Chapter 23: The Go-Bag

I packed his black leather bag myself, on the bed, with the door shut.

It took me most of an evening, because I took everything out first.

The stethoscope went on the dresser.

The sutures went on the dresser, with the scissors, the blood-pressure cuff and a thing I couldn't name.

I put in a paperback he had been carrying around since March, a pair of swim trunks and a tube of sunscreen.

I added toothbrush, charger, good socks.

Then I took a pen and wrote a note, in my plain handwriting, and taped it to the handle.

I will be in the car. Nothing in this bag is for work. L.

Ansel came in, saw the bag, and went very still.

"Where's my kit?"

"On the dresser."

"There's a cuff and a stethoscope on the dresser."

"There is also a bandage in the front pocket," I said. "One. It's a big one."

"Leona, I can't go on a trip with one bandage."

"You can go with one bandage and a wife who is a very good first aider."

"What are you going to do, kiss it?"

"Yes," I said.

He closed the bag.

"I'd like to stitch a stranger with a bobby pin, in a field," he said.

"You can try. You'd have to ask me for the pin."

He laughed and picked up his phone from the nightstand.

"Let me see that," I said.

I took it from his hand and opened the settings.

It took four taps.

Two men had told me that ringtone couldn't be changed.

I changed it in the time it took Ansel to say my name.

"Eye of the Tiger" now played only for Barrett's number, and for the pizzeria down the street.

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