She wanted a bath. No, that wasn’t right. She needed to feel warm water around her so she could think. She had removed a lot of stitches from animals, and taking them out of her own leg couldn’t be a bit different. She went to the utility closet where Cody stored all his supplies, and found a disposable suture removal kit. In no time at all, she had removed the stitches, and the little black spider-looking things were lying on the vanity. The tub was nearly full, so she turned off the faucet and sunk down into the warm water.

“I will never take a bath for granted again,” she said with a long sigh.

She vowed that before she got out, she would have her mind made up about Australia. She would tell Cody about the offer and her decision over supper. Maybe then she would have some peace.

“We can see if a long-distance relationship can work,” she said. “We would have two weeks before I have to leave, and I’m talking to myself again.”

That comes from being an only child, the voice in her head whispered.

Was that what had defined everything about her? she wondered. Including her problem with making a decision. Growing up, she hadn’t made friends very easily, especially after being made fun of by her classmates. In college, she had been of those nerdy students who studied all the time and didn’t have time for close friendships.

The water turned lukewarm and then downright chilly, but she refused to get out of the tub until she had made up her mind. Finally, when she was covered in goose bumps, she admitted complete failure and flipped the lever at the end of the tub with her toes to let the water out.

When she was dressed in warm sweats and had brushed her wet hair out, she left the bedroom. She was surprised to see that Cody had set the table. She hadn’t heard him come in. He had poured two glasses of sweet tea, and when she made it across the living area to the kitchen, she noticed he had already made each of them a salad. Now, he was busy slicing a loaf of homemade bread, most likely sent down from Pearl and Sonny’s house.

“Are you in a better mood?” Cody asked.

“What makes you think I’ve been in a bad mood?” She brought butter and salad dressings from the refrigerator.

“You’ve been all buttoned up and refusing to talk to me,” he answered. “What’s on your mind, Stevie? Are you tired of living here with me? Tired of being around people all the time? Do you want to move out, and you don’t want to tell me?” He brought the platter with the roast, potatoes, and carrots all arranged beautifully on it to the table and went back for the basket of bread.