“I don’t know what you’re looking for, Tristan, but I don’t think it’s here.” Larry shakes her head as she moves aside a teaspoon and one green sock. “Jesus, she was like a magpie.” She chuckles affectionately as she picks up an empty tube of toothpaste.
“May I?” I point to the now empty bag.
“Sure.” She picks it up and hands the limp leather blob to me.
I look inside and, not seeing anything, I stick my hand in, cringing at the crumbs and god knows what else pooling in the bottom. I run my fingers carefully over the worn interior and feel something flat beneath the lining.
Exploring further, my fingers stumble upon a tear in the seam. Easing them carefully through the gap, I manage to grasp the flat object, which feels very thin and fragile, and pull it free.
“What’s that?” Larry whispers in surprise.
I look down to find it’s a very fragile piece of paper, and as I gingerly unfold it, mindful not to tear it, I see it's actually an old envelope addressed to a Miss Delores Emerson and dated 1944. I glance across to Larry, who is staring at it in wide-eyed fascination.
“Emerson was her maiden name,” she explains. “Open it.”
Sliding my fingers inside, I pull out a worn letter so delicate it looks like it will fall apart if I breathe on it too hard. The folds in the paper are weak, as if it’s been read over and over, to the point where the whole thing is almost in pieces. So as not to damage it any further, I lay it out flat on the table and begin to read aloud.
“Dearest Deedee, I don’t have very long, the transport is waiting outside for me, so please forgive my rushed words. You know I will write again as soon as I’m able. They tell me you’re being reassigned and once again we must be kept in the dark as to our locations. I cannot tell how far apart we are, you could be as distant as the moon or you could be on the same continent as me. It’s torture not knowing that you’re okay. Charlie has promised me he’ll get this message to you come hell or high water. I think I’ll have to ask him to be my best man after all of this.
I dream about you every damn night and I wake aching for you in my arms. I long for the day this is all over and we can be together. I can’t wait to show you my home, my ma and my sister are going to love you just as much as I do. Texas may be very different from the life you’re used to in London, but I promise you’re going to love the ranch. I’ll teach you to ride the horses just like I promised. I can’t wait for the life we’ll have, Deedee, with my ring on your finger and the children we’ll make together.
They say it’ll be over soon, we only have to wait a while longer. Remember what we promised? We’ll meet in Hyde Park by the bandstand where we danced the night we met. I think of that night so often, it’s one of my most treasured memories. I’ll wait there every day if I have to. I’ll wait forever…
All my love, Beau x”
Larry sniffles and I look up to see her pluck a tissue from a nearby Kleenex box and dab her eyes.
“Poor darling, they were so in love.” She sniffs loudly. “I wonder what happened to him. I wonder why they didn’t meet up?”
“He died,” I mutter, staring back at the letter. “They both worked in intelligence for their respective governments, so all they had were stolen moments together. Judging from Beau’s note, I expect neither of them knew where the other was most of the time. They must’ve moved around a great deal, that was probably why he suggested they meet in Hyde Park after the war was over.”
“It’s so sad.” Larry wipes her nose.
“She never knew what happened to him exactly.” I turn to look at Larry. “I asked Trudy and she said all your aunt was ever told was that his plane went down and he was lost. They wouldn’t tell her where or how. It was deemed classified by the War Office and because she wasn’t his widow, she had no chance of getting any information.”
The small carriage clock on the mantelpiece chimes and Larry glances across worriedly.
“I’m going to be late for work.” She glances at me apologetically. “I’m so sorry but I have to go.” She very carefully folds the paper and places it reverently back in its envelope, crossing the room and tucking it in a drawer for safekeeping.
“It’s fine,” I reply as we head toward the door and step out onto the doorstep. “Thank you for indulging my curiosity.”
“No, thank you.” She gives a melancholy smile. “Because of you, I have another little piece of her I didn’t have before.” She reaches out and squeezes my arm gratefully before turning and hurrying down the path.
“Wow.” Dusty releases a loud breath and I turn to see her glancing down at Mrs Abernathy. “He really loved you, didn’t he, Delores?”
“Beau.” She blinks up at Dusty.
“What are we going to do now?” Dusty asks me.
“We’re going to reunite two people who’ve waited a lifetime to be together.”
“Have you been watching Titanic again?” Her eyes narrow suspiciously as she fists one hand on her cocked hip.
I roll my eyes. “That’s beside the point.”
“How exactly do you propose we do that anyway?” Dusty asks pointedly.
“Because I think he’s still waiting,” I murmur.
