She poured me a coffee without asking and set it on the counter.

“The pot’s been on since six, so it’s terrible, but it’s hot.

My husband was a Marine.

Came home from the Gulf and slept in his boots for a month.”

“I’ve been sleeping in a chair.”

“I know.

I’ve seen the chair.” She picked the peppermint back up.

“She squeezed my hand this morning when I changed the tape on her line.