He caught her and held her tight, carrying her toward the house, filling her with his presence and the clean scent of his skin.
Dropping to the porch steps, he held her on his lap and kissed her slow and sweet, as if discovering something about her he never knew before.She felt weak with love as she savored his kisses, each one declaring over and overI love you.
When it seemed neither of them could breathe, he rose up.“I’ve missed you so, Scottie.”
“I was on my way to see you.”She brushed his hair away from his face.“I texted Kate last night.Why are you here?”
“Her Majesty sent me on a special errand yesterday.I’m booked at the Hearts Bend Inn.”He kissed her again.“She has a special gift for you.But Scottie, can we begin again?Can we be husband and wife, lovers, partners?I’ll go where you want to go, be where you want to be.”
“I want to be with you, Michael Cross.”She kissed him tenderly.“And did you just propose to me?”
“Yes, love, I believe I did.”
* * *
Four hours later, aboard Royal One, Scottie once again opened the leather journal her mother had sent by a very special messenger.Her mission crossed in the night with Scottie’s revelation of love.
She’s flipped through her Grandfather Rein’s journal of letters from Shug while on the porch steps, but she was too excited, to bursting with love, to give it her proper attention.So she waited until now.
Michael stretched around her to switch on the brass and crystal sconce anchored beside her seat.Scottie met his gaze, then rested her head on his shoulder.
“I can’t believe Shug and King Rein wrote to one another.”She’d confirmed with Shug before leaving, tears in her eyes as she hugged Scottie goodbye.
“Our letters were how I knew this day would come.He wanted to know you, Scottie.And so he did, in his way.”
Between the journal’s linen pages, the king had secured Shug’s letters and photographs of Scottie.Shug’s even script flowed across her personal stationery embossed with the initials OBO.Octavia Broadripple O’Shay.
“I like this one,” Michael said, tapping a Polaroid of Scottie in her high chair, covered with mashed sweet potatoes.“What a mess, love.”He laughed and kissed her cheek.
“Yeah, well wait, buddy, until I see your mom and ask for baby pictures of you.”
“Which she’ll gladly show.I was a beautiful child.”Scottie threw her arms about him, drawing him in for a kiss.“Your mum says to read the unfinished letter first.”He gently turned the pages to the end.“Here, this one.The king died before he could send it.When I found the book in the cellar, his letter was tucked in the front.R.Vinter was his code name.R for regent.Vinter is Danish for winter.”
Scottie smoothed her hand over the crisp paper lined with her grandfather’s handwriting.
* * *
December 19, 1997
To: Octavia O’Shay
P.O.Box 9702
Hearts Bend, TN
Dearest Shug,
I cannot tell you how much your letters and photographs of our Scottie have meant to me over the years.It was lovely to speak to you in October as well.I wish to heaven I could share all of this with Catherine, but I fear it would undo everything she’s worked so diligently to put behind her.
She’s a fine mother of her sons and it is often best to let the past lie in its own dust.As for me, I continue to battle heart disease.I’ve often thought to fly to Tennessee to see Miss Scottie, kiss her before I depart this life, but I could not return home with such a secret.Take care of her, my friend.Love her extra for me.
Wishing you and yours joy and peace this Christmas season and a Happy New Year.
Yours,
R.Vinter
* * *
