My husband after 50 years of marriage

husband. He held her elbow as she stepped off the curb.

“I have to tie my affairs together.”

I looked away and pulled Walter’s bank card from my purse. Recently, I had begun to carry it around with me.

“Not yet,” I whispered, and tucked it back inside.

***

That Sunday, I went to the church potluck with lipstick on and a casserole I’d almost burned.

Adele found me near the coffee table. “Mama, you’re sweating.”

“Doris made the coffee strong enough to give me heart palpitations, sweetie.”

Jeremiah appeared beside