PART 38
When Lily turned one, Noah came to her birthday.
He brought a red-and-yellow toy airplane.
He held her awkwardly.
She grabbed his nose.
He laughed.
For one second, I saw Mark so clearly in his face that I had to turn
away.
Noah noticed.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
This time, I meant it.
PART 39
That evening, we played Mark’s first-birthday recording for Lily.
She did not understand a word.
She slapped the speaker and laughed whenever her father’s voice came
out.
Noah sat beside me.
Mark said:
Hi, Lily.
I hope you have your mother’s common sense.
If you have mine, I apologize in advance.
Noah laughed.
“So he knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That he was an idiot sometimes.”
I smiled.
“Eventually.”
PART 40
Years later, Lily asked me why her father became an organ donor.
I could have given her the beautiful version.
Because he was generous.
