“The blue ones?” I asked.

“The blue ones with the white stripes,” Judy said, folding her hands over her handbag.

“I thought of your kitchen at the rental right away.

A young couple starting out can always use extra linens.”

“That was thoughtful of you, Judy,” I said.

Nate sat beside me with his hands flat on his thighs.

He wore his clean Sunday shirt, but a thin line of grease still showed under his fingernails from Saturday night.

“You two have always been so independent,” Judy said, beaming at us both.