Ted knew where she had been. He didn’t ask any questions—just said, “Hello! Been expecting you. Haven’t we got company coming for supper?”
“A lot of people! The lawn looks lovely, Ted!”
“It would—if we had a matching house.”
She laughed. Her eyes moved to the even more tatterdemalion house in which the Baileys had lived. “I think our place looks fine! Call it quaint.” Her tone changed. “I believe Ruth is getting better, Ted! The doctors over at the Home think so, too!”
“No fooling!”
She nodded. “I’ll bring you some iced coffee.”
“Dandy!”
He was in the back yard when she brought coffee. He went indoors and washed before sitting down with her on the kitchen steps.
“You know,” she said slowly to her son, “Ruth’s never been able to say—what did happen.”
“I know.”