Oddly, that was more comforting.

At home, Gertrude was sitting at the dining table with her pill organizer and a bowl of sliced melon.

I had prepared the melon before leaving.

She looked up as though I had inconvenienced her by being gone.

“Kenneth says you’re distracted lately,” she said.

“A wife needs to be present, especially when her husband has opportunities.”

I put my handbag down.

“What opportunities?”