After Heart Surgery, I Woke Up to Learn My Three Children Had Gone Home Because Hospital Parking Was Too Expensive. I Lay There in Tears Until a Well-Dressed Stranger Entered,

met you. As soon as your doctors say you’re medically stable enough.”

“I’m stable,” I said.

“You had heart surgery six hours ago.”

“I do the crossword in pen,” I said.

Gloria looked at me over her red glasses. She smiled.

“I’ll call Dr. Elena Ruiz in the morning,” she said. “She’s the best in Seattle. And she can’t stand people who try to take old women’s houses.”Chapter Seven: The Flowers

My children returned Wednesday after ten. My chest ached, though my head was clear as I ate red