I lean away a bit to look at her, and she keeps her eyes forward. She told me this was her favorite place last week, but she looks miserable in this second, so I get up and grab her hand.
“Let’s go home.”
Her face lights up, and her smile is all I care about as we walk out of her room. When we turn the corner, Capri is slumped against the wall like she was standing there the entire time. She quickly pushes off the wall and looks between the two of us.
“Is she coming downstairs for dinner?” Capri looks between the two of us hopefully.
“We’re leaving, Capri.” My mom tells her as she holds her head up high. “And we’re no longer best friends. I don’t appreciate the way you joked about that earlier. Goodbye.”
I nod at how mature she was about that because she’s normally very petty. She pulls my hand as she walks forward, and when I follow behind her, I can see the worry in Capri’s face.
“Is she being serious?”
“OfcourseI am! Why don’t you ever take me seriously?” She takes a sharp step forward, but Capri doesn't flinch.
“Yeah, Capri. Why don’t you ever take her seriously?”
Capri looks over at me and sends me a pointed look as she turns her head. “This isn’t funny, Liam.”
“We’re not joking,” My mom starts. “Althoughyouwouldn’t know what a good joke is.” My mom answers for me, and I bite back a smile at how offended Capri looks.
“Yeah, we’re not joking, althoughyou–”
“Liam.”
I roll my eyes and turn more serious. “I really am taking her home.” I walk ahead, but Capri gets in my way.
“Liam, think about this.”
“He has.”
She ignores Mom as she follows after us. “Liam, please. I know you're upset about tonight's incident, butthinkfor a minute.”
I don’t answer her, and my mom walks ahead as we head down the steps.
“Liam, what are you going to do with her at home? You brought her here because of how much you travel for work. You–”
“You’restill her nurse. Pack a damn bag, and I’ll send you my address. She doesn't want to be here anymore.”
“When she said that her first day here,yousaid she didn’t know what she wanted.”
I stop in my tracks, and when I glare down at Capri, she doesn't back down. “When I offered to move in with you,yousaid this was better for her, and itis.”
I look over at my mom, and she wandered off to one of her friends. She whispers like she’s talking shit about Capri, and I hope she tells all three of the other residents in here so they can all collectively hate Capri. It’s a childish thing to wish for old people to hate and bully their nurse, but I don’t care.
I think of Capri’s words, and I hate that she’s right. When I look back at Capri she crosses her arms at me. “You told her topunchme?”
I sense the joke under her tone, but I’m still pissed about what she told my mom.
“Maybe she should.” I glance over at my mom, but she’s still distracted. “You really fucking told her Shanti was dead?” I whisper now, although my words still seem too loud.
Capri’s arms fall as she watches me, her eyes flooding with regret. “I’m sorry about–”
“When she asks you about Shanti, make up a fucking lie.” I bite out, my built-up anger oozing out with every word. “If she asks about my asshole dad,make upa lie. If she thinks she can fucking fly, you ask her to show you, and when she flaps her arms like a damn bird, you act amazed. I don’t pay you to try to cure her fucking Alzheimer's.” I take a step forward, and she keeps her gaze on my heated one.
“I don’t care if feeding her delusions isn’t beneficial. I don’t care aboutanything!” I snap.
She slightly flinches, and when she takes a step away from me, her face is blank. “I apologize, Mr. Walker–”
