“She said there were people who needed to find their way home,” he said.
I looked at him.
“And you thought I was one of them?”
“I didn’t know.”
He smiled.
“I only knew I was supposed to bring you the quilt.”
I looked down.
“What about the key?”
He shrugged.
“Maybe that was Estelle’s idea.”
I laughed.
“She’s been dead for years.”
“Some people leave instructions that take a while to reach you.”
I smiled.
Then I said something I hadn’t planned.
“Come home with me.”
Albert shook his head.
“You have enough responsibility.”
“That sounds familiar.”
He laughed.
“I can’t stay.”
“You can stay three nights.”
“Martha…”
“Three.”
He looked at me.
“Why?”
“Because once someone helped me when I was drowning.”
He frowned.
“Who?”
“No one.”
I smiled.
“That’s the problem.”
He stayed three nights.
Then three weeks.
During those weeks, he became part of our little household.
Lily taught him how to play a card game.
He pretended not to understand the rules so she could beat him.
She caught him cheating on the third day.
“You’re terrible at this.”
“I am seventy-four.”
“That doesn’t excuse cheating.”
He laughed.
Albert helped me repair the loose kitchen cabinet.
