Nate blocked out the world as he knelt before his wife, and a calm came over him. Perhaps this was Madison’s way of helping him through the tough times; perhaps it was simply a form of meditation he’d picked up over the years. It didn’t really matter. He always felt better after coming here.

When he heard the sound of an uneven gait approaching, he didn’t need to open his eyes to know who it was. “Good morning, Mrs. Jacobsen.”

“Good morning, dear boy. I’ve brought more daisies for your Madison.”

Nate opened his eyes and was surprised by how much brighter the day had already gotten. Mrs. Jacobsen was wearing her customary black and clutching a handful of ragged daisies in her swollen, arthritic hands.

He took the daisies and laid them on Madison’s grave. “Thank you.”

Mrs. Jacobsen began digging in her purse. “And a nice young man asked me to give you something else.”

Nate’s senses went on high alert. “A young man?”

“Yes, he came by the retirement home and said that you and he were friends. He said he was leaving for… well, now that I think on it, I don’t recall where he said he was off to. Just that he said he owed a debt or something and this would settle things.” The sound of loose change rattling in her purse was interrupted by her exclamation. “Oh, here it is.” She pulled out a USB stick and handed it to Nate.

He looked at it, bewildered. “Do you know what this is?”

“No, not at all.”

“Mrs. Jacobsen, can you describe who it was that gave this to you? Did he give a name? How’d he know you were going to see me?”

“Well… he was dressed like he was going on a vacation. He had sunglasses and a Bermuda hat that was quite dashing.” Her wrinkles deepened as she scrunched up her face in concentration. “Oh, I must be going senile, or maybe I’m just a goofy old broad. I don’t think he gave me his name. He sure knew who you were, though. Described you to a T, he did. And he knew you’d be at Madison’s side this morning. Bless me, but that’s not so hard to predict, now is it?” She smiled. “What is this thing that’s so important? He even gave me twenty dollars to make sure I’d deliver it. I tried to say no of course, but he insisted.”

Nate smiled. “Well, I’m just glad that he got it back to me. Thank you for delivering it. How are you feeling this morning?”