The Letter(9)

“Terribly hard.” Her voice cracked and she looked out the window, fighting back tears. She seemed to always be fighting back tears these days.

“I’d tell you that it gets easier—and it does—but then sometimes it creeps back at odd moments and hits you hard when you least expect it.”

“Well, I’m still waiting for the it-gets-easier stage.”

“Takes time.” He flashed her a kind, quick smile. “So, you got any siblings? Brother? Sister?”

“No, it’s just me. No aunts, no uncles. Just me.”

“I’m sorry. That must be really hard.”

She just nodded. She didn’t want people to feel sorry for her, but she did feel a bit lost these days. Floating adrift with no family. But she never wanted to open herself up to the pain of loss again. It was just too hard. She was determined to get used to this whole alone gig that her life was these days.

Everything was going to be fine. Really, it was. She just wasn’t completely sure that she wasn’t lying to herself.

~ * ~

Gil glanced over and saw Madeline looking out the window. He was pretty sure she was fighting back tears. He hadn’t meant to do that. He hadn’t exactly caused them, but he’d brought up the subject. He remembered those days right after his momma died. He’d been constantly fighting the urge to fall apart. But he’d had to stay strong for his sister, Bella, and there had been so much paperwork to deal with. Overwhelming paperwork. Who knew that dying caused a landslide of paperwork that needed to be filed? He was so glad to be past that stage of his life.

He stole a quick peek at Madeline again. She seemed so fragile, on the edge of breaking. Maybe that’s why she was on this quest. To find a happily ever after. Unfortunately, it wasn’t what she’d found. She’d found Josephine, married to someone else. He wondered what had happened with the meet-up of his aunt and the mystery letter writer so many years ago. Hopefully his aunt could shed some light on it.

So far he’d been an utter failure at making those pretty blue eyes of Madeline’s show something rather than sadness. He guessed losing your momma a few weeks ago was an entirely fair reason to be so heartbroken and he remembered the feeling so well. He decided to just give her a bit of time to pull herself together.

They drove up Beach Boulevard along the seashore. It was sad to see so many of the former beautiful houses that had lined the street all reduced to cement slabs from the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. The lots sat empty due to insurance companies’ refusal to pay out claims and the skyrocketing cost of insurance. Many people had left the town, or moved inland. He turned off Beach Boulevard and found his aunt’s street. She lived in a small cottage just a bit inland, luckily situated so that she’d managed to survive Katrina with some damage, but she’d been able to clean up, repair, and move back in. He pulled up in front of the house and parked the truck.

“We’re here,” he said quietly, almost afraid to break through the silence.

She straightened her shoulders and turned towards him. “Okay, I’m ready. Let’s go see what we can find out.”

He came around to her side of the truck, opened the door, placed his hands on her waist, and swung her out of the truck. She was light as a feather and smiled a tentative smile as he set her on the ground. “Well, that was a bit more graceful than my entrance into the truck.”

He smiled back at her. Her mood seemed to have lifted. Good. Now maybe they could solve the mystery of the letter. He swung open the gate on the white picket fence and they crossed the walkway to the front door with his hand resting at her elbow, afraid she was going to trip on the stone walkway in her ridiculous—albeit sexy—heels.

“Aunt Jo.” He swung his aunt into a hug when she opened the door for them. He gave her a quick spin around and she swatted at him.

“You leave me be, Gilbert. None of that fancy-dancey stuff.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He gave her another whirl and put her down safely on the ground.

“Aunt Josephine. I want you to meet my friend, Madeline.”

“Madeline. So nice to meet you. Don’t let my great-nephew keep you standing out there. Come inside, child.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Peters.”

“Josephine. You call me Josephine. I just put on a tea kettle. Would you two like some tea?”

“That would be wonderful.” Madeline walked inside and Gil reached to help her take off her jacket.

“Gilbert, you hang up those coats in the hall closet. Madeline, you come with me into the kitchen.” Gil smiled. His aunt was going to get everyone doing exactly what she wanted, as usual, in her bossy kind-hearted way.