Jim and Sarah sat on their bed folding laundry. Sarah folded a towel and put it on the already leaning stack of towels she was working on.
“Are we sure she’s good to drive?” Sarah asked. “I mean, I know the doctor cleared her for all activities, but are we sure? What if she starts to feel bad on the way?”
“Then she’ll pull over and call, and I’ll go get her,” Jim said, and his calm tone reassured her. “She’s fine, though. She’s recovered well, and it’s been three weeks. She says she feels better than before surgery. We can’t keep her locked in the house forever. The only way she gets back to normal activities is to get back to them. That means we have to let her.” He handed a dishcloth over and Sarah started a new stack.
“I know. I just worry. But if you think she’s okay…”
“I know she’s okay.” He put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “We always worry, and she always proves us wrong. Every time we think we have a reason to hold her back, she thrives. It’s what she does. She’ll be okay. And I know she knows what to do if she decides she’s not okay.”
“Okay. We let her go then.” Sarah rearranged the towels and picked up a stack, getting up to put them in the master bathroom. She was still unsure, but was somewhat comforted by her husband’s words.
“Bye, guys, I’m leaving, and I have my phone. I’ll call as soon as I pull in Isaac’s driveway!” Carissa shouted from the living room.
“Bye! We love you!” Sarah yelled back, heading back into the bedroom to sit next to Jim and fold more laundry.
And Carissa was on her first outing since surgery.
“See? Wasn’t that easy?” Jim teased, poking Sarah lightly in the ribs.
“No,” Sarah replied, swatting him off playfully.
“She’ll be fine. We’re watching from this end, and you know Isaac is on the lookout from his end. She’s covered.”
“Okay. I’ll try to relax.” But Sarah didn’t sound very convincing. There weren’t enough towels in the world to fold to keep her mind off letting Carissa go.