~ * ~
Madeline was charmed by Josephine’s cottage. Cozy, quaint, decorated with well-worn furniture that just begged a person to come in and sit down. Very nice. She heard the whistle of the tea kettle as they walked through the front room and entered the kitchen at the back of the house.
“I’ve got a box of tea on the table. Pick what you like.” Josephine pointed to the wooden table nestled into the corner of the bright room. The walls were painted a cheerful yellow and the cabinets were painted white. An old refrigerator, the kind that was much shorter than the modern ones, stood in the corner. The old farmhouse-style sink was in front of the window.
Madeline crossed over to the table and flipped the lid on the wooden tea box. The box contained every flavor of tea she could imagine neatly lined up in rows. She sorted through and picked a mandarin orange flavor.
Josephine placed a delicate tea cup in front of her.
“Sit down, sit down.”
Josephine slipped into one of the wooden chairs with bright yellow floral cushions.
Madeline watched as Gil came into the kitchen. He had a confident stride to his walk, like he knew he belonged. She envied him with his obvious comfortable sense of kinship.
“I know you’re not much of a tea drinker.” Josephine nodded towards the fridge. “You get yourself some lemonade then. I made up a fresh pitcher full when you called and said you were coming.”
“Ah, you know my weakness.” Gil smiled and crossed to the fridge in the corner. He bent down and retrieved the glass pitcher of lemonade. Lemon slices floated on the top. He looked at Madeline and smiled sheepishly. “I love lemonade. Ever since I was a kid. Never outgrew it. Aunt Jo makes the best lemonade in the county.”
“Oh, go on now.” Josephine flicked the dish towel at him. “You get yourself a glass of ice and that lemonade and come join us.”
Gil dutifully did as he was told. Madeline figured most people did as Josephine told them.
“So what brings you kids to Bay St. Louis on this fine winter day?” Josephine plopped her tea bag into her tea cup and swirled it around.
Madeline looked at Gil and he nodded at her. “This might sound a little strange, but I inherited an antique writing desk from my mother. It had been my grandmother’s before that. Anyway, the drawer was stuck and I pulled on it. The drawer fell out and the lining peeled back. I found an old letter hidden under the drawer liner.” She reached into her purse and pulled out the wrinkled envelope. “I think it’s addressed to you.”
Madeline pushed the envelope across the table and watched while Josephine reached out for it. The color drained out of Josephine’s checks. “Are you okay?” Madeline reached across to touch Josephine’s trembling hand.
Josephine just nodded. She slowly stroked the area of the return address. A soft flutter of a caress where the faded writing held the secret to who wrote it. Tears filled Josephine eyes.
“Oh, my.” Josephine pulled a lace hanky from the sleeve of her sweater and dabbed at her eyes. “I never thought…”
Madeline was beginning to get a bit worried. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I just never thought I’d see Paul’s handwriting again. I’d recognize it anywhere.”
“Paul? I thought that was an O.” Madeline looked over at Gil. He was eyeing his aunt with a what-do-I-do-with-a-crying-female look.
“It’s an O. I called him my One and Only. Or O for short.”
Madeline was a bit confused, but thought she’d let Josephine tell her story in her own time.
Josephine put down her hanky and slowly lifted the flap of the envelope. She withdrew the letter, unfolded it and smoothed it carefully on the table.
“Oh.” Josephine gasped. “Where did this come from? I never got this letter. Paul just disappeared one day. He was just… gone.”
“I have no idea how it got in my mother’s, well in my grandmother’s desk.”
“Your grandmother?”
“Yes, she used to live in Comfort Crossing when she was young. I’m not sure exactly when though. Her name was Lula Madison.”
“Lula Madison.” Josephine nodded her head. “I knew her. She was my sister’s best friend.”
“Really? You knew her?” Madeline sat forward in her chair. “What was she like? When did she live in Comfort Crossing?”
“She lived there until some time when we were all in high school. I don’t remember quite when her family moved away.”
Madeline longed to hear more about her grandmother, but right now it was time to learn about the letter.
“I wonder how the letter got in her desk?” Madeline questioned.