Noah nodded once.
“Okay.”
Aaron seemed surprised by how quietly he took it.
Then Noah asked, “When’s the funeral?”
We attended three days later.
The church was crowded enough that I realized Mr. Vance had known far more people than I ever guessed.
Former coworkers.
Neighbors from years ago.
Friends from church.
People I had never seen before.
Aaron and Claire sat in the front row and cried through much of the service.
Noah insisted that we sit in the very back.
“This is family stuff,” he whispered.
“You mattered to him too.”
“Not like they did.”
When the service ended, everyone stood.
People began hugging Aaron and Claire near the front of the church.
Noah and I were waiting for the aisle to clear when a man in a gray suit began walking directly toward us.
He stopped in front of Noah.
“Are you Noah?”
Noah looked at me before answering.
“Yeah.”
The man held out a thick envelope.
“I’m Daniel. I handled Mr. Vance’s estate.”
Noah stared at the envelope.
“What is this?”
“Something he left for you.”
People standing nearby began turning to look.
Aaron noticed the interaction and came toward us with Claire.
Daniel placed the envelope into Noah’s hands.
“He left very specific instructions.”
Noah opened it carefully.
Inside were four smaller envelopes.
Each had handwriting on the front.
Saturday One.
Saturday Two.
Saturday Three.
Saturday Four.
Claire blinked.
“I’ve never seen those.”
“Neither have I,” Aaron said.
