“This is an improvement,” she declared.

“I’ve been meaning to sleep on the sofa for years.

Excellent television angle.”

Sadie laughed, then winced and pressed a hand against her healing abdomen.

Ruth brought her a pillow to hold when she needed to cough or laugh.

Our days fell into a gentle routine of medicine schedules, short walks, bland food when the nausea returned, and online homework that my daughter resented with admirable intensity.

Curtis called every evening.