I Spent Nearly Two Weeks Recovering From Surgery and My Husband Never Visited Once—Then I Came Home and Froze at the Front Door

And against the wall where we had once imagined built-in bookshelves stood six rows of finished hardwood shelves.

My books were already there.

Not simply thrown onto them.

Arranged.

History.

Mystery.

Travel.

My battered Jane Austen collection on the middle shelf because Gavin knew I could not comfortably reach high shelves while recovering.