Vera laughed gently. “I think you were in worse shape than I was. You know, I had a sense that you were almost out of energy when you got into the car. I think I can sense that sort of thing—since Venn worked with me.” These last words were spoken a bit stiffly. Garner caught the meaning.
“Sorry, Vera—for leaving you out of things, I mean.”
“Well, someone thought I was worthy.”
“Vera!”
“Okay. Apology accepted.” Then she added, as if unable stop herself, “You know, Garner, I think you think your desire to protect me is chivalrous, but really, it’s a kind of sexism, you know that?”
Garner held in his reaction to this, and considered it purely as an abstract thesis.
“Really? I mean, do you really want to be treated just like ‘one of the guys’? It’s dangerous, Vera. Sorry! But I find it
