Chapter 11

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It was Saturday, which meant that Beth was doing one of her favorite things. She was visiting one of the many assisted living homes in the city. It was something that Beth spent all week looking forward to doing. It had started in the fall when she had teamed up with her Aunt Grace for an oral history project at the university. The goal had been to use students to gather stories about important historical events and those who might have lived through them. It had also been a way to bridge the generations.

The project had been a hit and had gained local news attention, but it had finished at the end of the term before the Christmas break. Now it was January, and Beth still found herself volunteering at the assisted living home. She had made a few new friends and liked to check up on them.

Henry had stayed with her for a few weeks until a few days before Christmas. Then he had flown out to the west coast to spend time with his parents Lee and Kate Mercer. It had been fun having him around, and Beth felt that he had left in a much more relaxed state than the one in which he had arrived.

Sure, there had been that little hiccup with Wyatt, but overall it had been a smooth visit.

Beth didn't know what she expected, she half hoped that Wyatt would try to contact her now that he knew Katherine was staying with her, but he didn't. It was a disappointment, but one that she accepted. She had promised to wait and so she would.

Beth was known by everyone who worked at the assisted living home, so she moved through the halls with ease, saying hi to those she knew and stopping to have the occasional gossip with a nurse or resident.

Everyone kept telling her she needed to check in with Mary Alice Olin. Mary Alice was a sweet lady who's diagnosis was unclear, and since Beth wasn't family, no one could giver her specifics, but she appeared to have depression and Alzheimer's.

"Mary Alice!"Beth greeted while knocking on her open door.

Mary Alice turned to look at her with a frown. Today wasn't a good day; Beth could tell right away. She was in a chair by the window with a blanket around her legs. Mary Alice always like to be dressed and ready to go, so if she was still in her pajamas this late in the morning, it meant she wasn't feeling herself.

"It's me, Beth, your friend. May I come in?" Beth asked, not wanting to enter unless Mary Alice felt comfortable.

Mary Alice nodded and turned her attention back out the window. Beth walked in and sat in the chair opposite her, and they watched a bird picking at the cold ground.

"Did you know that I had a great-grandmother named Mary, and my mother's name is Alice?" It was something she had told Mary Alice plenty of times. It always seemed to break the ice with her.

"You do?" Mary Alice asked, looking at Beth for the first time since she sat down.

"I do. Do you have any family?" Beth asked. It was something Mary Alice didn't like to talk about on her good days and generally couldn't remember on her bad ones.

"I was married once, to a handsome man," Mary Alice smiled then turned her attention back to the bird.

It was more than Beth had ever gotten from her before. "What was his name?" Beth asked.

"Who?" Mary Alice looked at her with confusion.

"You're husband?" Beth reminded her.

"I'm not married." Mary Alice shook her head and continued to watch the bird. So Beth started to talk to her about this and that, nothing serious or bothersome, just light chat to keep her company.

"They're here again," Mary Alice said forcefully, and Beth jumped at the unexpected sound of it.

"Who's here?" Beth asked once she had recovered.

Mary Alice turned to her, and she could see recognition in her eyes as she smiled at Beth.

"Bethy, it's almost time, are you ready?" Mary Alice's tone had taken on a distinctive Texas drawl, and there was no way Mary Alice would know that her nickname was Bethy. Still, Beth wasn't going to get ahead of herself. It wouldn't be hard for someone to guess that a childhood nickname for her wold be Bethy.

"Time for what?" Beth asked, clearing her throat. She refused to let her thoughts go where they wanted to go.

"Fate is about to lend a hand, are you ready?" Mary Alice smiled at her, and Beth's heart stopped.

Beth nodded. "I'm ready, is there anything special I need to do?"

"No, be yourself, and be honest. Oh, and tell Quinn he better get Fiona some help around the ranch. She's good at it, but she needs someone who has her back." Mary Alice shook her head at whatever thought was running through her mind.

"I think he's on it. He's going to get Henry to help." Beth answered as part of her knew she was crazy for doing it. There was no way Mary Alice was channeling Elizabeth Stevens.

"He's thinking about it, but the boy is on the fence. Quinn needs to get him out to the ranch so he can see Fiona." Mary Alice's hand came down on the arm of her chair with enough force to make Beth jump. "I had to talk to you this way because no one else would believe me." Beth looked from the arm to Mary Alice's eyes as she spoke, and notice that the woman was completely present.

"Mary Alice?" Beth asked, confirming it was her.

She smiled, her wrinkled cheeks and green eyes were soft. "Of course, it's me. I've been here the entire time."

"Who was I just talking to?" Beth asked, totally confused.

"That was me, but Elizabeth told me what to say and how to say it so you would know they were her words. She came to me and told me you needed to hear from her again, that it was in everyone's best interest and not to worry, you would believe me. Not everyone does."

Beth sat back in her chair, trying to take in what had just happened. Should she believe this woman? "You channel spirits?" Beth asked to make sure she understood what Mary Alice was getting at so there would be no confusion.

"Do you have Alzheimer's and depression?" Beth asked.

Mary Alice shrugged. "I can't remember." Then she ruined the moment by giggling. "I do have depression, it's hard to never be by one's self, but my mind is just as alert as it's always been. They gave me the diagnosis because they had to come up with something for the way I sometimes talk about random things and stare off into space."

Beth thought about it. It would make sense that she would hide in the diagnosis. What she was telling her was hard to believe. "Then what you said about being married?"

Mary Alice shrugged. "I was but as soon as I said it I wished I hadn't so it was easier to pretend I hadn't."

"And what about when I always tell you about my Mary and Alice?" Beth shook her head, getting how it would have worked well for her over the years.

"You seem to like telling me that, so I let you." She shrugged.

"Earlier you said they're here, who are they?" Beth wanted to know. It might be a way for Mary Alice to prove she was telling the truth.

"Elizabeth, Doug, he doesn't talk much, and Mary." There are others that you've never met, but they know and look out for you and all of your family."

Beth stood up and started to pace. "Why are you choosing to tell me this?"

Mary Alice shook her head. "Elizabeth said that it would matter in the end, that if I told you now, it would help everyone involved."

"This is a lot to take in at once. Did she say anything else about fate and me?" Beth clenched her hands nervously, was the fact that Beth was willing and wanted to believe Mary Alice crazy?

"No, she was mysteriously vague about that. I'm under the impression that she is keeping something from both of us, and when time is right, it will all make sense." Mary Alice shook her head.

There was a knock on the door behind them. "It's time for Mary Alice's lunch," one of the nurses said as she looked from one to the other. "It seems like Beth's visit did you good, Mary Alice, you seem more like yourself."

The nurse turned her attention to Beth. "Beth, Roger, down the hall has been bugging me all morning to ask you to play around of cards with him. Are you up for it?"

Beth nodded. "Sure, I'll stop by his room in a few minutes."

The nurse nodded her agreement. "We'll see you in the dining room in a few minutes Mary Alice."

After the nurse had gone, Beth turned back towards Mary Alice. "I need some time to think about all of this, to absorb it."

Mary Alice nodded. "I get it, that's why I never tell people. It's a hard thing to believe, but Elizabeth insisted, and she's a hard woman to say no to."

Beth laughed. "That right there makes me believe you more than anything else you could have said." Beth gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you next Saturday. I have a card game to get to now. And don't pretend like you don't recognize me anymore, alright?"

Mary Alice smiled. "Alright, Bethy."

Beth wandered to Roger's room. She had a lot to think about, and if she was honest, she was a bit overwhelmed by it all. However, before she could lose herself in thought, she had to put on her poker face. Roger was a shark.

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