another restaurant , marked by an enormous metal counter , and two metal-backed chairs sitting side by side in a solid square of sunlight ; a hardware store ( `` saved our lives plenty of times '' ) . very good , the waiter said with a nod and a smile . he fought to ignore how good she felt beneath him . he 's not a 'thank you ' type of guy . do you think those doctor bills were cheap ? then , two days later , she died in her sleep . 