I nodded and touched the little egg. Gloria picked up my arm and bent it. She poked at my ribs and tapped where my heart was. She put her hands on my hair and felt all over. She made me count her fingers. One. Three. Two.

“You’ll be fine, says Dr. Gloria.”

I nodded again.

“Do you want to say something to me?”

“I didn’t mean it.”

“That’s okay, darling.” It was a real darling. “I’ll just be having a talk with Erma, that’s all. If she can’t be there to keep half an eye on you, after all I been through, what’s the point of her?”

More tears came out of my eyes. They jumped off my cheeks and landed on my nightgown.

“There, there, now, Bids. Gloria doesn’t know what all the fuss is about.” She slid her arms around my back and hugged me up tight. Her shirt smelled like nighttime. Then she let go. She patted at my pillow and smiled. Then behind her back she pulled Jenny the Head.

“You found her!”

“I did.”

“Thank you. I didn’t know where I lost her to.”

“She was in with the laundry, Bids. Honestly, you can’t keep track of nothing.”

I held Jenny the Head. I sniffed her hair.

“But I’m not mad, though. I can’t be mad, darling. Want to know why?”

I nodded.

“I borrowed Mrs. Murtry’s car again and took a lovely drive. Belinda’s such a kind lady, she didn’t mind at all. And it was wonderful, Bids. Really great to clear my head. I played some radio and had the windows down. Air rushed in and it all smelled so fresh.” Gloria reached for the bottle full of syrup. “I don’t think I’ve been that calm in a long, long time. It made me feel full up inside. Doing something just for me.” She poured green into my nighttime spoon. Then put it in my mouth. “Every drop,” she said. “Down the hatch.”

I swallowed. I could feel it spreading across my ribs. All that green was good for me. It tasted like mint. Not peppermint but that other kind. I sneezed twice.

“You were so late,” I told her.

“I’m sorry if you thought that. I really am.” She put the cap back on the bottle, grabbed my hand. “We’re like two halves of a snap, Bids. Sometimes apart, but meant to stay together.”

I smiled some more.

“I’m the most important person in your life, you know. No matter what.”

“I know,” I whispered.

“Tell me you love me best.”

“I love you, Gloria. I do.” Tears came out again. I couldn’t keep them inside. I loved Gloria so much it made me shake.

“There,” she said. “There. Time to sleep.”