O’pa, I thought, though it didn’t sound anything like how mygruff, funny German grandfather had sounded. My eyes slid to the date in the righthand corner:June 1st, 1952. O’ma would have been eighteen. A year older than me.
I flipped to the back of the letter for the signature.Love, E.
O’pa’s name was Max.
I scanned the next letter.
My dear Ruth,
It has been too long since I last saw you. Yesterday I walked through the garden and saw a cardinal on the trellisand thought of the kisses we used to steal. I can’t even look up at the widow’s walk without remembering the way you used to pace there...
Wow. The most romantic letter I’d ever received had been a text from Matt last year sayingHomecoming: Yes/no?
No wonder we didn’t last.
I sent Mom a picture of the letters along with a flurry of texts:
Me:
Turns out the box has LOVE LETTERS in it
From some guy named E
Do you think O’ma had a grand love affair before she met O’pa???
Mom must have felt her phone buzz, because she texted back immediately.
Mom:
What do u mean love letters?
Me:
Like there’s some real purple prose here
They’re addressed to MY DARLING RUTH
“It has been too long since I last saw you”
!!!
Mom:
Maybe u shouldn’t read them?
Me:
hahahaha
Mom:
Wait for me!!!
Me:
sorry nope
I’ll text you the best parts
