Mel is such a relief because she a) likes his default and b) just doesn’t guard that kind of thing.

It all goes fairly well all through spring, summer and fall, but Pittsburgh winters are no joke and while sleeping in his car most days had been killing his back all along, the additional cold is hard on him when winter rolle around. He tries to do as many double shifts as he can, because the few hours sleep in the warm hospital bed are a huge reprieve, but it also means he and his strained body are exposed to more patients.

It’s only a matter of time before he gets miserably sick. Still, he keeps on working with a mask on, because being sick and cold in his car is worse and he needs to get better fast because he’s meant to have the kids later in the week.

Mel, who isn’t sleeping with anyone, and probably could have led with that, but was too surprised to think to do so, responds with an unfortunate “Who is your husband?”

Abby tells her and the implication that she might be sleeping with Frank makes Mel flush, but at least she knows who she’s talking to now. “Definitely not! Sorry, that came out too derogatory. Your husband’s very nice and very handsome, but he talks about Tanner and Penny all the…” and Mel blacks out for approximately 30 seconds under Abby’s stern gaze, saying nothing incriminating, but being deeply off-putting to this very polished neurotypical woman.