Chapter 42

“I don’t think we have any lettuce.”

“Yes, we do. I took inventory earlier and went to Publix.”

I opened the refrigerator, quickly surveyed its contents, and said, “My God, there hasn’t been this much food on hand around here since forever ago.”

“I noticed that the cupboard was pretty bare. You and Richard don’t cook much, do you?”

“I used to but seem to have fallen out of the habit.”

“We’ll just have to get you back in that habit.”

I tossed a salad and set the breakfast table for two. Then I sat down at the table for a minute, thinking that it seemed so cozy and domestic. This, of course, brought back memories of Robert, and I must have been quiet for a long time, because Philip said, “You have a faraway look about you.”

“I was just thinking how nice this was, and of course that started a chain of memories of earlier days.”

“Are you alright?”

I got up, walked over to where he was mashing the potatoes, and gave him a hug from behind. “Never better.”