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"See, here's Martha, and this is where we're sitting," Oji said as he and his father approached the end of their assigned reception table under the lake pavilion, where a lush runner of pink and orange bougainvilleas draped off the table and pooled to the floor next to the spot where Martha stood.

The first notes of "Cha Cha Slide" played over the speaker, but it didn't prevent Martha from hearing the frustration in Oji's voice. His emotion was hidden under the superficial layer of politeness and pleasantry that might fool strangers but rarely worked on the people who know someone well. Something had shifted the lighthearted banter the father and son had enjoyed throughout the day. "Is everything okay?"

"Hey, Martha! Good to see you again. You having a good time?" Adam Greenwald asked. His voice was just as charismatic and melodic as it had been when he and Oji teamed up against Martha in a spirited game of checkers on the lawn before the two of them headed to the restroom. But given the mere fifteen-minute interval, Martha recognized Adam's response as subtle evidence of sundowning, a phenomenon in which people with vascular dementia may experience confusion, agitation, or other symptoms in the late afternoon or evening.

"Hello there. Yes, a lovely time, thank you," Martha said with a bright smile.

Oji leaned in close to Martha. "We had a little issue on the way back," he whispered, "but we're on the other side of it now. Let's just enjoy the rest of the reception. I'll fill you in later."

A half-hearted smile spread across his face, alerting her that he was beginning to rebound from whatever happened during their brief time apart. "Okay," she said as she squinted. Then she relaxed her facial muscles to remove the evidence of the apprehension building from not knowing what happened and how it might affect the rest of the evening.

Martha had never heard Oji use anything other than a pleasant tone with his father before. She wanted to know more about what happened to cause the sudden departure, but she resisted the urge to push for more information, deciding instead to trust Oji's guidance when it came to his parents. Always the respectful and dutiful son, he spoke very highly of them to anyone who would listen. He'd explained early on that with one brother deceased and another estranged from the family, he shouldered a lot of responsibility for his parents. Martha admired the way he looked after them, even if she thought he doted on his mother too much.

Oji held Martha's hand as they quickly made their way to their seats. Accustomed to the routine, Martha walked slightly ahead of him. The couple's positioning allowed Adam to stay in Oji's field of view while allowing him the independence of walking along the other side of the long rectangular table without a chaperone by his side. And being aware that Adam was sundowning, she also regularly turned her head to catch a glimpse of him.

Adam, a consummate Southern gentleman, greeted the sprinkle of wedding guests seated at the table as he strolled by them. "How do you do?" he asked each one with a nod although he'd already spoken with each of them several times over the course of the day. Martha didn't know if their seemingly pleasant responses meant they had picked up on Adam's diagnosis or whether they were just being kind, but watching the interactions warmed her heart regardless.

Having arrived at his seat with a few moments to spare, Oji kept an eye glued on Adam. As Oji watched, his head moved as if he were guiding his father's footsteps past the remaining open seats until he came to the chair across from the one where Martha had settled.

The DJ continued his stretch of line dance songs, and the packed dance floor erupted into the Electric Slide. Martha called Oji's and Adam's attention to the newlyweds, who executed all the steps flawlessly. But Martha had never doubted they would. Naomi and Nicholas always seemed to be in sync. After a whirlwind romance, they chose a wedding date two months after they became engaged. They opted for a simple church ceremony and a reception that prioritized fellowship and fun. After a seated meal, the couple's closest family members and a handful of special friends enjoyed a scrumptious three-tier lemon cake with sculpted ganache flowers descending across the front.

"They look good!" Adam exclaimed.

"They should," Martha said, laughing. "They made us practice the steps with them all week!"

"I forgot about that. Do you want to join them? I can stay with Dad," Oji said.

"I don't need a babysitter, Oji," Adam said firmly. "I'm ready to go anyway. Your mother is around here somewhere, and we're going to head home as soon as she gets here."

"It's fine. Everything is okay," Martha said, looking back and forth between the Greenwald men. "I'm having a good time sitting with y'all." She rubbed Oji's arm.

"Thank you," Oji whispered.

The trio watched in silence as the DJ transitioned to "Wobble," but it wasn't long before they were all moving in their seats.