She wasn’t ready for a fun shopping trip. “But we have to visit Dad!” said Iris. “And he asked us to wear something beautiful on his birthday.”
Linda’s eyes were full of tears.
She was so consumed by grief that she had forgotten Brian’s birthday. “Did he tell you that?” Linda asked. “Yes, Dad wanted to see us in pretty dresses on his birthday.
We have to visit him, Mommy,” said Iris. “Hurry! We have to go shopping!”
“When did he ask you that?” Linda wanted to know.
“I didn’t know. I had no idea he had told you his last wish.”
“The last night we were with him, Mommy,” Mariana shared. “He took our hands and said he wanted to see us in nice outfits on his birthday.
I think we should do this for him. I know you’re sad, but would you take us?”
Then she came closer to her mother and muttered in her ear. “I know you miss Dad, but we have to do this for Iris.
She’s really interested to wear a pink dress for Daddy.”
Mariana had always been a bright child. She knew things that kids her age would find hard to grasp. Finally, she convinced her mother.
“All right,” Linda said. “Let’s go shopping, girls! Let’s find the nicest outfits for Dad’s birthday!” Linda said.
“Don’t be sad, Mommy,” Mariana muttered.
The next day, on Brian’s birthday, the girls dressed in their new outfits and walked hand in hand toward his grave. Once they stood in front of the tombstone, the girls spotted two beautifully wrapped boxes with their names on them, and a small tag on top said it was from Brian. “Mommy!” Iris turned to Linda and said,
“Look, Dad sent us gifts!
Doesn’t he know we’re supposed to give him gifts? It’s his birthday!” and she laughed innocently. “Surely it seemed like a great idea to him, Iris.
Go ahead, open the boxes, girls,” Linda said. As the two girls unwrapped the boxes, Linda had to bury her tears. Iris smiled cheerfully, while Mariana cried for the first time since their father’s passing.
Inside each box was a beautiful pair of shoes, and a letter from Brian to them.
“Shoes!” exclaimed Iris. “They’re so pretty, Mommy!
My favorite color… pink!”
Some angels up here in heaven are surprised to see how beautiful you are! They say you are the most beautiful girls God has ever created. Daddy can see how lovely you look in your outfits, and he wanted you to also wear these beautiful shoes.
I hope you like them.
I want you to keep being the same girls who used to raid the pantry for cookies, hiding from Mommy. The next time you visit me, I want to hear your fun stories.
I want you to be happy and smile every day. When you think of me, trust that I’m in a wonderful place and that, from here, I see you and take care of you.
Thank you for visiting me and wishing me a happy birthday, girls.
Daddy loves you with all his heart.
When Mariana ended reading the letter aloud, she hugged her little sister. She looked at her mother and thanked her for coming with them. The three held hands and felt the presence of their beloved husband and father around them, knowing he would always be with them.
Linda smiled and muttered, “I love you very much,” and inside, she thanked them for helping her suffer from the pain and giving her the encouragement to live without Brian.
