Two uncertain, nervous hands opened the lid of the old, wooden chest the way a scared kid might open the lid of a forbidden treasure chest. Instead of a cove of stolen loot appearing, a simple green and white, hand-sewn quilt offered a silent hello. A simple, handwritten letter, folded very neatly and placed into an envelope, was sitting on the quilt. The wordsFor Noelwere written on the front of the envelope in the handwriting of an old woman who was now resting in Heaven. The letter wasn't covered with dust—but the quilt was saturated with a thin layer of dust. It seemed like the letter had been recently placed in the chest.
“Granny...” Noel stared at the letter with careful, confused eyes, uncertain of what to do. Had Noel's granny left her a message? It certainly seemed that way. But why? Noel knew her granny was as private and tight-lipped as a groundhog hiding under a snow-soaked, frozen ground. Yet, there was the letter, as plain as day, staring up at Noel. “Alright, Granny...alright.”
With a shaky hand, Noel retrieved the letter and backed up to the creaky rocking chair that her granny had sat in on countless nights, rocking back and forth, while sewing a quilt. The rocking chair accepted Noel's presence the way a loved one welcomed someone home after a long trip. Instead of opening the letter, Noel closed her eyes and prayed.
Noel sat silent for a few minutes, staring down at the letter with nervous eyes, and then finally drew in a courageous breath. “Alright, Granny...I'll read the letter.” A loud, howling, cold wind tapped the bedroom window as if confirming that Noel had made the right choice.
Noel slowly and carefully opened the envelope. A simple piece of writing paper sat inside it. She removed the piece of folded paper and immediately spotted her granny's handwriting resting on the inside. With a nervous heart, Noel began to read: “Dear Noel, my precious love, I'm writing you this letter on the very night of our last Thanksgiving together. Yes, my love, I know my time is coming. Before I leave you, I want you to know how much I love you. I have never loved anyone as much as I love you.
Noel, my love, during our Thanksgiving meal I wanted so much to tell you about your family and to answer all the questions that have been haunting your heart all these years. I began to try but could not bring myself to speak. Therefore, I have decided to write this letter and leave it in my chest. I know you will find the letter in good faith.
Secrets are a very difficult thing to speak of, my love. Our family is riddled with secrets that I swore to never speak of. However, now it is time I speak of those secrets. I refused to do so before because I was afraid you would leave me—and because I was afraid to revisit the truth myself. My love, I beg you, as you read my words, to not grow angry at me in your heart. I protected you all these years because I love you and I always prayed you would get married and have a family of your own. Because you are still unmarried and without children...perhaps discovering the truth will help you be able to move on with your life. I pray that is the case. Of course, I may be wrong. I am an old woman up in her years.”
Noel paused. She looked toward the bedroom window and listened. A hard rain began tapping at it. In the distance an autumn thunder growled. “What a night this is going to be,” Noel whispered in a shaky voice. “After all these years...”
Forcing her eyes back down on the letter, Noel continued to read. “Noel, my love, I am going to reveal to you now the secrets I have been hiding from you all these years. Your mother was a child when she died. She was only nineteen years of age. She died one year after giving birth to you in a small village in Alaska called North Winds. Your mother...became pregnant without seeking a husband first. She brought great shame upon our family. Your grandfather, my husband, became furious and forced your mother to remain in Alaska in the hunting village he frequented during the autumn months. On one such occasion, at the age of fifty-four (your grandfather was thirty-five years of age when your mother was born and so was I. She was our only child), your grandfather went to visit your mother. He forbade me to go. During the visit, your grandfather went on a hunt and was shot and left for dead. No person was ever brought to justice for his death. Your mother, who was very sick at the time, died three days later. You were brought into my care shortly after that.
Great shame was brought upon your grandfather's family. His family became very sour toward me, blaming me for your grandfather's death without proof. The hostility became so great, I moved us to North Carolina, to the land we both call home, and hid us away from the world in order to protect you. Please never—never, my love, try to contact your grandfather's family. They are very soulless and hateful people who will only harm you.
Now, my love, that you know the truth, I must speak of money. Mr. Perkins will contact you the day after my funeral. I have sold off all my stocks and transformed everything into cash settlements that will be given to you. Noel, I never spoke of money to you and was always so proud that you were determined to earn a living for yourself. Now I will speak of money for the first time.
Noel, my own family was very wealthy. My parents died at sea when I was twenty-five years of age. I was left a great wealth that I kept private. Your grandfather was a very wealthy banker who also left me a great wealth. Oh, we loved each other so deeply. We were soul mates who married at the age of twenty-seven. Your grandfather had a horrible temper toward life and a gentle heart toward me. I feared for his soul on many occasions. He was a worldly man who I so desperately attempted to change. When your mother became pregnant, your grandfather disowned her and put her away in Alaska. Your poor mother was already so ill from a horrible cancer. Giving birth to you, my love, completed her death. Yet, on the day your mother gave birth to you, I saw peace and joy in her eyes I never saw before—something your grandfather could not take away from her.
Noel, my love, you will be given all of my wealth to do with as you please. I know you will be wise. But this I ask of you: Take the money and go to North Winds, Alaska. When your mother died, I buried her and your grandfather there. I buried a locket with your mother's picture on a remote beach facing the Bering Sea. I want you to locate that locket and bring it to my own grave. This I ask of you. I want your mother beside me in heart and memory. That is the only picture I have. Your grandfather burned the rest of your mother's pictures before I could stop him.
My hand and heart is growing weary, my love. I have now written all that I can write. I feel very weak sitting here and must rest now. I love you, my love, more than this old woman can put into words. Don't be sad when I pass away. For someday, we will be together again. The time will pass swiftly. Make each second count. I love you.
Lovingly and Forever,
Granny
Noel felt tears dripping from her eyes as she folded the letter in her hands back up and looked toward the bedroom window again. “I'm not angry, Granny...now I see why you protected me all of these years.”
Two silent hours passed as Noel sat in her granny's rocking chair listening to a hard autumn rain fall outside. When the rain let up, Noel pulled herself out of her granny's bedroom and wandered into the kitchen. She put the letter her granny had left behind on a long square kitchen table and then made a fresh pot of coffee. “North Winds, Alaska...alright, Granny. I'll go to Alaska as soon as I talk to Mr. Perkins tomorrow. I'll close up the cabin and fly to Alaska. I've never flown in an airplane in all of my life, but for you, I'll do it.”
Noel filled a red coffee cup full of hot coffee, added some powdered creamer and sugar, and then sat down at the kitchen table—at least she tried to sit down. The telephone rang, startling Noel. “Now who could that be at this hour?” Noel reluctantly walked across the kitchen and answered the call. “Hello?”
“Is this Noel Peters?” a woman's voice asked.
Noel didn't recognize the voice. “Yes, this is Noel Peters. Who is this?” she asked.
“My name is December Green. I'm calling from the North Winds Lodge in North Winds, Alaska,” December explained. “I'm sorry to be calling at this hour. Sometimes I forget the time difference. Anyways, I'm calling to confirm your reservation.”
“Reservation?” Noel nearly fainted.What on earth? Is this some kind of prank?
“Yes, dear. Emily Rachel Peters called me two weeks ago and made a reservation for you,” December explained. “I believe Mrs. Peters was your grandmother—”
“Granny...she just passed away. I attended her funeral today...”
“Oh...I'm so sorry.” December grew silent, uncertain of what to say for a minute. “Uh, should I cancel—”
“No...no, please, don't. My granny...asked me to visit North Winds, Alaska in a letter I just found. I...didn't know she went ahead of me and made plans like this. But...that was Granny's way.”Granny, you must really want me to go to Alaska if you called ahead like this. I'll go and find that locket...and I'll also visit my mother's grave.“Uh, when is my reservation?”
“You're due to arrive...let's see...today is Tuesday...you’re due to arrive next Tuesday, as a matter of fact. Three weeks before Christmas Day,” December explained.
“I'll be there,” Noel promised and then asked, “Is the drive to North Winds difficult? I mean, I don't know very much about Alaska except that it's cold and snows a lot in the winter.”
“Honey, the only way to get to North Winds is by charter plane,” December explained. “North Winds is a very small town...a village, actually. We don't even have a police department or a hospital. Up this way, you live in North Winds at your own risk. If there's an emergency, the only thing a person can do is call for a charter plane. In the winter months...you're lucky if the weather breaks enough to get in a week’s worth of supplies. That's why we stock up heavily during the spring and summer months...and I mean we stock up heavy and...oh my, I'm sorry. Look at me running my mouth like this.”
