A Nurse Mentioned the Woman Visiting My Dying Husband—Then She Came to My Door With a Letter About a Five-Year-Old Boy

Later, I wrote the arrangement beside the others, leaving space for a backup rather than assuming nothing could change.

Sadie found me at the table and asked whether the list was for Daddy.

“No,” I said.

“It’s for us.”

She leaned against my shoulder.

“And the baby?”

“And the baby.”

I put the pen down and let her tell me about a picture she wanted to make.