Epilogue

The grass crumpled under her feet, the frost making the morning brisk and chilly, even with the blue sky. No one else had braved the cold break of day except for Ruth, but she preferred it this way. Alone.

"Hi Harry," she said, her feet coming to their automatic stopping point as they so often had over the past few months. She put her single white rose on the grave and then ran her fingertips over the inscription slowly and reverently. In loving memory of Henry James Pearce. Loving father and grandfather and devoted husband. God she missed him. Even after six months of him being gone every single day was a struggle. Sometimes she wished that she didn't love him as much as she did. Then it wouldn't hurt so much.

"I miss you," she said. "We both knew it was likely to happen this way around, but I still wish I could have gone first. It's… not very nice, Harry. Being the one left behind." She took a shaky breath and twisted her wedding ring around her finger softly. They'd been together for ten years and been married for more than eight. They had been so happy. Happier than either of them had expected and their twilight years had been the most special times of both of their lives.

Ruth had a grandchild of her own now. Charlotte who was four. Harry had adored her, just as he loved all of his biological grandchildren and Charlotte had called him grandpa, which made Ruth's heart melt every time she'd heard it. It also broke her heart that most likely Charlotte wouldn't remember Harry when she got older.

"You know Harry, I had a plan for today," she said. "We were going to fly Venice and take a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs. I had a plan for your eighty eighth Harry. It was going to be a surprise. Oh well. The best laid plans and all that." She closed her eyes and put her hand on the cold and unyielding stone. She swallowed against the fear that her grief would swallow her again.

For a moment she remembered that morning only a few months ago. When she'd woken up and known instinctively that something was wrong. Looking at Harry she felt it was wrong. His face looked too still and inanimate. She put her hand on him and he was cold. Horribly cold. Her breath had caught as her fingers slid to his neck to find his pulse. Which wasn't there. She had pleaded with him to wake up, losing her rationality but of course it hadn't helped. She'd picked up the phone to call an ambulance or some help, but for some reason, maybe her subconscious, she called her daughter instead. Ruth had no recollection of that call, she'd fainted from shock and hit her head on the bedside table. It took about half an hour for her to come back around, by which time Claire was there, shaking her shoulder, panic in her eyes.

In the present, Ruth tried to drag her mind away from that horrific day. It wouldn't help her to think of that. She was still lost in memories when she heard some footsteps behind her. She turned and saw Catherine walking towards her, a small bouquet of flowers in her hand. Hiding her surprise at her presence she smiled at her step daughter. "I didn't expect to see you here," Ruth said.

"I wanted to visit today," she said. "How are you?"

"Not great," she admitted. "I miss him terribly. How are you?" she asked, trying to ignore her own grief and focus on Catherine.

"Fine," she said, putting the flowers on the grave. "You know I didn't like you when I first met you."

"I know," Ruth said, a hint of a smile on her lips. "You thought I was some cheap American gold digger."

"I never said that!" Catherine said indignantly.

"No, but you thought it," Ruth insisted.

"Well I'm sorry," Catherine said. "I did think that, but I was wrong. I knew that almost as soon as I met you. You made him happy."

"I like to think so," Ruth said smiling. "I know he made me happy."

"Let me take you out for breakfast," Catherine said after minutes of silence where they were simply staring at the grave. "I bet you haven't eaten this morning."

"No I haven't," she admitted. "I couldn't eat. I miss him so much."

"Come on," Catherine said. "At least let me buy you a coffee."

"Okay," she agreed. "That sounds good." She turned back to the grave and brushed her fingers across the stone once more. "Bye Harry." She turned and left the cemetery with Catherine's arm around her waist. Over the past few months it had been incredibly comforting to have Catherine around her. It was reassuring to have someone around her who knew Harry of old. Leaving the cemetery, she didn't look back. She had plenty of time to visit him in the future.

Not quite what I planned, but it took its own turn. Thank you for reading and especially reviewing.