That letter changed everything.
I quit my marketing job that month.
I moved back home, and with Walter’s help, I converted Grandpa’s puzzle haven into something bigger. We called it “The Soldier’s Trail.” A real-life escape room where every clue, every riddle, came from Grandpa’s designs. The whole town got into it. Tourists, too. It became a place not just for games, but for connection, wonder, and memory.
On opening day, I placed one little green soldier at the front desk.
And every year since, on my birthday, I’ve added one more.
For legacy.
And for love.
