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forgotten to close the living-room shades. As he lifted his arm to shield his eyes, a sharp pain hammered his back. The sofa had not been long enough for his six-foot-two frame, and he’d hunched over all night. The blanket, which he’d resurrected from the storage locker, hadn’t been warm enough, either. His cramped position and the chilly air had stiffened him, and every time he’d wakened in the night, he’d brooded about Earnest and Anna.
    In their spacious queen-size bed, Anna had slept like a princess with no pea, but Jeff reminded himself not to be resentful. He listened to her showering and imagined warm water running down her lovely body. In their former routine, she’d taken the bathroom first while he made the bed. Then he’d shaved and showered while she fed Earnest and put together their usual hurried granola and tea. After a loving good-bye kiss, Jeff rushed to the ferry, always eager to get back to her.
    Today no breakfast would be forthcoming. Sadly, there would be no kiss. He lay there feigning sleep till Anna came out of the bathroom and headed for the kitchen. As she passed the sofa, he rose up and said, “Good morning.”
    Her face was stern. No “good morning” back.
    â€œAnna, do we have to be like this?”
    She went to the kitchen, clunked the toaster on the counter, and stuffed in a slice of bread. Jeff wanted to follow her and take her into his arms, but he squashed that desire. The timing would be wrong. It was too soon to express those feelings.
    He threw back his blanket and climbed off the sofa in his boxer shorts and tee shirt. His pajamas were in the bedroom, which Anna had clearly defined as her private domain and which last night he’d not wanted to invade. “Are you finished in the bathroom?” he asked politely. A little chivalry might help . He paused, hoping for an answer. “I take your silence as a ‘yes,’” he said.
    Jeff went into the bedroom. Their bed looked rumpled, thrashed in—Anna’s night must not have been any more restful than his. To remind her what a good guy he was, he quickly smoothed out the sheets and blanket and covered them with the linen spread they’d bought together. He took clean underwear from the dresser and Dockers and a fresh shirt from the closet, and he went into the bathroom, which, he was grateful, did not have hot-pink walls and lime-green cabinets. After showering and shaving, he was about to make an assault on Anna’s new territory, the kitchen, when the phone rang.
    â€œHow is Earnest?” Anna asked.
    Jeff hurried to the bedroom extension.
    â€œEarnest’s x-rays look pretty good. There’s not much carbon on his lungs. We stopped the oxygen this morning,” Dr. Nilsen said.
    Wonderful. “Dr. Nilsen, this is Jeff,” he said to alert him that he was on the line. “Does that mean Earnest can come home?”
    â€œI’d like for him to stay here another day so we can watch him. We’ll keep monitoring his oxygen saturation. If he maintains it on his own for twenty-four hours, we’ll know he’s rounded the corner.”
    â€œDo you think he will?” Anna asked.
    â€œHe’s giving every indication he’s okay.”
    Relief!
    â€œI’ll visit him at lunch,” Anna said.
    â€œHe’ll be glad to see you,” Dr. Nilsen said.
    â€œI’ll be there after work,” Jeff said.
    Dr. Nilsen paused for slightly longer than a blink and then said, “Fine.” But the small delay was enough to indicate that their arriving separately again had registered with him. As it would Earnest.

C HAPTER 9
    â€œC ome on, sweet Edgar. Don’t die on me. This bath should make you feel better.” Anna gently washed the plant’s rubbery leaves with a sponge and soapy water, then dried them with a towel. Free of smoke, his leaves looked greener and, though drooped, were thick and tough. Anna patted