Chapter 158

“Come in. Before we get to what your aunt had to say, I want to talk to you about…about how I was feeling responsible for what happened to Patrick.”

“You shouldn’t,” Carrie said without hesitation.

“No. No one should, except for Tom. That’s what everyone tells me.”

“It’s true,” Carrie said.

“It’s true.”

I saw her shudder, working hard, I knew, to fight back emotion.

“Seeing you up on that stage, I am so glad I was there and can’t wait to see the show,” I told her truthfully. “I was relaxed and happy, and all those good feelings from doing high school theater came back to me. To be at opening night, I’ll make Rip carry me in piggy-back if I have to.”

“He’d do it,” Carrie said, cracking a smile.

“Oh, I know he would. So, you’re going to stick with the show?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Carrie sat down after that with a cup of coffee the nurse, Angela was her name, brought back for her. Angela was a good name for a nurse. All nurses were angels.