Charlie parked her car in a designated space and looked up at the building. It might have been a grand manor house at one point, maybe the residence of some important politician now fallen from power. Either way, it was one of the nicest nursing homes she'd had the pleasure of visiting.

Manicured lawns stretched around the sides of the building, and she could see several residents tending to a vegetable patch. It was peaceful and reassured her she'd made the right choice for Alice.

She got out and headed into the building, explaining who she was to the woman at reception.

'One moment, please.' The receptionist politely requested as she picked up her phone. 'Dr Ngcobo, Miss Hoggins, is in reception to visit Mrs Phillips. Very well.' The receptionist put the phone down. 'Dr Ngcobo will be waiting through those doors. We please ask you to sanitize your hands on the way in and don't approach any other resident except the one you wish to visit. Have a nice day.' She flashed a professional smile before returning to her computer.

The door opened automatically as Charlie approached and she dutifully used the sanitiser dispenser on the other side.

'Miss Hoggins?' A tall man in a white coat approached her. 'I'm Dr Ngcobo. May I have a word before your visit with Mrs Phillips?'

'Of course.' Charlie frowned but followed the Doctor to his office.

'Now I understand that you're not a blood relative of Mrs Phillips, but that you've known her for some time?'

Charlie nodded. 'I was friends with her daughters.'

'Due to the unusual circumstance surrounding Mrs Phillips' care, with her husband in hospital and her daughter missing, I have requested you be granted special power over her medical services until such time a member of her family can take over. This was granted a few hours ago.'

'Thank you Doctor. I appreciate you pushing that through for me.'

Dr Ngcobo brushed aside her thanks. 'It would have made treating her especially difficult without it,' he said, with the frankness usually associated with all South Africans.

'Then you've begun to treat her?'

'Miss Hoggins, I need to ask you a few questions before I answer yours, if that would be acceptable?'

Charlie mashed her lips together, not enjoying being questioned when she was the one more used to asking them. She bobbed her head once for him to continue.

'You knew Mrs Phillips when she would have been a woman in her thirties, possibly forties. I would like to know if you ever noticed anything about her behaviour? Qualities you may have found unusual?'

'I'm unsure what this has to do-'

'Please Miss Hoggins, could you just humour me?'

Charlie sighed. 'Sorry Doctor, it's just been a hard day already.'

'Please take your time. I understand the difficult situation you've been put in but your memory of her could very much help with her treatment.'

Charlie thought back to her first impressions of Alice Phillips.

'She was usually rather scatterbrained. She would start one task and then get distracted with another. It would take her half a day to get the dishes done from breakfast.'

'And what about her speech? Was this usually erratic as well?' Dr Ngcobo queried, making notes as Charlie talked.

'Actually yes. She used to have these funny sayings, or names for things. She used to call the toaster the demon popper.' Charlie smiled at the memory. 'It took awhile for me to understand them, but Lucy and Jane always knew what she wanted even when I didn't.'

'Did she ever have much contact with those outside the household? A job, maybe a hobby she shared with a club?'

But Charlie shook her head. 'She never worked as long as I knew her. I don't think she ever made many friends in the village. In fact, the Phillips never really had friends in the village. They were always on the outside of village life, but not really a part of it.'

Dr Ngcobo tapped his pen against the paper before letting it fall. He gave Charlie his full attention.

'I thank you for sharing your observations with me, Miss Hoggins, and for answering my questions. You've helped me greatly. In answer to your previous question, we have begun treating Mrs Phillips, though I will probably alter that treatment somewhat now that you've confirmed my theory.'

'And your theory?'

Dr Ngcobo became very serious. 'In 1982, Alice Phillips was taken to a hospital in Devon for treatment for a burn she sustained in her home. The report is limited on details, however a doctor there noticed her erratic behaviour and apparent detachment to her injury. They referred her for psychiatric treatment once her wound was dressed. Only she was never assessed.'

Charlie frowned. 'Why was she never assessed?'

'Because that same year her and her husband moved to Marton and the request by a junior doctor was squashed. It is my belief that Mrs Phillips suffers from schizophrenia, and that her husband Mr Phillips was likely trying to manage her symptoms with the only drugs he had available to him.'

'He didn't want her to be institutionalised,' Charlie whispered, echoing what the nurse had told her back at the house.

'I can not say, but there are several drugs that are now available that could aid Mrs Phillips. Schizophrenia is an incurable illness, but it can be managed. If the treatment is successful, her cognitive function will improve, and her behaviour will become less erratic. She may even be able to live unaided again. But I will need your consent to continue administering the medication.'

In normal circumstances, Charlie would have granted it immediately, but she worried about Jerry. He had tried his whole life for Alice to be free from an institution similar to the one she was now in. Charlie wondered whether she'd made the right decision, given what she knew now.

Dr Ngcobo, sensing her hesitation, stood. 'I can assure you, Miss Hoggins, that this is not the 1980s. Our views on mental illnesses are not the same, nor our methods. Mrs Phillips will be subjected to the utmost care and attention from all of our staff. She is safe here, and will be given medication that could successfully manage her condition for many years to come.'

Charlie ran a hand through her hair and stood. 'Dr Ngcobo, Alice and Jerry Phillips have suffered years of heartbreak, may have to suffer more of it. I cannot add to their burden.'

Dr Ngcobo held the door open for her. 'Nothing will happen to her here, Miss Hoggins, you have my word. But perhaps you would like to visit with her before deciding.'

Charlie followed him down carpeted halls, her mind foggy about the decision she didn't want to have to make. It was true; the place looked homely and safe, but did that make it right after everything Jerry had gone through to treat his wife at home? Rather than let her be treated by strangers who didn't know her?

'I will leave you two alone, but please find me before you leave.' He smiled and left the two women alone.

Alice Phillips sat in a plumb armchair, a tartan blanket thrown over her legs. Her gaze was focused on the greenhouse she could see from the big window.

A passing nurse stopped next to Charlie. 'She's having a good day today. Please call if you need help. It can be hard visiting for the first time.' She smiled at Charlie before shunting a trolley out into the hall.

Taking the nurse's advice, Charlie took the seat next to Alice but couldn't think of anything to say.

'I was never very good at gardening.'

Charlie jumped at the sound of Alice's voice. The woman didn't turn to look at her, but she reached out and grabbed Charlie's hand.

'Thank you for coming to visit me, Charlie, you always were a good girl.' The corners of the woman's mouth turned up.

'I-I thought you could use some company,' Charlie stammered.

'How kind of you. On a day such as this. I always think it should pour with rain to reflect my mood, but yet I'm still happy when it's sunny. Lucy always loved the sun.'

A lump formed in her throat. 'She did,' Charlie agreed.

Alice looked over at Charlie and patted her hand. 'It's okay to miss the ones that are no longer here, Charlie. We just have to remember that it's only a goodbye for now.'

Charlie wiped at the few stray tears running down her cheek. 'That's a good way to look at it.'

'It's the only way I can cope,' Alice responded simply.

They sat for a time in companionable silence, watching the few passing patients and nurses. Charlie had to admit that she hadn't seen Alice look so well, since she'd been back in Marton.

'The nurses here have been very kind. They tell me that Jerry is stable.'

Charlie nodded. 'He's responding well to treatment.'

'And what of my daughter and my grandchildren?'

It was hard for Charlie to raise her head and meet Alice's gaze.

'We're still looking,' she admitted.

Alice nodded. 'I have faith that you'll find my family. But my girls were always so good at disappearing, always running off to Felton Manor. We used to get so worried about them up there, but no matter how much we banned them, they still went. It was like their own secret world, enough that we gave them our old camping equipment when we replaced them. I was nervous about them getting hyperthermia or something.'

Charlie stared at the side of Alice's face.

'Camping equipment?'

'Hmm, everything but the tent, they said they didn't need it.'

They didn't need it. Charlie played the sentence over and over in her head, knowing that it could mean only one thing; they must have had shelter.

'Alice, did you ever see the camping equipment again?'

Alice frowned at Charlie. 'I'm sorry, dear, but my memory it isn't always so good. That time, it is difficult to be sure. Charlie, are you okay?'

Charlie had stood, her mind racing. 'I'm sorry Alice. I have to go.'

The woman's expression cleared. 'I'm okay here, go, go and bring my family home, Charlie.'

Charlie left in a hurry, only remembering that she had to talk to Dr Ngcobo as she was passing his door.

'Dr Ngcobo,' she called as she knocked.

The door opened, and the doctor stepped out. 'Miss Hoggins, is everything okay?'

'The medication that you gave Alice, could it already be working?'

'Well, yes, it would likely clear her mind of confusion, though I warn you that there will probably still be bad days.'

Charlie held her hand out for the doctor to shake. 'You have my permission to continue treatment, Dr Ngcobo, and please let me know if there is anything you need from me. Any time, just call.'

They talked for a handful of seconds before Charlie excused herself and sprinted back to her car. She pulled out her phone when she reached the car.

'Neo? I think we're right. The Bennetts are still at Felton.'