Sarah was crying now.
“We brought you here because we wanted to give you something back.”
I still did not understand.
Daniel pointed toward the cabin.
“For eight months, we’ve been restoring it.”
My mouth opened, but no words came out.
Sarah continued.
“The medical papers were for the therapist and the people helping us make the house safer for you.”
Daniel said,
“I took the spare key because we needed to get some of your old things from the house without ruining the surprise.”
I stared at them.
“And the conversation I heard?”
Sarah gave a small laugh through her tears.
“When I said we couldn’t keep doing this much longer, I meant keeping the surprise from you.”
Daniel added,
“And Friday was the deadline. Everything had to be finished today.”
Then Emma grabbed my hand.
“Come inside, Grandpa. Grandma is there too.”
My heart nearly stopped again.
“What?”
She pulled me toward the house.
Tour Properties
Inside, above the fireplace, was a large framed photograph.
Martha and me.
Young.
Standing in those same mountains.
Laughing like we believed life would last forever.
Beneath the photograph was a small wooden sign.
George & Martha’s Place.
