WHEN ELAINE CAME IN from the gym, she saw Myrtle staring blankly at The Price is Right while she and Jack munched on animal crackers. Myrtle sighed. “You know, it’s way too easy to turn into a couch potato here. At home I’d find stuff to do. And, by the way, it looks like I’ll be back in there by this evening—the part they ordered came in and they installed it. I’m just waiting for the house to cool back down again.”
Elaine’s face was carefully and pleasantly neutral at the news that her mother-in-law would be packing up and heading home.
Myrtle said, “I know you just came in, but do you want to go back out again? Jack and I are bored silly. I thought maybe we could go shopping at the department store or something.”
“Sure. I just need to shower and change real quick. Did you need to sh
