Chapter 24: Off Work

The text came at noon on Sunday, while I was standing in Rory's kitchen with a dish towel.

I'm off work tonight at nine, it said.

I read it and put the towel down.

A second one came before I could answer.

Term three is off. Come if you want to.

Rory looked up from the stove, saw my face, and turned the burner off under the pot.

"Go," he said.

"I haven't said anything."

"Your hands have." He took the car keys off the hook and put them in my palm. "The airport. Now. Take the black bag."

I wrote back with my thumbs shaking.

I'm coming.

The flight landed in Baltimore at ten to eight.

I took a taxi to the hospital.

I stood on the sidewalk by the staff entrance in my good coat, with the black bag at my feet.

I did not call her.

I had learned that much.

The door opened at nine.

She came out in her coat with her hair tied back and her badge still clipped to her pocket.

She stopped at the top of the three steps.

I did not move to meet her.

I stood where I was and let her look.

"You're early," she said.

"You said you get off at nine."

"I do."

"I've been here an hour."

"You asked me that once." She came down one step. "The night before the ER. You wanted to know what time I got off so you could pick me up."

I swallowed.

"I remember," I said. "I wanted you to play the loving wife for my mother."

"I know. I could hear Philippa's soup in the background." There was almost a smile. "I said no need and hung up."

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