“Carl?”
The question carried fear.
I could not soften the truth.
“He d/i/ed eleven days ago.”
Lucas’s face collapsed.
“He found me,” I added quickly. “He protected me my whole life.”
“Did he know you were happy?”
“I don’t think he knew how much.”
Lucas closed his eyes.
I leaned closer.
“He asked me to marry him.”
His eyes flew open.
I explained the ceremony, the false registration, and Carl’s reason for making me his public beneficiary.
For several seconds, Lucas stared at me.
Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
It began as a weak sound and grew until tears rolled down his face.
“What?”
“That impossible fool.”
I laughed too.
“He always loved dramatic plans?”
“When we were boys, he once pretended to be lost in the forest so the entire family would search for him.”
“Why?”
“He wanted everyone together for a picnic.”
That was Carl.
