Yours Truly

by Laura Schiller

Spoilers for ep. 13. We know Hodgkins wrote a letter to his future daughter, but whom does he have in mind as the child's mother? Hodgkins/Cattleya, because that scene was too cute to ignore.

Yours Truly

By Laura Schiller

Based on: Violet Evergarden

Copyright: Netflix

Dear Cattleya,

Wow, I can't remember the last time I was so embarrassed. I should dock your pay for reading that cheesy letter out loud to all our co-workers, not to mention everyone on the boardwalk. But of course I won't. Every word of it was true.

I do dream about having children, sentimental as it sounds. What I couldn't write, at least not for a publicity stunt, is who I would most wish their mother to be.

When I close my eyes, I picture a little girl with your violet eyes and my ridiculous hair (let's face it, pink would look much better on a girl). One who has your brilliant way with words, and can smooth over any difficult situation with your charming smile.

Also, she'd have my business sense. Just kidding. We both know you could easily run CH if you wanted to.

Darn it, this is awkward without a Doll. Look, what I'm trying to say is that I love you, and I'd like everyone to know.

I know we have good reasons for keeping it secret (although I think Benedict suspects, the young rascal). I'm still your boss, after all. And I understand if you don't want to give up being single. Knowing your past, I'd be the last person to begrudge you your independence.

But I've never been so scared in all my life as the day I opened the newspaper and read about the attack on the envoy train. You, Violet and Benedict could have been killed. And it would've been my fault, for sending you on that assignment in the first place.

Next time you drive (or, God forbid, fly) away, I won't let you go without showing you how much you mean to me.

So, Cattleya Baudelaire, how about it? Want to take the plunge and get married?

That sounds awful. But, honestly, this is the tenth time I've tried to write this letter, and my wastebasket is full.

Sorry. See, this is why I admire you writers so much.

Yours truly,

C. Hodgkins

/

My darling Mr. President,

That has to be one of the most badly written love letters I have ever received. I shall cherish it for the rest of my life.

My answer is yes.

Thank you, first of all, for not implying that marriage will make an honest woman of me. I know it's crossed your mind, respectable business owner that you are. I've always been honest – in my own way – and not many men would understand that. I'm grateful that you do.

People will say I'm only marrying you for your money and status. I won't deny that being Mrs. President Hodgkins does have its appeal. But if a wealthy husband was all I wanted, I could have had one long ago.

I've never met a man who respects me for my mind the way you do. Most of them can't seem to look higher than my decolletage, which I find most useful, but also very tiresome at times. When I grew too old to dance at that nightclub, I dread to think what might have happened if you hadn't been there to offer me work. I know I like to flaunt my independence, but the truth is, I have struggled on alone for so long that it was an unspeakable relief to have someone share my burdens.

As for raising a family, well, I'd say we already have some experience in that department. Helping you take care of the junior staff, especially Violet, has convinced me I couldn't find a better father for my children in all of Leidenschaftlich.

I do apologize if my reading that letter out loud embarrass you. But you must admit, it was simply too sweet for me to resist.

Yours most sincerely in every way,

Cattleya

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