That night, she met Mr. Thomas Hayes.
He was nothing like Alexander. The elder Hayes had once been a university professor—sharp, cultured, with a dry wit. But now he was confined to a wheelchair, speech partially slurred, one side of his body paralyzed. His eyes, however, were sharp as ever.
“You’re the new girl?” he asked, voice gravelly.
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re younger than the last one. Strong enough to lift an old man like me?”
She smiled gently. “We’ll figure it out together.”
He grunted—but for the first time in months, he didn’t resist help getting to bed.
