They talk awhile longer before Dr. Tithing announces that he has to be going.
     "It was a pleasure, Ms. Gardenia," he says, extending his hand.
     Melinda takes it with a smile. "Please call me Melinda, Doctor."
     "Ok, Melinda," he smiles. "I'll be by tomorrow evening to check in on your grandmother. Monitor her and if you notice anything unusual, give me a call."
     "I'll do that," she says softly.
     "Goodnight then. Take care of yourself."
     "Goodnight," she says.
     She sits down on the bench, watching as he gets into his car. He knows she is watching, and he waves as he drives away. She raises her hand to wave back. Her mind is a jumble of thoughts... her grandmother's illness, how she needed to take care of her, Dr. Tithing's piercing dark eyes...
     She shakes her head, laughing quietly at her foolishness. She had seen the wedding ring on his left hand, and even if he wasn't married, the last thing she needed was a romance. Things were complicated enough.
     She breaks out of her reverie and goes upstairs to check on her grandmother before retiring to bed. Dr. Tithing is the last thing on her mind.