“She’s been searching for something for weeks.” Hayden silently cursed. He should have seen it sooner.
“Gran was looking for him,” Rhett said.
Doc nodded.
“So…” Hayden drew a deep breath, trying to hold on to his composure. “We need to remind her that he’s gone all the time?”
The doctor shook his head. “Correcting her every time will only cause fresh grief, confusion, or even agitation. I often recommend something called compassionate redirection. That means meeting her where she is, emotionally. If Irene asks where Clyde is, you might say something like, ‘He’s not here right now, but I’m here with you,’ or gently change the subject to something that brings her comfort, like a favorite memory or photo.”
“Lie to her, you mean.” Rhett frowned.
Again, Doc shook his head. “I know it can feel like you’re not being honest. But in cases like this, the goal shifts. We’re trying to preserve her peace. It’s a different kind of care. Loving care. There is no right or wrong.”
Hayden blew out a breath, wishing Evie was here. Wanting to hold her hand and lean into her strength. He rubbed the back of his neck. “How likely is it that she’ll wander off again? If it’s high, shouldn’t we put her back in Oak Hill?”
Dr. Merritt took a leaflet out of his backpack and handed it to Hayden. “Let’s see how things go the next few days. With a little preparation, you can keep better track of her. Here’s a little information to help.” He swung his backpack to his shoulder.
“We’ll do our best,” Rhett assured him while Hayden studied the list of precautions to take when living with a memory-challenged patient.
Doc turned toward the door but paused, reversing course. “You’re lucky. You have Eve to help you. Irene told me what a blessing she’s been. She even remembered her name.”
“She remembered Eve.” Rhett gave Hayden a significant look.
“Don’t start, bro,” Hayden said before walking the doctor out. When he returned, Rhett was waiting for him in the foyer. “I can’t talk about Evie now. I need to check with the auction yard.” Anything to keep his mind off Evie and the challenge ahead with Gran. “The sale should almost be done by now.”
“The taxman cometh,” Rhett referred to their overdue taxes in an ominous tone. And then, he clapped a hand on Hayden’s shoulder. “But your wife go-eth. I think your marriage takes precedence over a stock auction. They’ll call you when they have a total for the sale.”
“Butt out.” Hayden walked past him toward the kitchen. “I need coffee.” Exhaustion was setting in. It had been a long couple of days without proper sleep.
“You have a family to think about, Hayden.” Rhett dogged his heels into the kitchen. “You, Eve, and Katie. That means priorities shift.”
I have a family.
Hayden pondered that while prepping the coffee machine for a fresh pot, removing the old filter and putting in a new one. “You’re forgetting one thing. Evie made her choice.”
And it wasn’t me. It couldn’t be me.
“The fact is that I can’t guarantee Katie’s safety.” Hayden spilled coffee on the counter. He wiped up the spill easily with a flimsy paper towel. He couldn’t as easily clean up the mess he’d made of his marriage. “That’s Evie’s priority. I knew that when I married her.” He’d taken those vows, knowing his role was to block child custody and living location challenges from Steven. “And I failed.”
“She’s scared.” Rhett took out the cookie tin from the cupboard and offered Hayden a chocolate chipper. “Steven put the fear in her. But family can work together to keep each other safe.”
“No.” Hayden set the coffeemaker to brew. “Not this time.”
“You have a lot to learn about the resiliency of love.”
Hayden gave Rhett a hard look. “Why are you giving me marital advice? Your marriage didn’t turn out so well.”
Rhett shrugged. “Because when I look at you and Eve, I see a stronger bond than I had with Kristin. You have something worth fighting for.”
Hayden’s heart clogged his throat.
“You’re afraid. I get it.” Rhett put the cookie tin on the counter. “But Eve’s afraid too. Afraid what happened yesterday with Gran is going to repeat itself. To be honest, I’m afraid of that happening with Sadie and Piper. As for you and me. We have to make sure our girls are protected.”
Our girls. Katie is my girl as much as Steven’s.
Or she could have been. Hayden felt loss in every cell of his body. He sagged against the kitchen counter. “Evie… She made me believe I could be more than I am.” Someone who could stay on this ranch with her. He didn’t think he could stay without her. “She showed me how to forgive and…I don’t know what to do now.”
Rhett bit into a cookie, considering Hayden. “The thing you have to ask yourself, Hayden, is can you live happily without Eve and Katie?”