After more than a year at Southgate and many months of marriage to Grida, his lean features were filling out.
"I don't think there's been a mistake," he said complacently. "The board of education ordered Grida to enter the hospital."
"For a routine physical check-up, eh?" replied Alina. "That isn't what she's getting."
"What are they doing, then?" asked Lao, startled.
"They're examining her to see if anything can be done to restore her fertility," answered Alina flatly. "Lao, did you authorize the hospital to do that?"
"Certainly not! I never thought about her fertility, one way or another. You're sure you're not mistaken?"
"I'm a doctor. I know what they're doing. But the hospital administrator won't tell me a thing. He just says that's on the record of her admission to the hospital."
"They must have gotten her records mixed up with someone else," theorized Lao.
"Maybe. I don't know whether you knew it or not, but Grida is too old to have a child."
Supper finished, they piled the plastic dishes in the dishwasher and went into the parlor together. Lao turned the lights low. They sat down together on the sofa. They sat very close together, and after a moment Lao put his arm around Alina's shoulders. She laid her head contentedly on his chest.