I opened it slowly.
Inside wasn’t a letter.
Just a folded sheet of notebook paper.
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 streaming down my face.
At the very bottom, he had 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 cheerfully argued over a crossword puzzle.
Life hadn’t paused.
Only I had.
The following Tuesday, I went to the botanical garden.
Afterward, I wandered through the farmers’ market and bought peaches I didn’t really need.
Then I drove to the little ice cream stand on Oakridge Street.
Vanilla.
Thomas had guessed correctly.
It was my favorite.
On the way home, I stopped beside the lake.
The ducks ignored me completely.
