Then I crossed the street.
Walter opened the door almost immediately.
He was wearing slippers.
His cap was in his hand again.
For some reason, that nearly made me laugh.
“I’m still angry.”
“I know.”
“Don’t say that.”
He nodded.
“Sorry.”
“I don’t forgive you.”
“I understand.”
“Not completely.”
“Yes.”Rings
I pulled out the gold ring.
Walter stared at it.
“But I read everything.”
His eyes filled.
“And you answered the question I’ve had for fifty-five years.”
He waited.
“Thomas wasn’t alone.”
“No.”
“He remembered me.”
“Yes.”
“He loved me.”
“Until the end.”
I swallowed.
“You were the one he trusted with that.”
Walter’s face crumpled.
“I failed.”
“Yes.”
He looked down.
“But you carried him too.”
Walter started crying.
I held out the gold ring.
“Put it on.”
He stared at me.
“What?”
“Beside the copper one.”
His hands started shaking.
“Margaret.”
