Lorie's Heart by Amy Lillard Read Free Book Online

woman said.
    â€œAmber.” The dark-haired woman stood and flashed them another smile. “Follow me.”

Chapter Four
    Lorie’s breathing turned shallow as she and Luke followed the woman down the carpeted hallway. The place was clean, brightly lit, and smelled like pine cleaner and cinnamon.
    Not a bad place to be, but confusing to Lorie all the same. Why would her father keep his mother here? Why didn’t she live with the family in Wells Landing? But she knew the answer. Because her newly discovered grandmother was Englisch.
    â€œSo everyone who lives here is older?” Lorie asked Luke as they followed the brunette.
    Luke shrugged. “Some of them could be people like . . . like James Riehl.”
    â€œElam’s father?”
    Luke nodded.
    James had been kicked in the head by one of his milk cows a couple of years back. The injury had left him with the mind of a child. He could function fairly well on his own, but Lorie knew that his family felt the need to make sure he had supervision in case he had a dizzy spell or a memory lapse.
    â€œDid my grandmother get kicked in the head by a milk cow?”
    Amber gave her a patient smile. It was a look Lorie was used to seeing as it was a favorite of the Englisch to bestow upon their Plain neighbors. “Not exactly. But she does suffer from some dementia and possible early stages of Alzheimer’s.”
    â€œI don’t know what that means.” She looked to Luke for answers. Oh, how she wished Jonah had come with her today. She needed his steady and quiet strength. But she was grateful Luke was there. He had a knowledge of the Englisch that neither she nor Jonah possessed. Yet it seemed this one was out of his range of knowledge.
    He shrugged, then turned to the woman for the answer.
    â€œShe has trouble remembering things. Sometimes she even thinks it’s a different time.”
    â€œLike time to go to bed when it’s time for breakfast?” Lorie asked.
    â€œLike it’s 1972 when it’s . . . not.”
    â€œIs this a good idea?” A frown of worry puckered Luke’s normally smooth brow. He was as easygoing as anyone could be and his concern was almost as unnerving as the surprises she’d faced the last few weeks.
    Amber smiled. “All our tenants love having visitors. Just don’t bring up your father unless she does. And don’t tell her about his passing. I’ll inform the therapist who comes in once a week. He can work with her on accepting that, okay?”
    â€œ Jah. Yes.” Lorie nodded, doubts flooding her. Emily had tried to warn her. Jonah, too. Was this worth all the risk?
    Before she could decide, the woman knocked on the door in front of them.
    â€œCome in,” a sweet voice called out.
    Amber opened the door and peeked inside. “Miss Betty, you have visitors. Are you up for company?”
    â€œCompany?” the sweet voice asked.
    She pushed the door open a little farther and stepped back so they could enter the room.
    Lorie’s mouth went dry, and her palms grew sweaty as she eased inside.
    â€œHello, dear. Come sit down. Would you like for me to have Pearl bring us some iced tea?”
    â€œNow, Miss Betty,” Amber said, stepping into the room. “Pearl no longer works for you.”
    â€œOh, that’s right.” Betty Mathis patted her cap of soft white curls. “I had forgotten.”
    â€œNo worries, Miss Betty. This is Lorie . . .”
    â€œKauffman,” Lorie said.
    Amber gave her an approving nod as if she had given a false name in order to protect her grandmother’s delicate mind. But it was the only name Lorie had ever known.
    â€œAnd this is Luke . . .”
    â€œLambright,” he supplied.
    â€œMy, what an interesting name.” Miss Betty set her knitting off to one side. “I’m so glad you came to visit today. Won’t you sit down?”
    Lorie cautiously inched into the room and perched on the