Author's notes: Thanks to everyone who has shared their thoughts, it's great to hear from you. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Patrick pulls over and stops the car when he's out of sight of the house. He looks down at his hands and they're shaking. He clasps them together to help still them. He looks at the houses on the street, his old neighbourhood. He realises that he's just a few yards away from the entrance to the local park. He puts the car in park, gets out the vehicle and heads towards the entrance. A woman and a young girl are leaving and he sidesteps out of their way. He stops and turns to watch them leave. The girl holding her Mother's hand as she skips along the pavement. Her dark hair's pulled back in to a ponytail and bops up and down. It brings back memories of following Angela and Charlotte, the two of them walking ahead while he followed behind pushing Charlotte's bike as she was too young to ride it by the road. He can see them turning to look at each other, their laughter floating back to him. This was their second favourite place to go, after the beach.
He turns away from the Mother and daughter and enters the park. There are changes, the young trees planted along the pathway are now much taller than him and leaden with leaves. They were shorter than Charlotte when first planted and she would measure herself against them to see how much they'd grown, when they became taller than her, he was her measuring stick. They were up to chest height the last time they visited together. Charlotte was fascinated that they would one day become taller than her Daddy, that day is here but... The memories are turning his legs to lead, he collapses on a nearby bench. He turns his face to the sun and closes his eyes, letting the heat of it burn in to him. He hears footsteps approaching and is surprised when they stop nearby. He squints open his eyes and an old man, clearly in his seventies is watching him. He's dressed in knee-length shorts and a checkered button down shirt. Both are covered in dirt and grass stains. The man smiles at him.
"Well if it isn't Patrick Jane. It's been a long time since I've seen you in here."
Jane sits up straighter and breaks in to a smile.
"Henry! You're not still working here?"
"What else am I going to do?"
He nods towards a young man tending to some flower beds a few yards down.
"That's my great-grandson, Kyle, he's the first one to show interest in this place. I'm teaching him how to take over the reins when I'm finally forced out."
He rubs his the knuckles of his right hand.
"Arthritis?"
"Yea, it's making it difficult to hold the tools but..."
He taps the side of his head.
"..what I have up here is still worth a lot."
Jane pats the space beside him.
"Come sit down. How's your wife and the rest of your family, three boys and two girls, if I remember and a hundred grandchildren."
Henry laughs.
"Not quite, but it does seem like it sometimes, and there's great-grandchildren to add."
His face turns solemn
"Maddy died four years ago, passed away in her sleep. I was lying next to her and didn't know a thing until I woke up the next morning."
"I'm sorry Henry."
"We had a good life together and I certainly can't complain to you."
His wise eyes search Patrick's face.
"How are you? I've read about your antics in Sacramento, I'm glad you got him, what he did to your lovely wife and child was pure evil."
Patrick nods his thanks.
"I'm doing okay."
The man studies him again and Patrick begins to squirm a little.
"I hope you won't mind some advice from an old man?"
He doesn't wait for a reply.
"It was the highlight of my day when you and your family would come in to the park. Your daughter was a delight, she was the only child who noticed me, she would come and ask about the flowers and my family. She was a very curious young lady. She would tell me about her day and talk about you and your wife. I hope you don't mind me talking about her?"
Jane smiles wistfully.
"No. I..I..never get to talk about her with someone who knew her."
Henry nodded.
"She loved you very much, she didn't need to tell me though it was plain to see, and that you loved her too. She may not have lived long Patrick but you gave her a very happy life, she felt loved and that's all we can do. The same with your wife, I could tell you were devoted to her."
Patrick trying hard to hold back his emotions as tears threaten, he's looking down at his hands rubbing his fingers against each other.
"You didn't have your family for long, and that was a terrible tragedy, but it's an even greater tragedy if you deny yourself that happiness again. When you find it Patrick grab it with both hands and cling to it. You deserve it and the woman you love deserves it too. They loved you and won't want you to live your life alone."
Patrick looks up his eyes shining, his voice choking with emotion.
"Thank you. I needed to hear that. I...I...I..just...I guess, you could say, I just declared my intentions an hour ago to a woman I love very much, asking her to give me a chance."
"What are you doing here?"
"Giving her time to think about it."
"How long have you known her?"
"Ten years, I work with her."
"The pretty brunette that was in the papers?"
Patrick nods.
"Teresa Lisbon."
Henry shakes his head.
"My second piece of advice. Get off that bench and go back to her and do more than declare you intentions, tell her how you feel, leave her in no doubt."
Patrick looks at him for a moment and a smile creeps across his face.
"I can't remember, were you always this bossy?"
"Only with those who're too stupid to see what's best for them. Now get out of here."
Patrick jumps up off the bench and takes Henry by surprise when he wraps his arms around him in a hug.
"Thank you Henry."
Henry watches Patrick run out of the park, he taps his head and says to no one in particular.
"Yep, what I have up here is still worth a lot."