My jeans slid to the floor as I undressed, absently hopping on one foot to pull the tight cuff from around my foot. I left the light off, the faint glow from the bathroom across the hall casting

illumination under my closed door more than enough to see by. Mind on other things-like how best to make sure this string of good luck with Mom and GreatGram continued-the rattle of something falling to the hardwood floor just at the border of my fluffy area rug caught me by ...