I thanked her twice.

Helen hung up and sat back with her hands folded.

“Sole cardholder,” she said.

“I know what it means, Helen.”

“I want you to know what it means.”

I tucked the receipt into the checkbook wallet.

My watch had turned on my wrist again, so I slid the band back where it belonged.

By the time I got home, the kitchen was empty and the counters had been wiped down to a shine.