Nobody tips him off with a face.”

Ruth took the floral baby blanket off the rail, unfolded it, and folded it again along the same crease.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Keep Frank talking.

Keep the wine moving around the table.”

“I can do that.” She said it quickly, then again, more quietly, to herself.

She bent over the bassinet and straightened the blanket.

“She sleeps like she’s keeping a coin from me.”