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theyoungcanonlyguess.
KateandChriswerealwaystogether—inthediningroom,thelounge,strollingaroundthebigporchesandlawns,alwaysholdinghands.Aswestaffmembersateoureveningmeal,sometimesKateandChriswouldwalkslowlybythedining-roomdoors.Thenconversationwouldturntoadiscussionofthecouple'
sloveanddevotion,andwhatwouldhappenwhenoneofthemdied.WeknewChriswasthestrongone,andKatewasdependentuponhim.
HowwouldKatefunctionifChrisweretodiefirst?
Weoftenwondered.
Bedtimefollowedaritual.WhenIbroughttheeveningmedication,Katewouldbesittinginherchair,innightgownandslippers,awaitingmyarrival.UnderthewatchfuleyesofChrisandmyself,Katewouldtakeherpill,thencarefullyChriswouldhelpherfromthechairtothebedandtuckthecoversinaroundherfrailbody.
Observingthisactoflove,Iwouldthinkforthethousandthtime,goodheavens,whydon'
tnursinghomeshavedoublebedsformarriedcouples?
Alltheirlivestheyhaveslepttogether,butinanursinghome,they'
reexpectedtosleepinsinglebeds.Overnightthey'
redeprivedofacomfortofalifetime.
Howveryfoolishsuchpoliciesare,IwouldthinkasIwatchedChrisreachupandturnoffthelightaboveKate'
sbed.Thentenderlyhewouldbend,andtheywouldkissgently.Chriswouldpathercheek,andbothwouldsmile.Hewouldpullupthesiderailonherbed,andonlythenwouldheturnandaccepthisownmedication.AsIwalkedintothehall,IcouldhearChrissay,"
Goodnight,Kate,"
andherreturningvoice,"
Good-night,Chris,"
whilethespaceofanentireroomseparatedtheirtwobeds.
IhadbeenoffdutytwodaysandwhenIreturned,thefirstnewsIheardwas,"
Chrisdiedyesterdaymorning."
"
How?
Aheartattack.Ithappenedquickly."
How'
sKate?
Bad."
IwentintoKate'
sroom.Shesatinherchair,motionless,handsinherlap,staring.Takingherhandsinmine,Isaid,"
Kate,it'
sPhyllis."
Hereyesnevershifted;
sheonlystared.Iplacedmyhandunderherchinandslowlyturnedherheadsoshehadtolookatme.
Kate,IjustfoundoutaboutChris.I'
msosorry.
Attheword"
Chris"
hereyescamebacktolife.Shelookedatme,puzzled,asthoughwonderinghowIhadsuddenlyappeared."
sme,Phyllis.I'
msosorryaboutChris."
Recognitionandsadnessfloodedherface.Tearswelledupandsliddownhercheeks."
Chrisisgone,"
shewhispered.
Iknow,"
Isaid."
Iknow."
WepamperedKateforawhile,lettinghereatinherroom,surroundingherwithspecialattention.Thengraduallythestaffworkedherbackintotheoldschedule.Often,asIwentpastherroom,IwouldobserveKatesittinginherchair,scrapbooksonherlap,gazingsadlyatpicturesofChris.
BedtimewastheworstpartofthedayforKate.AlthoughshewasallowedtomovefromherbedtoChris'
sbed,andalthoughthestaffchattedandlaughedwithherastheytuckedherinforthenight,stillKateremainedsilentandsadlywithdrawn.Passingherroomanhouraftershehadbeentuckedin,I'
dfindherwideawake,staringattheceiling.
Theweekspassed,andbedtimewasn'
tanybetter.Sheseemedsorestless,soinsecure.Why?
Iwondered.Whythistimeofdaymorethantheotherhours?
ThenonenightasIwalkedintoherroom,onlytofindthesamewide-awakeKate,Isaidimpulsively,"
Kate,coulditbeyoumissyourgood-nightkiss?
Bendingdown,Ikissedherwrinkledcheek.
ItwasasthoughIhadopenedthefloodgates.Tearsrandownherface;
herhandsgrippedmine."
Chrisalwayskissedmegood-night,"
shecried.
Iwhispered.
Imisshimso,allthoseyearshekissedmegood-night."
ShepausedwhileIwipedthetears."
Ijustcan'
tseemtogotosleepwithouthiskiss."
Shelookedupatme,hereyesfulloftears."
Oh,thankyouforgivingmeakiss."
Asmallsmileturnedupthecornersofhermouth."
Youknow,"
shesaidconfidentially,"
Chrisusedtosingmeasong.
Hedid?
Yes,"
—herwhiteheadnodded—"
andIliehereatnightandthinkaboutit."
Howdiditgo?
Katesmiled,heldmyhandandclearedhe