Rudy’s Angel

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.

Rudy 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 the three
yellow roses in his hands.

Rudy knew I loved yellow roses. With a heart
filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few
items and leave, but even grocery shopping
was different since Rudy had passed on.

Shopping for one took time, a little more
thought than it had for two. Standing by the
meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and
remembered how Rudy had loved his steak.

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

” My husband loves T-bones, but honestly, at
these prices, I don’ know.”

I swallowed the emotion down my throat 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. A quart, I finally decided and moved on to
the ice cream section near the front of the
store. 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 saw first 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 blond 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, what the
roses meant, but still unable to speak, I watched
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,Rudy, you haven’t forgotten me, have you?”
I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was still
with me, and she was his angel.

Everyday be thankful for what you have and who
you are.