I hurried off the couch and onto Randi’s front porch, dragging a blanket behind me. In her four-hundred-square-foot apartment, you could talk from one corner to the other in a normal speaking voice and not miss a single word. I didn’t want to wake her up.

I answered John’s call on the first ring. “Johnnie!” I pulled the blanket around my shoulders to keep out the chill. Georgia was warmer than NC, but it was still 2:00 a.m. at the end of October, and I was in pajamas. Definitely blanket-worthy circumstances.

“It’s good to hear your voice,” he said. “How are you?”

I couldn’t stop smiling. It had been way too long since we’d last spoken. “I’m so good. How are you? How’s work?”

“Hard. But rewarding. I scrubbed in on an intrauterine fetal surgery today. Fixed a baby’s heart before she’s even been born. It was amazing.”

“I can imagine. Are these generally the hours you keep? I can set my alarm for 2:00 a.m. if it means you’ll be able to call me more.”

“That’s a decent plan. I’m still at the hospital even now. With surgery scheduled first thing in the morning, it seems silly to go home.”

“At least go stand on the roof and get a little sunshine.”

“I miss the North Carolina sunshine. Feels like there isn’t as much of it up here.”

“So come home! Are you coming for Thanksgiving?”

“I’m going to try.”

“Abuela’s coming. Mom bought her ticket already.”

“Ahhh,” John groaned. “I guess I’ll be there for sure, then.”

“Why don’t you sound excited?”

“I got a voice mail from cousin Armando.”

“Is that Valeria’s son?”

“Mm-hmm. He lives in Arecibo right across from Abuela, and he’s very concerned about her making the trip.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

“It’s her health. That’s why he called me. She had a series of ministrokes a few months back. She’s been fine, but they’re all worried about the strain of travel.”

“Does Mom know about this?”

“Not yet. Armando sent me her doctor’s information, and I took the liberty of calling this afternoon to get a doctor-to-doctor opinion. While she advised against it, she was encouraged by the prospect of me being with Abuela and just suggested we take it really easy and make sure she gets plenty of rest during her stay.”

I heaved out a sigh. “I just talked to her a few days ago.”

“How did she sound?”

“Great. Excited. Maybe a little tired, but she’s eighty-four. I guess I expect her to sound a little tired.”