Vance got up and opened the exam room door.

“Get the legal clearance, Ellen.

I’ll push the pre-op testing through right away.”

I thanked him and walked out of the clinic.

When I got home at six, Richard’s truck wasn’t in the driveway.

He was still out at the Elm Street site, overseeing a late drywall crew.

The house was totally silent except for the hum of the refrigerator.

I looked at the oak dining table where we’d eaten dinner for sixteen years.