We were ready to roll down the hall. I poked my head into Mr. Gravely’s room, and he held up his arms for a hug. It was hard not to cry a few happy tears. I unfolded my crossword puzzle for Miss Shelton on our last stop, where Kait and I had an arrangement allowing me to stay for twenty minutes or so.

“Today’s puzzle really has me stumped,” I began, “and if you could help me out, I’d appreciate it.”

Miss Shelton sat up straighter and smiled. “What do we have? Is there a theme to this one?”

“No, that’s why it’s frustrating me. Okay, one across, four letters: Streisand to friends.”

It took her two seconds. “Babs.”

“Forty-six across, six letters: Serengeti scavengers.”

“Hyenas.”

“Ten down, four letters: bassoon’s kin.”

“Oboe.”

We completed the entire puzzle in record time and I hugged Miss Shelton and thanked her before leaving. “I’ll see you tomorrow. You have everything you need?”

“I sure do. I love you, Ronni.”

“I love you, too.”

Kait grinned at me across the nurse’s station. “That is so sweet of you, Ronni, especially since I know you can do those things in pen. In the dark. With your toes.”

“It makes me as happy as it does her,” I answered. “It’s good to be back.”

I had to make the weekly trudge through Walmart on the way home, the only choice for discerning shoppers who need cat food, soft socks, a heavy-duty staple gun, fabric, popsicles, lettuce and toilet paper. Rick and I were going to re-upholster my kitchen chairs on Saturday, after much discussion and a few YouTube tutorials.

I was sidetracked by a baffling array of canned black beans when a cute guy, dressed in camouflage pants and hat, approached me―presumably straight from a duck blind or deer stand. “Excuse me,” he said, “Is your name Sherrie?”

“No, it’s not.” I smiled and shook my head.

“Oh, my bad, my bad. I’m sorry.” He waved his arms and backed away with a grin.

Five minutes later he turned up in the frozen food aisle. “Excuse me, but is your name Laurel?”

I laughed softly. “No, it’s not.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” He grinned sheepishly and walked off.

And there he was again in the checkout line.

“Excuse me...”

“Are you still trying to guess my name?”

“No.” He paused and looked into my eyes. “I was just wondering if you’d go out with me sometime.”

“I have a boyfriend. But thanks.” I began unloading my cart and looked back up as he said, “It’s just you’re so beautiful. Of course you have a boyfriend. I’m sorry. You don’t see women like you in Walmart. I had to ask.”

“Yeah, well, I may be a Walmart nine but I’m a Neiman Marcus five.” I winked at him.

“A nee-who?”