MY DAUGHTER KEPT GETTING FREE ICE CREAM FROM THE SAME TRUCK — THEN THE DRIVER HANDED HER A NOTE AND SAID, “MAKE SURE YOUR MOM READS THIS.”

I know you were told I died.

I didn’t.

I’m not asking for anything. I don’t have any right to. I just couldn’t drive past my own granddaughter three nights a week and say nothing. I’m a coward, but I’m not that much of a coward.

If you never want to see me, I’ll change my route and you’ll never hear from me again. I’ll understand. You get to decide everything.

But if you want the truth — the real one, not the one you were given — I’ll be parked at the entrance to Riverside Park this Saturday at noon. I’ll wait until three. If you don’t come, I’ll know your answer, and I’ll respect it forever.

Either way, thank you for letting me hand your daughter an ice cream. Those were the best two weeks I’ve had in twenty-five years.