“Thank you,” he said simply, the words carrying unexpected weight.

“She looks transformed.”

“Fresh air and new experiences,” I replied.

“Good for the soul at any age.”

Their new home revealed the extent of their downsizing—a modest but charming house on a street lined with mature maple trees.

No pretentious pillars or marble foyer, just a welcoming porch with a swing and flower boxes awaiting spring planting.