Rudy's Angel

I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 37 years was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.

He often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always spot him walking down the aisle with three yellow roses in his hands. He knew I loved yellow roses.

With a heart full of grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and leave, but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed on. Shopping for one took time and a little more thought than it had for two. Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect steak and remembered how he had loved his steak.

Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large package of T-bones and dropped them in her basket, hesitated, and then put them back. She turned to go but once again reached for the package of steaks.

She saw me watching her and she smiled. "My husband loves T-bones, but honestly, at these prices, I don't know..."

I swallowed the emotion and met her pale blue eyes. "My husband passed away eight days ago," I told her. Glancing at the package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. "Buy him the steaks and cherish every moment you have together."

She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away.

I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy. I finally decided on a quart and moved on to the ice cream. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone.

I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front. I first saw the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me. In her arms, she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine.

As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes. "These are for you," she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms. "When you go through the line, they will know these are paid for."

She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again. I wanted to tell her what she'd done and what the roses meant, but still unable to speak, I could only watch as she walked away as tears clouded my vision.

I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasn't alone.

"Oh, you haven't forgotten me, have you?" I whispered with tears in my eyes.

He was still with me, and she was his angel.