Donât you remember?â
Confusion entered Sadieâs eyes. âWell, now that you mention it.â
âYou called me about Denise Jamesen,â Kris prompted, hating the distressing idea that Sadieâs mind was in fact fading.
The blank look on Sadieâs face nearly brought tears to Krisâs eyes. Grams didnât remember.
Then Sadieâs expression cleared and her eyes widened. âOh. Oh, my. Denise is missing. Just likeâ¦just likeâ¦â She frowned, her face a study in concentration.
âCarl and Lena?â
âYes!â Sadie grabbed Krisâs hand. âWhatâll we do? We have to find them. Something bad has happened.â
Relief made Krisâs head throb. Just a momentary lapse of memory, nothing more. âWeâll find them. Gabe and I are going to drive to Rhode Island to see Denise.â
âYou are? Wonderful. May I come?â
The eagerness in her expression plucked at Kris. âItâs a bit of a drive.â
âYou donât want me to come?â Hurt filled her voice.
âThatâs not it at all,â Kris quickly assured her. âI donât want to tire you out.â
âNonsense, let me just get my coat.â Sadie shuffled away toward her studio apartment.
âIs everything all right, my dear?â Mrs. Tipple asked as she came to stand on Krisâs right.
âDid I hear Sadie say she was getting her coat? Are you taking her away?â Vivianâs concerned voice shook slightly as she moved to stand on Krisâs left.
Kris gave each woman a reassuring smile. âWeâre just going out for a drive. Weâll be back this afternoon.â
Mrs. Tipple laid her hand on Krisâs arm. âItâs just beautiful the way you dote on your grandmother.â
âThank you.â Maybe these women would know something useful. âDo either of you remember Denise Jamesen mentioning she was going to visit her relatives for the holiday?â
The two women exchanged a glance.
âShe mentioned family, but I was under the impression they were estranged,â Mrs. Tipple said.
Vivian nodded. âThatâs true, but it is Christmas. Shemay have decided it was time to mend some fences. Itâs so sad to be alone at this time of the year.â
âToo true,â Mrs. Tipple agreed. âAt our age, one doesnât want to leave this world with unfinished business.â
Mrs. Tippleâs words resonated through Kris. That sounded reasonable. âIs Denise ill?â
âNo,â Mrs. Tipple said then frowned. âAt least I donât remember her being ill. Though there has been a touch of the flu going around.â
âFlu season.â Vivian shrugged. âYouâd have to ask the doc or Ms. Faust.â
She doubted Ms. Faust would be receptive to any more questions. âThank you, ladies. I should make sure Grams doesnât need help with her coat.â
Kris found Sadie standing in the middle of the room, coat in hand, a bemused expression on her face. She stared at Kris. âI have my coat. Are we going somewhere? I do so love to have adventures.â
Krisâs heart dropped. Had she forgotten already? âWeâre driving to Rhode Island to see Denise.â
Sadie frowned. âSheâs not there. Why would she go there?â
âThatâs what weâll find out,â Kris said.
Sadie brightened. âAll right then. Letâs go, Krissy, we donât have all day. Itâs a long ride.â
Sadie shuffled toward the door.
âUh, Grams, shouldnât you put on some shoes?â
Sadie blinked and looked down at her fuzzy slippered feet. âOh, my, yes. These wonât do all at.â
Hating to see her grandmother so befuddled, Kris helped her change into a pair of sturdy-soled, leather shoes.
At the front desk, Kris signed Sadie out of the center without any fuss. Outside, the frigid December air turned their