I smiled through my tears.
“He asked me not to give you this until after his funeral.”
I didn’t open it there.
***
That evening I carried the envelope to the little park across from my apartment.
I opened it slowly.
Inside wasn’t a letter.
Just a folded sheet of notebook paper.
I didn’t open it there.
A list.
Botanical Garden
Farmers’ Market
Ice cream from Oakridge Street
Feed the ducks even if they ignore you
I laughed before I realized tears were already rolling down my face.
Feed the ducks even if they ignore you.
At the very bottom he’d written: “Ordinary Tuesdays are where life quietly hides.”
I looked around the park.
Children were chasing pigeons.
Someone walked a sleepy golden retriever.
An elderly couple argued cheerfully over a crossword puzzle.
Life hadn’t paused.
Only I had.
Life hadn’t paused.
***
The following Tuesday, I went to the botanical garden.
Afterward I wandered through the farmers’ market. Bought peaches I didn’t really need.
Then drove to the little ice cream stand on Oakridge Street.
Vanilla.
Thomas had guessed correctly.
