“Einstein loves you,” I tell him.
I swear Waldo actually blushes. “Don’t know about that, but anyway. Got a package and mail for you from the post office, there was a whole stack. It’s in the car.”
“Thanks.” Mail? I wonder if one of the boys has sent me something? Or the aunts. Has to be one or the other.
Waldo opens the trunk and brings a bundle of letters and a padded envelope over. Intriguing!
“Need a blade?” Waldo asks, digging a penknife from his pocket. “Here, take this. I’m going out to fix your gutter.”
“Thanks, Waldo. So much.”
As Waldo heads out into the rain, I cut open the package; it’s super light.
Prizing open the lid, I have a closer look.
Ahh!
I drop the container and retch. It is full of maggots.
Waldo hears the scream and runs in. Seeing the grossness, he stops short.
We meet eyes.
“Why would someone send me maggots?” I ask.
“Oh, dear,” he says. “You think all those letters are going to be nasty too?” We both look at the pile of mail on the table. None of the letters have readable return addresses. I open the nearest one.
The note inside tells me I should die. To leave Mercury Rising alone, or else.
Pulling a trash can liner out from under the fridge, I tell Waldo I’m going to throw everything out. “Can you sweep the maggot container in, if I hold the bag?”
“Aren’t you going to call the cops?” he growls.
“Nah. It would just be a waste of their resources. I’ll talk to the guys about it. I’m sure they get weird mail and crazy fan stuff sent to them all the time.”
“I don’t know, Harmony. This is a lot of hate directed at you.”
“I’ll tell the guys. They’ll know what to do.”
“If you are sure.”
I’m calm about it all. Most of my life I’ve had spite directed towards me.
He grunts, helps me clear up the mess, then heads back outside to the gutter.
I try to put the hate-mail out of my mind. Asa and Lennox will be waiting for me. Just the idea of snuggling with them and watching movies makes me feel warm and looked after.
I grab a jacket and tell Waldo I’m headed out.
“Shall I stop by and feed Einstein later then?” he asks from up the ladder.
“That would be very helpful,” I tell him.
Waldo gives a pleased smile. “Happy to help. I did actually pick up some new kibble that I thought he might like to try."
ASA
Rainy day with my sweetheart!
