Page 161 of The Promise Of Rain

I could have closed, nobody would have questioned, but I needed to punch my hands into the dough and recreate the magic Ansel had taught me so many years before.

It was a shame for it to go to waste, so I opened the store for a few short hours both days.

On the day of the funeral, I closed.

Ansel’s funeral was beautiful.Walking into the church with Deacon and Darlene, my knees nearly buckled at the sight.

Pink roses, and only pink roses, everywhere.

Even his casket had a strip of pink around it, and a huge spray of pink roses over it.

“Looks like he was intent on making a statement,” Deacon murmured, his hold on me tight.

“He loved you so much, honey,” Darlene murmured, dabbing her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief.“Said you turned his life from grey to pink.”

Everyone who had read his obituary turned and stared at me as we walked in.

Faces that had been stern and unforgiving now softened.

Ansel’s final parting gift.

Since Deacon showed up at my apartment the day Ansel passed, we spent every minute together, asleep or awake.

One thing we didn’t do was talk.

With Ansel’s death, I’d almost taken a step back, loathe to leave the safe space he’d given me.

Deacon didn’t quibble; he simply packed up his clothes and moved into the apartment.

When Ansel’s lawyer called for an appointment, Deacon came with me.

As I suspected, I inherited everything save a donation to Hope’s Place.

And the letter Ansel left me penned in his shaky hand.

Unable to face it, I tucked it away in my purse.

It wasn’t until the next day when Deacon had a follow-up appointment at the bank that I opted to stay home.I sat down at my kitchen table and smoothed the paper out in front of me.

Dear Jenny,

First, I’m sorry, so sorry to leave you.It’s the last thing I ever wanted to do, but time waits for no man.

Everything in this world that was mine is now yours.It’s nowhere near enough to match the joy you brought when you turned this old man’s grey world pink.

Back to the issue of time and her impatience: embrace the storms, Jenny.They bring the rain, and the rain promises growth and beauty and life.

All the things you deserve.

Please, if your old man can ask one last favour of you, look after my Darlene.

While it’s true she’s partial to your brownies, if you really want to make her smile, bring her a batch of your oatmeal raisin cookies.

She thinks the oatmeal makes them healthy and allows her to indulge.I want that for her.

She’s the love I never expected to find, and a staunch supporter of you and that grumpy bear you fell in love with so long ago.

He shared his plans with me.I want you to know you both have my blessing.