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“My point is, I’m happy with my life. So many people aren’t,” he added. “They’re always chasing something they can’t find, wanting things that are impossible to have. It’s important to be satisfied not only with who you are, but where and what you are. After all, life isn’t forever. We’re just temporary visitors here. Tourists, really.”
She burst out laughing and almost toppled her coffee. “Tourists! I’ll have to remember that one.”
He grinned. “I stole it from a pal, when we were overseas. He was a great guy. He was going to medical school when we got out of the service. He didn’t make it back. A lot of guys didn’t.”
“I know.” She did, too, because her husband had been one of those. “My husband was already a doctor, though. He loved his work. He loved being in the service. He said that patriotism was being sacrificed by people who didn’t understand that freedom isn’t free. He wanted to do his part.” She bit her lower lip. “Sorry. It’s still fresh.”
He just nodded. “Life goes on, though,” he said, studying her. “You have to pick up the pieces and keep going.”
“You’ve lost someone,” she said suddenly.
He hesitated. Then he nodded again. “The love of my life,” he said with a quiet sadness. “She was eighteen, I was nineteen. While I was overseas, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She died before I even got home. We were going to be married that Christmas.”
“I’m truly sorry,” she said softly, and put her hand over his big one. She didn’t understand why exactly, because she almost never touched people–not even her daughter, whom she loved. “I do understand how that feels.”
His hand turned and clasped hers. There was a flash, almost electric, between them when he did that. She caught her breath, laughed self-consciously, and took her hand away. He seemed as disconcerted as she felt. He finished the sandwich and washed it down with coffee.
“I’d better go and let you get to those papers,” he said, rising. “Think of the poor students who’ll be disappointed to have to wait an extra day to learn that they failed the test.” He grinned wickedly.
She laughed, the tension gone. “I guess so.”
“Thanks. It was good coffee and a nice sandwich. Better than cold oatmeal,” he added wryly.
“Anytime. Thanks for coming after our furry visitor. If he ever comes back, I’ll know who to call.”
“Where’s your cell phone?” he asked.
She took it out of her pocket and placed it in his outstretched hand. He put in his contact information and handed it back.
“That’s my cell number,” he told her. “If you have a problem, night or day, you call me. Okay?”
She smiled warmly. “Okay.” She cocked her head. “Where’s your cell phone?”
His eyebrows arched, but he handed it to her. She put her own contact information into it and handed it back.
“If you need us, you only have to call,” she said quietly. “We’d do anything we could to help you.”
He was unsettled. He hesitated. “All right. Thanks.”
“I mean, if you come up with some unified field theory in the middle of the night and need to discuss it with someone who knows absolutely nothing about theoretical physics, I’ll be right here. Think of it as ego building.”
He chuckled. She was a card. “I’ll do that.”
“But if you get sick or something, you can call, too,” she added. “I nursed my mother for several years before I married. I’m pretty good in a sick room.”
That surprised and touched him. “I’m never ill.”
“I knew that,” she replied spritely. “But just in case . . . ?”
“Just in case,” he agreed.
He started for the door. “Good night, Teddie. See you Saturday,” he called down the hall.
“I’ll be here, still doing horrible math!” she called back.
“Math is not horrible!”
“It is so! It has numbers that are invisible! I heard you tell that other man that.”
