I fidgeted with the single house key in my hand as I walked around the buildings between my townhouse and his bench. My hands shook as I got nearer to his bench. I eased myself as casually as I could onto the other end trying not to cause any obvious disturbance. He turned his head slightly, taking me in. I nodded at him and with a slight look of surprise, he returned the nod.

"Good morning," I said with a nervous smile and taking the chance to speak.

"Good morning," he returned, politely.

"Beautiful fall day, isn't it?" I had become rusty in my small talk but I didn't care.

"It certainly is. A good day to get out." He continued to look at those passing by.

"Are you waiting on someone?" I had to ask.

"Yes. I'm waiting. I said I'd be right here; so here I am." He smiled with a slight blush that seemed to be filled with expectation.

"Have you been waiting long?" I needed to know.

"Oh no. I just got here this morning. She'll be here soon."

Now I was confused.

"I mean have you been waiting long for the day she's coming?" I tried to ask more clearly.

"No. I'll be meeting her here today. Just like we planned." This time his answer was accompanied by an assured smile.

I studied his suit and jacket. He was dressed so much better than I was that I almost felt ashamed. He didn't seem to notice though. He was much more fashionable and put together than I had ever been, even before the funeral.

We sat in silence for a while. I was unsure of what to say next. I had no real plan for coming down to the bench and the only thing I'd brought was a single key.

He looked at me curiously for a moment. "What brings you here? Are you waiting on someone too?"

"Me? No, I just came out for some fresh air. I don't usually get out much." It was the lame truth. "I don't live but a couple blocks from here, over in one of the townhouse buildings."

"Maybe you'll get to see her. She lives in one of those townhouses a few blocks away too. She's a real beauty." The smile crossing his face made me nostalgic in a way he could never understand.

The stranger turned to me and leaned in slightly. When he spoke this time it was in a hushed voice as if it was a secret. "Today's the day. I'm going to ask her to leave him and come with me. I'm going to take her on a long drive out of the city and that's when I'm going to do it. I want her to leave this all and come away with me." A wistful look filled his eyes and he stared somewhere into the distance. "Hmmm. That's the first time I said it aloud. I hope I can say it again when it counts, with her." A chuckle escaped as his fingers fidgeted with the brim of the hat resting on his knee.

"Hopefully she'll say yes and not break the other poor sucker's heart too much," I joked back. He laughed as his eyes did the usual scan of the folks walking by.

"How long are you waiting out here for her?" I asked after sitting in silence for several more minutes. I was beginning to feel anxious. I hadn't been outside for that long in more than two years and all of the air was beginning to get to me.

"You feeling okay? You look a little...ill." He slid to the edge of the bench, as far away from me as possible without getting up. I was silently hoping I wouldn't go into the dry heaves again. Up until then, I thought I was doing fine.

"Yeah, just a little light-headed. That's what staying cooped up in the house will do for you."  I tried to hide my awkwardness with what sounded like nervous laugh. So much for trying to make light of myself.

"I wouldn't know. I believe in the outdoors and fresh air. It's why we chose this place to meet," he smiled. The water, the breeze, the people going by. I love it."

"Hopefully, she'll come soon. I've got to go myself, but maybe I'll see you around. Good luck." I was feeling weak and needed to get home and back to Molly. I had done more today than any day so far since I'd started therapy.

"Alright. Maybe next time you see me, I'll have her with me." He nodded and waved goodbye.