Nine miles away as the crow flies, Lizzie Fox was holding her husband’s hand in her left hand while her right caressed his cheek. “Joe says he is kicking me out of here and I can’t come back till dinnertime, so I guess I have to go. They have plans for you now that you’re in this private room. I don’t know exactly what that means, and I’m not even going to ask,” Lizzie said as she felt the cell phone in her pocket vibrate. Well, whoever it was would just have to wait. Saying good-bye to her husband was more important than any incoming text.

“Joe said you can get out of that snazzy gown they have you in and into your own pajamas. I’ll bring them when I come back. He said I could bring you your pillow, too, if you want it. I know you must have missed that pillow. Just blink for yes.” Cosmo blinked.

Lizzie looked around to see Dr. Joe Wylie standing in the corner, waiting for her to say her emotional good-bye and not wanting to intrude. He smiled from ear to ear, and in that instant Lizzie knew it really was safe to leave her husband. She leaned over and kissed Cosmo’s cheek, nibbled on his ear, then planted an earthshaking kiss full on her husband’s lips. “Time to go,” she trilled as she literally ran from the room.

The moment Lizzie settled herself behind the wheel, she realized she felt wonderful. She was tired, but that was okay. Yes, she was sleepy, but that was okay too. Yes, she longed for a nice hot shower, and yes, she longed to slide under her thousand-thread count sheets, but at that moment nothing felt as good as it felt sitting here in her car and knowing her husband was going to be okay and the wonderful life they shared would continue. “Thank you, God!” she said over and over as she inched her way out of the parking lot and onto the highway, where she finally noticed the low-lying fog. She clicked on the special fog lights and followed the traffic.