was eighty years young, a longtime widower, and the best neighbor Claire and David could have asked for, always quick to lend a hand.
He wiped his brow with his arm. “Still trying to figure out Florida gardening. I swear, as much as I love living down here, I miss that rich Ohio soil. But I wouldn’t trade this weather for the world.”
“That makes two of us.” She held up the brown bag. “I brought you your favorite biscuit. Bacon, egg, cheese, and avocado.”
“You’re a doll, Claire. I swear your place makes the best in town.” He pushed himself up slowly and dusted the dirt off his knees. “How’s the moving coming?”
“It’s pretty much done. Just a few odds and ends left.” She wouldn’t dare mention the one room left untouched. There were many reasons why she hadn’t entered David’s office since the day he died, but those excuses expired today. She could see in her mind’s eye the doorknob that often haunted her dreams.
Hal reached for the bag with one of his shaky hands and smiled with all the kindness in the world. “Will you let me pay you this time?”
She returned her warmest smile, thinking he was one of the good ones, a reminder of the light at the end of the tunnel. “Don’t be silly.” She watched a green anole lizard climb up the A/C unit on the side of the house. “So how’s your heart?”
“Still ticking.”
“C’mon, Hal, don’t sugarcoat things. What did the doctor say?”
Hal sighed. “I’m approaching the end stage, Claire.”
“Oh, Hal.” Claire choked up. She didn’t know what was worse: dying slowly, or the flick of a switch, like David’s death.
“It’s nothing to be sad about. Truly.” His hand holding the brown bag was shaking. He looked up to the sky. “Soon, I’ll be with Ruby, dancing up high.”
Claire took a step forward, holding back tears. “What can I do for you? I’m serious. If you need a ride to the doctor or an errand run, please call me.”
“I will, Claire. Please don’t worry about me. How are you doing with all this, by the way? I can only imagine saying goodbye to your house isn’t easy.”
Claire took a moment to change gears. “Selling the house has brought it all back, honestly. I wish I could be stronger sometimes.” She paused, swallowing her sadness. “I just need to close my eyes and channel my inner Hal whenever times get tough.”
He sprayed off his hands with the garden hose. “Let me tell you something, if you’ll allow an old man to pass along the small bit of wisdom I’ve collected.”
“If you tell me time heals all, I might just throw myself into the water, Hal.”
A quick headshake as he dried his hands with his shirt. “No, I’m not going to tell you time heals all. The one thing I know for sure, Claire, is that life demands that we get back up and keep fighting, no matter how badly we’ve been knocked down. I’m going down swinging.” He opened up the brown bag. “And now I’m going to eat a biscuit.”
She smiled. “I’m so lucky you’re in my life.”
Hal peeled back the foil on the overstuffed biscuit and prepared to take a bite. “I’m the lucky one. And you know what makes me happier than anything?”
“What’s that?”
“Seeing the fight in your eyes, the way you’re coming back. David would be proud of you, kid.” He took a bite and wiped his mouth. “Oh boy, this alone is worth sticking around for.”
Claire sat with Hal on the back porch while he ate his biscuit and then left him to work on his tomato plants. Walking along the seawall, she crossed into the Bermuda grass of her own backyard, glancing at the pool where she’d once imagined future children splashing about. She looked left to the dock that stretched out into the bay, where those same children were supposed to catch their first fish. She had always sworn that she’d be a great mom, that she’d make up for her own mother’s failures. Never had she considered she might not get the chance.
Deciding she wanted one last look from the end of the dock, Claire worked her way down the planks, breathing in the memories. When she and David had realized they weren’t able to have children, they’d bought a boat, something to do with their time. They’d kept it tied to this dock, a twenty-three-foot center console Sea Ray, and in some ways it had saved their