When I had quieted, she pulled me back from her shoulder and said, “I didn’t know you were so interested in my research, honey. Would you like to see what I’m doing these days?”
I looked at her in gratitude for the offer and shook my head slowly, saying, “I’d like to come, but you can see how bad Gino is. There’s no one else to take care of him. All of our friends are terrified of getting whatever he’s got. I’m sorry, I’d really like to go, but I can’t. He needs me, momma.”
She took my hand tenderly in her own and said, “Gino’s lucky to have a friend like you. I’ll tell you what, I’ll hire a nurse to come in and look out for Gino for an afternoon. Then you can come and see my laboratory. I want you to get out and get some sun. You look so pale.”