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or two. I guess that it can wait.”
    “Now I’m curious, tell me.”
    “I don’t think this is a good time.”
    “Please.”
    “Well, as you know, I flew down for the meeting of the school’s board of governors’ midyear meeting. My assumption was that things would go on as usual for the second semester as the board searched for a new headmaster. But things have suddenly changed.”
    “How so?”
    “There was concern about not having a strong educational leader, someone with a name and track record, in place as soon as possible. The board is worried about recruitment and retaining students for the next school year. In this economy, all the private schools are battling to hold their enrollments,” Sarah paused.
    “And?…” Ray prodded.
    “Well,” she started slowly, “one of the board members, Bob Houghton, had heard about a retired headmaster from a prestigious east coast prep school who had decided to come back into the job market. He had retired a few years ago at fifty-five, only to have his 401(k)s tank. The man has an outstanding record as an education leader and fundraiser. He’s been offered a three-year contract, and he’s starting now.”
    “That’s probably a good thing, isn’t it? It will take some pressure off you.”
    Sarah squeezed his hand tighter. “Well, he’s bringing a couple of people with him, his own management team. That’s part of the deal. The board looks on this as a way to strengthen the school and make it more competitive.”
    “So what does that mean in terms of your position? You’ve got a contract, don’t you?”
    “I’m an at will employee.”
    “So you’re losing your job?”
    “Yes and no.”
    “I’m confused.”
    “So am I.   This is the hard part. My job at Leiston is going away. I’m being replaced by a member of the new management team. But I’ve been offered a new position by the board’s chair. She is a senior partner in a Chicago law firm, and they’re in need of an office manager. And it’s one of those offers that’s, well, hard not to consider. It’s more than three times my salary at Leiston, excellent medical and retirement benefits, and they’ve offered to rent me an apartment close to the office. And as you know, my Eric is starting law school in the fall. This will give me a way to help support him so he doesn’t have a huge debt when he graduates. And they’ve sweetened the pot by saying that they’ll give Eric a summer job while he’s in law school.”
    Ray lay there and absorbed the information. Before he could say anything a young woman came into the room, introduced herself as the night nurse, and wrote her first name, Kate , on the white board on the wall facing his bed.
    Sarah went to the foot of the bed as the nurse checked his temperature and blood pressure and reminded him to hit the call button if he needed anything. Then she left them alone again.
    “What does this mean in terms of us?” Ray asked.
    “I don’t know,” said Sarah, coming to the side of the bed and taking his hand again. “This is all happening so quickly. I didn’t want to tell you this way. I was hoping for a quiet evening where I could…well, it will be hard. I’m struggling with this decision.” She was silent for several minutes. “I’m sorry I had to break this to you under these conditions. It’s just that I have to fly back to Chicago tomorrow, so I needed to explain to you what was going on and why I won’t be around for a few days.”
    “So you’ve settled on this. You’re moving?” Ray asked.
    “I can see no other way. You know what the job market is like. What’s the possibility that I could find something up here with a decent salary and benefits?”
    Ray considered the question, but didn’t respond. He knew she was right.
    “I should go and let you rest,” said Sarah. She bent forward, kissed him gently on the lips, squeezed his hand a final time and pulled away. She moved toward the door, looked back briefly, and