He Changed the Locks on My Parents’ Anniversary Gift

to celebrate my parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary.

Mom thought I was giving them another framed photograph.

Dad joked that he had already run out of wall space.

Instead, I handed them a navy-blue folder.

Inside were the deed.

The closing documents.

The keys.

An oceanfront cottage overlooking the Pacific.

Purchased outright.

No mortgage.

No loan.

No conditions.continue reading …