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           ThenextdayLouiscalledtheintensivecareunitattheEMMC.Norma’sconditionwasstilllistedascritical;thatwasstandardoperatingprocedureforthefirsttwenty-fourhoursfollowingaheartattack.LouisgotacheerierassessmentfromWeybridge,herdoctor,however."Iwouldn’tevencallitaminormyocardialinfarction,"hesaid."Noscarring.Sheowesyouahellofalot,Dr.Creed."

           Onimpulse,Louisstoppedbythehospitallaterthatweekwithabouquetofflowers,andfoundthatNormahadbeenmovedtoasemiprivateroomdownstairs—averygoodsign.Judwaswithher.

           Normaexclaimedovertheflowersandbuzzedanurseforavase.ThenshedirectedJuduntiltheywereinwater,arrangedtoherspecifications,andplacedonthedresserinthecorner.

           "Mother’sfeelingevers’muchbetter,"Judsaiddrylyafterhehadfiddledwiththeflowersforthethirdtime.

           "Don’tbesmart,Judson,"Normasaid.

           "No,ma’am."

           AtlastNormalookedatLouis."Iwanttothankyouforwhatyoudid,"shesaidwithashynessthatwasutterlyunaffectedandthusdoublytouching."JudsaysIoweyoumylife."

           Embarrassed,Louissaid,"Judexaggerates."

           "Notverydamnmuch,hedon’t,"Judsaid.HesquintedatLouis,almostsmilingbutnotquite.