Blinking at his right boot, he began to yank it on....
"María wants me to come to Guadalajara soon. She's worried about me, after the quakes."
"I think you should visit her," he said. "Has she finished remodeling her house?"
"The remodeling's done.... I need some mourning clothes," she said.
"Have them made in Guadalajara."
"But you know how long that takes? That takes forever." The way she hit the last word piqued him, but he said nothing.
"I'll be glad to get away from that new cook. She puts oil in all our food. Look how she prepared the chayotes last week! Did you ever taste the like!"
She turned back to her embroidery, but thought:
He's putting on boots to go somewhere, he's always going somewhere. Maybe I did say I wouldn't leave. Maybe I did say that Caterina needed me. He never speaks of her ... he doesn't miss her.
Suddenly, she asked: "Why didn't you come here when you were wounded?"