“Then she went on to tell me that those two roses were for her husband, Tom, and her baby, Leeann, and she’d take them to their grave every Sunday. She was still cryin’ when she left the store. And you know what’s really interesting? She left those two roses on the table by her teacup and she didn’t come back for them!”

“Wow,” I said.

“Did Layla say anything else to her?” Maggie asked.

“No, but she did say something to me. Layla, honey, do you remember what you said to Mama after Ann left the store? Would you like to tell your mommy and daddy what you told Mama ‘bout Ann?”

Layla nodded her head and said, “I told Mama about those two people that were standing behind her at the store, the man and the little girl. They were smiling and holding hands and they told me to ask the sad lady why she was so sad.”

You could have heard a pin drop in the room.

Then Mama said to Layla, “Looks like you’re all done there with your plate, sweetheart. Why don’t you go check on Buddy? I bet he’s really missin’ you right about now.”