That was all just a dream, but here she was, on his couch, stretched out on her back with her eyes closed, shaking with fear and needing him—the baby bear come to life.

“I think I have to go to the hospital,” Elizabeth said, jarring Phil back to reality.

Slowly, she stood up on her own, using the arm of the couch for balance. She walked to the door, nodding to Phil as a signal that he should follow. He obeyed, grabbing the keys to his Durango and moving out to the hallway, where he waited for her to go into her apartment to grab her wallet and jacket.

The ride to the hospital was a short one; the emergency room was just down the street. Elizabeth kept her eyes closed and her hands on her stomach as they drove the short distance. When they arrived, Elizabeth was wheeled away, and Phil was comforted by nurses who assumed he was her boyfriend. He took on the responsibility proudly, answering as many questions as he could, pretending he knew more about Elizabeth than he did.

He read magazines in the waiting area until a nurse took him aside and explained that Elizabeth had developed a serious kidney infection that should have been treated days ago. It could be cured with antibiotics, but she would spend the rest of the night in the hospital. He would be able to pick her up in the morning. The nurse asked that he clear his Saturday to watch over her.

The request delighted Phil. He stopped into Elizabeth’s room that night, just before he left the hospital, and told her he’d be back for her in the morning. Elizabeth opened her eyes and smiled. She asked softly, “Phil, do you mind calling Elana tonight? Will you tell her I need her to come back early from her parents’ to help me tomorrow? I’ll give you her cell phone number.”

Phil frowned, angry that Elana might take his place during the recovery process. “Yeah—I’ll call her,” he said, programming the digits into his phone just before patting Elizabeth’s hand and making his way to the door.

When he arrived back at the building, he followed Elizabeth’s instructions and called Elana with the news.

Elana’s reacted to Elizabeth’s health problem so loudly that Phil moved the phone receiver away from his ear.

“Oh! My! God!” she yelled. “Is she okaaay?”

“She’s fine. She just wants you to know. If you’re stuck at home for Thanksgiving, don’t worry. I can watch out for her tomorrow. I’m not going anywhere.”

“That is sooo nice of you,” Elana had said. “And here I always thought you were an asshole,” she continued, before letting out one of her signature menacing giggles. “You sure you can watch her until Sunday? I won’t be home until Sunday night.”

“Of course,” Phil said confidently, pleased that Elana didn’t put up a fight.

The following twenty-four hours made up what was probably the best day Phil had experienced in a number of years. He picked Elizabeth up from the emergency room and brought her back to their building, where he bundled her up on his couch. She seemed effortlessly comfortable there, despite the fact that they barely knew each other. He ordered wraps from the Middle Eastern place down the street and told her they could watch anything she wanted on television, which turned out to be repeats of Sex and the City. That destroyed Phil a bit. He hated that show, especially the way the characters always said “meanwhile.”