Leave him to me." Gleams of this feeling came in his eyes.

It showed now and then so openly that even Joe took notice.

He stopped bringing his partner home, and he drew closer to Ethel now, as together they cherished the memory of the woman who was gone.
And slowly, in this companionship, this loneliness, this quiet, Joe grew very real to her, and appealing in his grief.

Everything else seemed so remote--but he was close.

"He needs me." It was a bright spot in the dark.