One afternoon, Claire said:

"You know what Dad told me?"

"What?"

"He said marrying you was the happiest thing he'd done in decades."

Eleanor smiled.

Claire continued.

"He also said he was terrified you'd regret it."

"I almost did."

Claire looked shocked.

Eleanor laughed.

"Not because of him."

"Then why?"

"Because I was afraid of losing him."

Claire nodded.

"That's what he was afraid of too."

The Final Surprise

Six months after Daniel's death, Eleanor received a package.

Inside was a small recording device.

A note from Daniel's lawyer explained that Daniel had recorded several messages before his health deteriorated.

Eleanor pressed play.

Daniel's voice filled the room.

Older.

Weaker.

But unmistakably his.

"Eleanor, if you're hearing this, then I've already gone."

She covered her mouth.

"I know you may be angry with me for some of the things I didn't tell you."

He paused.

"But please don't spend your time wondering whether our love was real."

Eleanor began crying.

"It was."

He continued:

"I loved you when we were seventeen."

A pause.

"I loved you when we were separated."

Another pause.

"I loved you while you built your life."

"And I loved you when I finally found you again."

His voice became softer.

"I don't need you to believe that our story was perfect."

"It wasn't."

"But it was ours."

Then came the final sentence.

"And if you ever wonder whether saying yes to me was a mistake, look at the life you lived after we found each other again."

Eleanor stared at the speaker.

Daniel continued:

"Don't remember the ending."

"Remember the laughter."

"Remember the walks."

"Remember the coffee."