“Hi.”

“Are you all right?”

“Why?”

“Something just told me to call and check on you. I am trying to obey those hunches.”

“Hunches, right.” Ginny used the last of the tissues to wipe her eyes and again blow her nose. “I’m getting okay again.”

“You got snagged on a memory?”

“I did. The floral cushions on the outside chairs. Fred picked them out.”

“And it made you furious.”

“How do you know?”

“Remember, I’ve been there. I was so mad at Ernie for leaving me behind to take care of the farm and everything, I almost broke a tooth my jaws clenched so hard and for so long. But—the anger is just another stage to the grieving. Yell and scream and pound it out, whatever it takes.”

“I sorta did.”

“Good, and how do you feel?”

“Better. All this time he would not go to the doctor. Said he was in good shape for his age. Kept making excuses. I know he was busy, but—”

“Hate to add fuel to this, but how long since you’ve been to the doctor?”

Ginny shrugged, trying to think back. “Several months ago I had my yearly, and other than some common things ‘for your age,’ blood pressure was up some and he sent me for a chest x-ray because of the asthma. I don’t go to the doctor any more than I have to.”

“And you think grieving doesn’t take a toll on your body, let alone your mind? I happen to know that grief scuttles all your resistance, not just to disease but to everything physiological.” Ginny was silent until Amalia asked, “You there?”

The sigh could probably be heard without the phone. “I am, and right now I don’t like you too much either.”

Amalia snorted. “Ah, well, the cost of being a friend at times. Is Addy still there?”

“I told her to go to the swimming party her friends had set up. I don’t want her giving up her summer for me. We’re planning a party for their twelfth birthday next weekend here and I’m hoping that will make coming to the farm again easier for Andy.”

“He’s still not come?” Amalia asked.

“Nope, and the longer he puts it off, the harder it will be.”

“You going to be okay there now, for today?”

“Yeah, hopefully did my crying for today. Addy will be back for bed. They are having a bonfire at the girl’s house that has the pool. Erica has already volunteered to come over, but I think it’s time I have at least a day here by myself.”

“Okay, good for you, my friend. You’re going to make it. Remember, one step forward, two back is normal.”

“You mean two forward, one back?”

“Nope, said what I meant.” She clicked off, leaving Ginny to ponder the last couple of hours. She turned to writing in her journal, another way she had found to deal with the day-to-day, pouring out her thoughts and feelings. When the sun came around to catch her chair, she got up for a glass of raspberry lemonade and moved to another chair to continue writing.