Page 61 of Roommating

I take her in… still wearing the jeggings and button-down chambray shirt we found her in yesterday. She looks tired. Her skin lacks its usual color and there are dark circles under her eyes. Her top is uncharacteristically wrinkled and the ends of her bob are uneven, like her hair hasn’t been brushed. I imagine what could have happened to her if we didn’t get home in time and start to choke up. But then I collect myself because wedidget home in time and she’sfine. I straighten my back. “How are you feeling?”

“Right as rain.” She purses her lips. “Maybe a little tired but only because of all the constant beeping and the nurses coming in to check my vitals every five minutes.” She walks into the kitchen with me, Adam, and Rocket following behind her and pauses, her eyes sweeping the fully set table and the containers of food on the island. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“We wanted to,” I say.

“We figured you’d be hungry for something besides Jell-O or whatever they fed you at the hospital,” Adam says.

She pats his cheek. “Thank you. Do you mind if I shower first?”

“Of course not,” Adam says. “Lunch can wait.”

“Can I draw you a bath?”

She looks at me funny.

“A bubble bath can be relaxing. For your blood pressure.” I defend my offer even though I’m reeling because, seriously,Can I draw you a bath?What am I, her lady’s maid?

“If you say so, but no thanks.” She furrows her eyebrows as if she’s contemplating saying more but thinks better of it. “I’ll be a few minutes.”

“Take your time, Grams.”

As soon as we hear the click of her bedroom door, Adam leans over the kitchen island on his elbows and closes his eyes.

“You all right, Adam?”

He doesn’t move at first… just nods… but then he opens his eyes and straightens his back. “It’s all just hitting me now how differently things could have played out.”

I release a breath. “Same. She’s okay though. Try to focus on that.”

He chews his lip. “Yeah, I know. It’s just… I haven’t been in a hospital since my mom was sick.”

My heart skips a beat. It hadn’t occurred to me that he’d connect the two situations, but of course he would. “I’m so sorry. But Marcia is fine, and we’ll make sure she stays that way.”

He swallows. “Right.”

Feeling helpless and needing a purpose, I walk to the back of the kitchen and pour a cup of coffee. “You look like you could use this,” I say, placing it in front of him.

Marcia joins us, fresh out of the shower and wearing a light blue fleece hoodie and matching pants. “Do I smell coffee?”

Adam and I exchange glances.

“How about I make you a cup of decaf tea instead?” I offer.

“Sabrina’s right. Caffeine’s probably not a good idea,” Adam says.

Marcia slides into a chair. “Coffee is fine in moderation, even if you have high blood pressure.”

Adam raises an eyebrow. “You literally just left the hospital.”

She sighs. “Fine. To be safe, I’ll wait until after I see my regular doctor next week.”

“I’ll have tea too in solidarity.” I hate tea, but anything for Marcia.

Adam slides his coffee mug toward the center of the table. “So will I.”

Marcia pulls a face. “Don’t be ridiculous! Just becauseI’mabstaining from coffee doesn’t mean you have to.” She pushes to her feet. “I’m starving. Thank you again for making lunch.”

At the same time, Adam and I say, “Sit!”

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