CHAPTER 7
“You’re late. Didn’t I tell you to be here by 10:30?”
Ricky held his arm out to keep the elevator doors from closing shut on his mom.
“You said eleven.”
“Oh, did I? Well, you’re still late.”
“It’s 10:45.”
Mom acted as if she hadn’t heard, and Ricky hurried to get in front so he could hold the door open on their way out of the medical center. “How did your appointment go?”
Mom shrugged. “I’m not planning to die anytime soon if that’s what you’re asking.”
Inside the car, she turned down the volume on the radio and scowled. “What did you do with yourself all morning?”
“I just went down to see what Connie had at the gift shop. Did you know her niece is back in town? You remember Pastor Joel’s daughter, don’t you?”
“He’s no pastor of mine.”
“Yeah, I remember something weird
