“Funny. Nobody ever says that about you.”
“Excuse me?”
“Midnight calls. Groceries. Every weekend we try to get away. When do you come second, Elaine?”
“That’s different. I’m alone.”
“So is my mom. If I leave.”
“That’s different.”
She pressed her lips together and changed the subject.
“I told Andrew you’d be home by six. You can put that little gift to good use.”
I started to correct her.
This morning Andrew had asked if I wanted dinner brought to the hospital.
“Elaine, he’s bringing me dinner here tonight.”
“He says things like that to be polite.”
“You can put that little gift to good use.”
“He wasn’t being polite. He wanted me to stay.”
“He wanted you to feel better about staying.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Of course there is.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“A mother doesn’t need to be told.”
“He wanted you to feel better about staying.”
