Papa’s precious cows got free. He had to chase them down the road about a mile before he could corral them. I wonder if they’ll ever give up arguing over such mundane things. Maybe when we announce our engagement, we’ll shake up their long-suffering, silly feud. I can’t wait. Of course, they’ll probably argue about me being too young to get married. I don’t think seventeen is too young. Do you? I’ve been thinking. If you come home by next May, we could have a June wedding. I’ll be almost eighteen by then. Do you think that may be a possibility? I hope so. I would love to be a June bride. When we go to town, I sneak down to the Woolworths and look through the patterns of wedding dresses. I’m looking forward to walking down the aisle and seeing you waiting there for me. I know you will be so handsome. Well, my love. I hear Mama calling. Stay warm and dry. Remember, I am praying for your safe return and waiting for you.
All my love,
Your Lady S
Carlton rested on his pillow, his thin lids covered his eyes and a tender smile graced his face. Not wanting to disturb his memories, I returned the letter to the envelope making as little noise as possible. The Carlton of these letters must have been a good guy. What had changed if his assessment of himself faired true?
I walked to the kitchen with a heavy heart. Would I ever feel for someone the way Lady S had for Carlton? Regardless of what had happened between them, they had loved one another. At thirty years old, I had yet to find that kind of love. Or had I? Could Beau and I have been that couple if I’d let things follow their natural course? If I had not run away?
I gazed out the window above the sink at the open field next to Carlton’s house. The howling wind of a brewing thunderstorm blew the tall grass toward the east and rattled through the wind chimes left over from a happier time. Had Carlton put the chimes up? Or were they forgotten by the people who lived here before he did? The melody increased in intensity as the wind ravaged the chimes from different directions. The harsh notes and anguished tune grated against my nerves, reflecting the myriad of emotions eating away at my peace.
Was this just a case of self-pity?
****
Mawmaw improved daily. Conversations with Mama consisted of updates. She and Aunt Melanie made sure Mawmaw got the best care possible. They prepared Mama’s house for her homecoming. There hadn’t been any disagreements in quite some time.
Carlton’s condition stabilized. He wasn’t getting better, but the last few days he’d not gotten worse. The letters calmed him and gave him a reason to hold on. What would happen when I read the last letter?
Carlton said Lady S still lived. What if he could see her before he died? I glanced out the window and into my own reflection. I’d allowed fear to control so many of my choices and had missed countless opportunities because I’d done so. So many regrets haunted me. I couldn’t let Carlton die without seeing his precious Lady S one last time, could I?
There were many things I couldn’t let go.
I hadn’t heard from Beau about Wednesday breakfast. Had he decided it was best not to pursue our friendship? I’d still plan to visit Annie Saturday.
I couldn’t accept Mama’s illness. Why? I’d treated many patients with the same diagnosis. Was my deep-rooted anger keeping me from accepting the truth? How different—better would I be had my childhood been different?
One thing was certain—I didn’t want another regret on my conscious. “I’m going to find out who Lady S is.”
The words floated through the empty kitchen and when they came back to me as a whisper, I knew it would happen. I would find her.
Neuf
I navigated my car between hedges of purple azaleas running along Beau’s grandmother’s driveway. Before my shift ended, he’d called to see if I was OK after he’d seen a car like mine overturned in a ditch a few miles from
All my love,
Your Lady S
Carlton rested on his pillow, his thin lids covered his eyes and a tender smile graced his face. Not wanting to disturb his memories, I returned the letter to the envelope making as little noise as possible. The Carlton of these letters must have been a good guy. What had changed if his assessment of himself faired true?
I walked to the kitchen with a heavy heart. Would I ever feel for someone the way Lady S had for Carlton? Regardless of what had happened between them, they had loved one another. At thirty years old, I had yet to find that kind of love. Or had I? Could Beau and I have been that couple if I’d let things follow their natural course? If I had not run away?
I gazed out the window above the sink at the open field next to Carlton’s house. The howling wind of a brewing thunderstorm blew the tall grass toward the east and rattled through the wind chimes left over from a happier time. Had Carlton put the chimes up? Or were they forgotten by the people who lived here before he did? The melody increased in intensity as the wind ravaged the chimes from different directions. The harsh notes and anguished tune grated against my nerves, reflecting the myriad of emotions eating away at my peace.
Was this just a case of self-pity?
****
Mawmaw improved daily. Conversations with Mama consisted of updates. She and Aunt Melanie made sure Mawmaw got the best care possible. They prepared Mama’s house for her homecoming. There hadn’t been any disagreements in quite some time.
Carlton’s condition stabilized. He wasn’t getting better, but the last few days he’d not gotten worse. The letters calmed him and gave him a reason to hold on. What would happen when I read the last letter?
Carlton said Lady S still lived. What if he could see her before he died? I glanced out the window and into my own reflection. I’d allowed fear to control so many of my choices and had missed countless opportunities because I’d done so. So many regrets haunted me. I couldn’t let Carlton die without seeing his precious Lady S one last time, could I?
There were many things I couldn’t let go.
I hadn’t heard from Beau about Wednesday breakfast. Had he decided it was best not to pursue our friendship? I’d still plan to visit Annie Saturday.
I couldn’t accept Mama’s illness. Why? I’d treated many patients with the same diagnosis. Was my deep-rooted anger keeping me from accepting the truth? How different—better would I be had my childhood been different?
One thing was certain—I didn’t want another regret on my conscious. “I’m going to find out who Lady S is.”
The words floated through the empty kitchen and when they came back to me as a whisper, I knew it would happen. I would find her.
Neuf
I navigated my car between hedges of purple azaleas running along Beau’s grandmother’s driveway. Before my shift ended, he’d called to see if I was OK after he’d seen a car like mine overturned in a ditch a few miles from
Similar Books
