Chapter 62

We went through what by now had become the routine drill—downstairs in the elevator, two or three and sometimes four circuits of all the downstairs rooms, then back upstairs for a shower. I popped a Tylenol 3 before we all went downstairs to dinner.

As I watched John wheel Charles out of the sunroom, I turned to Gran and said, “I think much of his grumbling is just for effect. He knows the exercise on the crutches is critical to his recovery, and it does seem to be getting marginally easier for him each time.”

“You’re probably right,” she said. “Now, about the cleaning service.”

“Yes?”

“We don’t want to hurt Mrs. Goodman’s feelings when we tell her. Do you have any thoughts on how to handle that?”