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again. Samantha picked up her nail file from the nightstand and started smoothing her fingernails.
    “So when are you going to see her?
    “I thought I’d go by her dad’s place tomorrow morning. Noel said the doctors might release Will as early as the afternoon or Wednesday at the latest.”
    “Close call.”
    “It was a close call, and absolutely miraculous how they were able to reverse a dire situation when he got to the hospital.”
    “Are you going to call her first?”
    “I don’t know yet. I think the first time I talk to her I’d like us to be in the same room.”
    “That’s probably best.”
    “What are you going to say?” Christina asked.
    “I don’t know. I feel like she’s been on a long cruise and she’s coming into port for a few days. I just want to make the most of that time. What about you?”
    “I’ll pray about it,” Christina said. “I want to spend some time with Emma to see how she’s doing emotionally … and spiritually.”
    “That’s the counselor in you.”
    Christina was quiet on the other end of the phone. Samantha could always tell when she was thinking.
    “I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always sensed there’s something broken in Emma. Something made her go away. I’d just like to know if she’s found peace.”
    “One thing’s for sure, she has some awfully good friends and doesn’t know how lucky she is.”
    “Maybe that should be our prayer,” Christina said. “That Emma discovers how loved she is.”
    The two women said their good nights.
    Christina shut off her phone and held it against her chest, lost in thought. Inside her house it was dark except for a delicate string of dewdrop lights tucked beneath the cupboards in the kitchen and the antique Tiffany lamp in the entryway. She had finished writing for the day. The evening promised a long bath and reading a good book in bed. The phone rang in her hand while she was carrying it back to its dock.
    “Hey, sorry for calling so late, but remember how you said you wanted me to start calling you more for no reason? Well, I’m calling.”
    Christina smiled. “Bo, you are getting major points for this. See, and all that time I thought you weren’t listening to me, you were taking notes.”
    Christina turned and walked up the stairway.
    “I like working under the radar of your low expectations. That way, whatever happens, you’re surprised and happy about it.”
    “I am surprised and happy by your phone call. I was just thinking about you, and wondering how your night was going.”
    Christina stepped into her bedroom, a comfortable place lit only by soft yellow light from her bedside lamp. Music drifted in quietly from an alarm clock radio.
    “I’ve decided that Sunday night is a lonely night, Christina.”
    “Aww, why is that?”
    “Well, think about it. Sunday night knows all about the fun Saturday night’s had. Saturday night’s been bragging about all the date nights, movies, and dinners out. Friday night’s been yucking it up too, showing off just because he gets to go out and have fun. But Sunday night, all he gets out of the deal is missing you.”
    Christina sat on the embroidered quilt she’d just bought, ran her fingers across the fine rouge needlepoint and smoothed the wrinkles atop her bed. The quilt was a reward she promised herself if she reached her professional goal for the summer. Tulsa, the weekend before, was speaking engagement number ten.
    “Hmm … sounds like we need to do something for Sunday night. I feel sorry and understand now why he’s so lonesome. I think my Sunday night has been saying something like that to me, too.”
    “Maybe we should let them spend some time together. You know, let my Sunday night go out with your Sunday night? Just see how it goes.”
    “I miss you, Bo.”
    Christina laid her head against one of the decorative pillows her mother had bought her for the bed. She loved hearing his words, loved his thoughtful phone calls. More than anything,