French Braid

David is the protagonist in Chapter 8, which takes place in Philadelphia during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. David recently retired at 68. Greta had retired years earlier. Emily is an emergency-room physician. Their son, Nicholas, is married to a physician, Juana; they live in New York City with their five-year-old son, Benny. The pandemic makes it impossible for Juana to be present physically with Nicholas and Benny. Nicholas calls David to ask if he and Benny can stay with them during the pandemic. David responds, “Your mother’s already headed out the front to watch for your car” (219).

David and Greta prepare their house. Benny will stay in Nicholas’s old bedroom. Nicholas, an inventor, needs an Internet workspace. David plants a garden, using already-blooming plants. When Greta says Benny would rather have seen the plants break the ground, David replies, “Well, at least it’s something he and I can do together” (221). Greta confronts David about his fretfulness: He had been fearful that he would not be a good father, and Greta reminds him of how well it worked out and that he underestimates himself. David reminisces about meeting Greta. After months of working together, he looked at her during a chance conversation and suddenly recognized she was a remarkable person.