Deffenbaugh sitting there in her favorite chair. She jumps when I place my hand on her shoulder. Her fingers head toward her ear, and she gives me a smile. “I forgot to turn my hearing aid on, dear. Did you have a nice visit with your parents?” “Yes. They should be home tomorrow.” “That’s wonderful,” Mrs. Deffenbaugh replies. “You just sit down and rest for a bit.” She gets up from her chair and fixes me a glass of iced tea, and we sit at the table for a while. As I sip the sweet tea, my thoughts return to Conrad and the discussion Warner and I had in the hospital. I wonder what might have happened to him. As Warner said, he could still be in the bayou. But he could also be on his way back to the house. My biggest worry is not knowing where he is, or when he might show up unexpectedly. I keep hoping he’s in the quicksand, but I know I can’t count on that. I look across the table at Mrs. Deffenbaugh’s gentle face smiling at me.
