Page 50 of Home Tears

Nothing was allowed in her mind.

It was only the two of them, and their pleasure and heat. She moaned, reaching for his hand. Their fingers entwined again, and Jonah laid his arm across her body, one leg rested over hers.

Her body was humming, and soon her eyelids closed. A peace rested over her. Later, much later, she woke. The bed was empty as she glanced behind her. Jonah’s welcoming weight no longer sheltered her. She yawned, but her body felt alive.

She felt alive.

A grin tugged at the corners of her mouth, as if she’d been given a secret no one else was worthy to know. Filling a mug, she returned to her bed and pulled the comforter over her. She could still feel him. She wanted to savor that, but her eyes moved to her dresser…

…to her mother’s picture.

A conversation came back to her.

“The asylum. I already told you. A secret to the grave, that was our agreement… St. Francis over in Petersberg. You’ve been visiting her all your life.”

She remembered Mrs. Bendsfield’s comments.

Maybe it was time she found out some other secrets.

She didn’t make a conscious decision, but she was soon dressed and back in her car. She wanted answers, and she was going to get some. She wasn’t going to hide from this part of her life, unlike Boone. She could bask in bed all day, but somehow Jonah had become entwined with her family and her need to find out more answers. Maybe she got an extra amount of strength from Jonah, but she headed to Petersberg and on to St. Francis.

Three employees sat behind a large counter when she entered the bricked hospital. Her sandals echoed against the tiled flooring, and a middle-aged woman with graying hair and a nametag that said Marge looked up with a pleasant smile. “Good morning. How may I help you?”

“I’m here to see my grandmother.”

“What’s her name?”

“Sandra O’Hara.”

Marge turned to the computer, and a moment later, she murmured, “And your name?”

“Dani—Danielle O’Hara.”

“Right.” She placed a blank nametag onto the counter alongside a black marker. “You need to put your name on here. The staff will know you’re a visitor then. You’ll head straight back down the hall, and at the elevator, you’re going to want to go to the second floor. Phyliss should be at the front desk. She’ll help you from there.”

“Okay.” She took a breath. Her hands trembled. She didn’t move.

“Your grandmother’s quite popular around here. This will make her day.”

Might’ve helped if she had known her grandmother. She didn’t, but Dani dragged in some more air and headed forward. A lady wearing a nametag that said Phyliss smiled at her when she got off on the second floor. A woman was in the corner, hunched over in a seat, and humming. Her eyes, glossy and glazed over, snapped to where Dani was. They didn’t move.

Phyliss cleared her throat. “Who are you here for, sweetie?”

“My grandmother. Sandra O’Hara.”

Phyliss nodded and stood up. “Follow me. I’ll take you to her.”

The lady was still humming.

“Um…is she…” But Phyliss was walking away, and Dani followed. She glanced over her shoulder. The woman’s eyes followed her.

Phyliss said once Dani caught up, “You’ll have to excuse Henrietta. Sandra’s nothing like that one. She just sits and hums. And watches. That’s about it. Sandra’s—well—you’ll see for yourself.”

They stopped at a closed door, and Phyliss knocked twice. She opened it. “Sandra? You have a visitor.”

Dani heard something fall inside the room and frowned. There was a quick shuffling on the floor, and Phyliss stepped back. The door opened.

Sandra O’Hara had the wrinkles that artists loved to capture. Long white hair was pulled into a messy braid, and her eyes were like Dani’s. Almond color. No, Dani had her grandmother’s eyes. For a moment, the two looked and studied each other. Raking each other up and down. Not a word was spoken.

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