GETTING READY FOR CHICAGO

I hate packing. I look at the suits, the shirts, the ties I set aside with frustration. And casual clothes, I need some more of those. I look around the closet and give up. I think I’ve got most of it together. Where is Nicole anyway? It is almost 9pm. I need her to do this for me. I search for my cellphone.

“Hi, Sweetheart. You okay? Where are you?”

“Hi. I had to go to the hospital to check on a patient.”

I can hear the clips of tension, “Everything okay? You sound stressed and tired.”

“Yeah, I am. But she is fine, I got it under control.”

“You want me to start making you something to eat?”

“No, I had something already. Just warm the bed for me so I can crash. I’m about 30 minutes away.”

“You’ve got it. Be careful. See you soon. I love you.”

“I love you too. Bye, Darling.”

If we get to bed tonight before midnight it’d be the first this whole week. I pull the covers back and give everything an extra pull to straigh…