i like helen a lot , and i want to do the right thing-you know i do-but something like this ... who knows what the right thing is '' ralph suddenly remembered what carolyn used to say whenever he started moaning and bitching about some chore he did n't want to do , some errand he did n't want to run , or some duty call he did n't want to make : it 's a long walk back to ed '' , sweetheart , so do n't sweat the small stuff he reached for the phone again , and this time when helen reached for his wrist , he pushed it away .