“It was like he was checking on something.”

She coughed twice into her fist and gripped the blanket again.

“Don’t worry about Gary,” I said.

“I’m not worried about Gary,” she said.

“I’m worried about you.”

I stayed until the nurse came with her tray.

Then I drove home and stopped at the grocery store for chicken thighs.

Gary was already at the table when I put the pan on the stove.