Cody had always known his grandmother, Debbie, as a woman of grace and wisdom. As she fought a terminal illness, Cody wanted to give her a day filled with memories, love, and beauty. The morning sunlight filtered through the lace curtains of her bedroom, and her cherished orchids bloomed vibrantly, just as they had over the years under her tender care.

As Debbie prepared for the special day, Cody reassured her that it didn’t require any extra effort, but she insisted on dressing up for their date. “A lady always dresses up for a date, sweetheart,” she told him. Despite her illness, she wanted to savor every moment they had left together.

With his heart full of emotion, Cody planned the perfect outing: a trip to the botanical gardens, where they would visit the annual orchid show. As they drove, they passed the places that had shaped Debbie’s life—where she had waited for him after school, where they had shared ice cream after games, and the park where she had told him stories of love.

When they arrived at the botanical gardens, Debbie was overwhelmed with joy. “Oh, Cody… you remembered,” she said. They strolled among the orchids, and soon, the soft sound of a saxophone playing “What a Wonderful World” filled the air. Cody took her hand and asked, “May I have this dance, Gran?” Despite her frailty, they swayed together, and she whispered how she and her late husband, Joe, had danced to the same song at their wedding.

After the dance, Cody surprised her with a carefully crafted photo album, filled with cherished memories. But the surprises didn’t end there. He drove her to the town square, where they stopped by the fountain—a place of deep meaning, where her husband had proposed to her. There, Cody presented her with a delicate ring engraved with orchids from her garden, a symbol of his everlasting love for her.

Tears filled Debbie’s eyes as she slipped the ring onto her finger. “Everything you’ve given me, everything you’ve taught me… I’ll carry it with me always,” Cody said softly.

Three weeks later, Debbie passed peacefully, her room filled with orchids. At her memorial, Cody shared the wisdom his grandmother had imparted: “Orchids teach you everything about love—patience, attentiveness, faith, and the belief that something delicate can bloom again and again, even when you least expect it.”

Years later, Cody married the woman of his dreams, and their first date was spent tending to orchids in his greenhouse. Their wedding took place beside the town square fountain, with orchids from Debbie’s collection. And sometimes, in the quiet of the morning, Cody swore he could hear the soft notes of a saxophone, a reminder that love never truly ends