I placed fresh flowers beside Frank’s grave and carefully lowered myself onto the nearby bench.
Benny settled against my shoe.
“You missed quite a day yesterday,” I said.
The breeze moved softly through the grass.
“I nearly got thrown out of a café. I met a decent man. I watched an engagement fall apart. And somehow I still ended up getting lunch.”
I smiled.
“You would’ve hated the part where I almost fainted.”
Benny nudged my ankle.
I looked down at him.
“And you would’ve absolutely loved this little troublemaker.”
For eighteen months, I’d visited Frank’s grave and told him how much I missed him.
That morning, I told him something different.
“I stood up for myself yesterday.”
Benny pressed closer to my leg.
“Not especially gracefully, but I did it.”
I rested my hand against his back.
“I think you would’ve been proud of me.”
