David thanked him. After he left, David called Lauren. She answered on the second ring, as if the phone had been in her hand.
"I'm all right," she said before he asked. "I'm not all right. I'm at the level of all right where I can speak in sentences."
"Emma says to tell you she is not putting the phone down anymore. She said I could quote her. I'm quoting her."
A sound came through the line that was almost a laugh. "Tell her I received the quote."
"I meant what I said in the kitchen. Not this year. I don't know about after. I don't want to lose you by inches or keep you by panic."