “Any word from Matt?”

Lenore looks up from her monitor. “I was just going to call you with the same question. No, I haven’t heard from him.”

“Me neither. It looks like he’s not coming.” She chews her bottom lip with worry.

“That’s disappointing. Well, no matter. I wasn’t betting on Matt making it here in time anyway. I received word a few hours ago that Liza’s officially a ward of the state. Her guardian is moving her tomorrow. If by some miracle you speak with Matt, tell him to call me. Say it’s urgent.”

Julia thinks of Liza. The elderly woman is lying in the bed she’s made, but Julia feels for her all the same. “I’ll let him know.”

“What about you?” Lenore asks before Julia can escape. “Have you found a new place for Ruby?”

“Not yet,” she hedges. Magnolia Blu’s diary and Matt have kept her occupied.

“Julia,” Lenore implores and pushes up from the desk. “As the director here, I’m pleased you want her to stay with us, and to say I’m impressed you’ll do what it takes to keep her here is an understatement. But as your friend, I’m going to remind you again Ruby isn’t the only person you should be considering, especially after what happened yesterday.”

Julia sags against the doorjamb. She wondered when Lenore would bring this up.

“Are you okay? Trevor thinks she might have hurt you.”

Her scalp was tender this morning, but that isn’t what worries her. “Are you canceling Mama Rose’s contract because of this?”

“Right now, no. But if she becomes a danger to the staff, they could put in a request to have her moved.” Julia’s mouth draws down, and Lenore’s expression softens. “I’m forewarning you so you aren’t caught off guard.”

“I know. It’s just ...” She shakes her head. Lately, it’s been one thing after another with her grandmother. But Lenore is right. Julia can’t put off her search any longer. She at least knows now why Mama Rose wanted the diary. She’ll share the last passage in the diary with Liza as she suspects her grandmother would have wanted her to, which ismost likely the reason she asked for the diary. Mama Rose’s most recent entry makes it clear she terribly regrets how Liza learned about her relationship with Matty. Unbeknownst to Julia, Mama Rose had attempted for some time before her Alzheimer’s diagnosis to reconcile with Liza. Hopefully, Liza will forgive her and Julia can relocate her grandmother with the knowledge she’s fulfilled Mama Rose’s last request where Liza is concerned.

“I’m here if you want to talk.”

“Thank you.”

“Hope your grandmother is doing all right today,” Lenore says, returning to her desk.

Julia doesn’t mention she isn’t here to see Mama Rose. “Me too.”

She locates Liza in the dining room. She’s seated alone at a table near the back with a half-eaten bowl of yellow custard, a deck of cards, and a forgotten mug of coffee. Creamer powder floats in patches on the coffee’s surface.

Julia stands across the table. “Hello, Liza.”

Liza briefly meets her eyes as she shuffles the cards.

“I’m sorry about yesterday. I didn’t mean to interrupt your conversation with my grandmother.”

“That doesn’t seem to have stopped you from bothering me today.” Liza splits the deck.

“No, I ... uh, thank you.”

“Whatever for?” She lays out the cards for a game of solitaire.

“For helping Mama Rose. You calmed her last night when you called her Magnolia. I think she knew who you were.” Julia had never seen anything like it. It lasted a split second, and she would have easily missed it if she’d been looking the other way. But her grandmother went absolutely still at the name. She stared up at Liza in shock before the nurse stabbed her arm with a sedative and she passed out.

Liza scoops up the cards with an irritated swipe and reshuffles the deck.

“I’ve been reading the diary. I believe I know why Mama Rose asked me to find it. There’s an entry from eight years ago. It’s a letter to you.”

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