The Love Letter
Tiny stood in the bedroom watching her Mom cry over every garment she picked up, doing this painful exercise of discarding of her Grandmothers belongings. It had been 6 weeks since she had passed and her Mother had just about picked up the courage to go back to the house since the funeral some 5 weeks ago "Mom" she said rubbing her Mothers back trying to console her somehow "Grandma's in a better place now that's what we have to hold onto remember what paster said?" she asked her sobbing Mother
"I'm sorry Tiny" she said through her tears
Tiny understood really, her Mom; like her, was an only child, she had been born while her Mother was in the forces, fathered by a Soldier, who had been killed in the early end of the Vietnam War around 1958, and she had never loved again. She had brought Patrice up herself, left the forces because she was pregnant and also a struggling single Mom who found work with the Public Services serving the then president in office.
For all intents and purposes Patrice was an affluent, proud, strong, educated, ambitious, black woman who married when she was 25 to Neville a police officer of high ranking and ten years later, when they had given up on the prospect of having children, they had Tiny; called that because she was a tiny replica of her grandmother Mercedes who was her name sake.
"Stop calling my name" her Grandma used to say when people called to Tiny by her name "Her name is Tiny I'm Mercy" she'd say and the name just stuck. The memory brought a smile to Tiny's face as she sat holding her Mother now broken
"Lets sort some boxes instead that's not so personal" her Mom suggested having composed herself, so they set about clearing the box room, called that not because it was small but because that was where Grandma had put all her treasured possessions in boxes. They opened the door to see white boxes, obviously brought for this reason neatly stacked around the room from floor to ceiling and half way through the middle of the room's floor space
"Gosh Mom how are we going to get through all of this?" Tiny asked holding her chest for the enormity of the task ahead
"Grab two chairs sweetheart and we'll sit and work through them from this side, your Dad can come and get them to the shops once we've separated the good from the tat" she laughed "I guess he'll be doing a lot of lifting" she said looking around the room "I guess if you want it keep it but check with me first" she added as Tiny went to find some chairs for them. She came back with two stools which made her Mother cry again remembering sitting with her mother getting her hair plaited or made up to go meet her now husband
"Are you sure you're ready for this Mom?" Tiny asked with a chuckle as once again she held her mother as she cried
"I'm ready to be held by you sweetheart" she said as Tiny held her tighter
After a short while Patrice sprung up wiped her eyes and said "Come on Tiny no more crying" as Tiny looked on wondering when she was crying but said nothing as they grabbed boxes and went to sit on the stools to open and sort them. They went through the boxes laughing, crying, telling stories and agreeing trash until Patrice called time at about 11 pm.
At 23 years old Tiny had excelled at school and went on to attend Julliards, she dabbled in the Dance classes for a while before falling properly in love with Jazz, her major, and then taking up Piano, strings and also classical opera to fill in her spare time. She'd recently joined a group, which she'd purposely forgotten to tell her parents about, and sung anything but church music, she actually loved performing, which shocked her, it was like the skin that belonged to Tiny just fell off every time she got on stage and she became this confident, beautiful, talented, Mercy, which is what she called herself at University
"We'll have to get back on this tomorrow if you want the help I really can't miss any more of uni" Tiny said as they packed up for the 40 minute journey to the airport to get back to her parents house. A far cry from her Grandma's old wooden stepped, ground level 3 bed cottage type abode in South Carolina with picturesque gardens and the largest balcony for a house that size. "We should stay tonight Mom" she suggested as her Mom looked round the room for something to say why that was a bad idea
"Its not the ideal" she finally came back with "But I do need the help so I guess we could stay here for tonight"
"Great I'll call Dad and let him know" Tiny said jumping up to get her mobile "Dad" she said excited when he picked up "Mom's decided we're staying overnight so just to say don't collect us from the airport" she said pausing to hear his side of the conversation "Yeah she actually suggested it, well agreed to it anyway" she said with a smile on her face "Yeah goodnight Dad" she said before passing the phone to her Mom who left the room to have her private conversation and returned some 15 minutes later snivelling but smiling.
"We'll order something in yeah?" she asked Tiny as she handed her the phone back
They were twenty minutes deciding and then they only ate a slice each of the Pizza before Patrice announced she was going to get a soak before bed and getting up early in the morning to get everything packed because she was definitely going home tomorrow. Tiny sat watching TV and listening to music for a while before she decided a long soak might help bring sleep and ventured to the bathroom, emerging 40 minutes later even more awake than she'd been before her indulgence.
She sat flicking through her play list, went on her university web site checking out what was happening up there and them staring at the TV again before she decided to just get on with a bit more packing. She stood in the doorway of her Grandmothers bedroom trying to decide what to do first. She eventually decided to get everything out the draws, wardrobe and cabinets and put them on the bed to make things easier for tomorrow with packing. She made light work of getting everything out and maybe 90 minutes later she was sat on the bed looking at a very high pile of clothes, underwear, hats, coats, shoes and books. "Grandma what you doing with so many books, I never saw you read one" Tiny said picking one up "Love in a cold climate" she smiled leafing through the book thinking about her Grandma possibly being young and in love with some unreachable stranger. "Advise and Consent" she picked up another book saying as she read the synopsis this time "Just the right mix of her two favourite things" she chuckled to herself grabbing another book "To kill a mockingbird?" she questioned as she opened the book and papers fell out "What?" she asked quietly as she picked them up and saw envelopes with Nashville post marks on, neatly written "Oh" Tiny said with a smile on her face "letters from Granddad" she said grabbing hold of the handful of letters and stuffing them back in the book, hoping to cheer her Mom up tomorrow with the find.
The next morning Tiny was up surprisingly early considering she'd struggled to find sleep the night before "Mom" she ran into the kitchen saying "Mom" she said again waiting for some sort of acknowledgement that she'd been heard "Mo.."
"Just talk Tiny there's only us in the house I'm bound to hear you"
"Okay, sorry I found these letters from Grandpa to Grandma last night and I was thinking you'd maybe want to read them"
"From my Dad to my Mom" Patrice said excited wiping her hands and walking quickly towards Tiny to get the book "They're all mixed up Tiny" she said disheartened when she looked in the box
"I'll sort them Mom don't worry about that" she said taking the box and sitting at the kitchen table ready to sort the letters out for her Mother, by breakfast the letter around 8 were sitting in a tidy pile on the table ready
"Right" Patrice said sitting at the table "First one please" she smiled at Tiny saying
"First one 27th June 1961" Tiny said passing the envelope over
"1961?" her Mom asked pulling her hand away "Check that date" she told Tiny
"27th June 1961 it's right Mom" she said giving her back the envelope
"That's not from my Father" she told Tiny pushing the letter back to her "I don't know who she wrote that to, obviously she didn't want me to know him or her as the case may be, so I really don't want to know"
"It might be Grandpa Mom, he was at war maybe it just took a while to get here" Tiny added "Just open the first one and see if the date's different and then we'll know" Tiny suggested, Patrice looked at the envelope for a while before taking it from Tiny and opening it
My Beloved Mercy
Our week together was unforgettable, I was wrong to do it but honestly, I have no regrets and I hope you can say the same. I know I said I wouldn't write but Mercy I fell in love in less than a week and although on that first day I could only offer you the position of mistress in my life, today I want you to be my wife I miss you, please reply so I can visit you
And the answer to your request is I promise, and you know how I am with those
I will love you forever
Sam
"My Dad's name was Graham" her Mom said coldly as she finished reading the letter out loud
"But it was so romantic that Grandma actually tried to love someone after Granddad passed"
"No it isn't" she jumped off the chair shouting at Tiny before leaving the room "Destroy them" she turned to say as she left
"Okay" Tiny said putting them in her pocket before thinking better of that and putting them in between her books in her briefcase. Mercy followed her Mother to the bedroom and silently started packing things as they had agreed. The tat boxes were left in the hall ready for collection and everything else was put in the back of Mr James, from next door's, truck and taken to the local second hand store to do with what they wanted and at 7.30 pm Patrice and Tiny stood at terminal 2 waiting for their flight back home to Los Angeles.
Tiny couldn't wait for the hellos to be over so she could unsuspectingly go to her room to have a look at the next letter, but her parents regularly popped into her room to have random conversations about shit that really didn't matter to her, or maybe even them, they were just about keeping the channels of communication open for their vulnerable 23 year old recluse daughter. It was about 11.30 pm when she heard the house finally go quiet and as usual her Dad popped his head round the door to check she was sleeping, which of course she was until he shut the door again, then she sprung up. Grabbing the briefcase she took out all the books and scattered them across her bed just in case and grabbed the bundle of letters written to her Grandmother to read "19th December 1961" she said. As she opened the envelope a ping of guilt went through her making her pause for just a moment before the need to know crept back in and she almost violently ripped it open
My beloved Mercy
My Love it's been 6 months and you've given me nothing to work with, I know right now you're focusing on what your daughter needs and you're right to do that, but you need too, I felt that when we were together and I need that back please say yes to my weak proposal, Marry Me and make me the happiest man in the world
I will love you forever
Sam
"He's begging Grandma, and Mommy so needed a Dad" Tiny smiled as she folded the note and put it back into the very torn envelope, laying down and falling asleep, it had been a long day. It was three more days before she was able to read any more letters as her Dad went away on business and as traditional she slept in her parents bed with her Mom for two days until it was time for her to go back to University. She said a very tearful goodbye and left for New York back to her dorm, study and free reading, as she lay on her bed ready for a marathon read " 20th June 1962, every 6 months" she smiled as she carefully opened the letter and read it
My Beloved Mercy
Everyone is furious with me for what I just did, but I couldn't stand there and Marry Julia knowing that my heart was full for you. It's been a couple of years now and I guess you get my letters but that pride of yours refuses to let you reply so I'm just being that bug in your ear reminding you that I'm here and I still love you and of course I'm waiting
I will love you forever
Sam
"He was supposed to get married and he didn't Grandma he was waiting for you, why didn't you go to him?" Tiny looked up asking with tears in her eyes for the romance of it all "12th December 1962" she told herself as she opened the next letter
My Beloved Mercy
After all this time with no contact this should be a very easy letter to write, these words should come so easy, I should be standing in front of you in about 14 hours saying the words I'm about to say to Julia. She's not you no one will ever be you, but the pressure I'm under from my family is tremendous and I guess in a sense their right, how can I love a memory of love so much. We know that what we felt for each other that week was real, it's lasted thus far and it will go on forever. I can only say sorry for what I'm about to do, and I know after that revelation you may not think it but
I will love you forever
Sam
"Grandma" Tiny said through her cry "Please tell me you tried to stop him, he loves you" she finally said as she sat thinking of all the time her Grandma had spent alone and as a child the guilt she had heard her Mother convey to her Dad about leaving her there alone for long periods of time "All that time she could have been with someone she loved, who loved her" Tiny said as she opened the next letter "16th June 1965" she smiled 'Maybe his wife left him and he's asking for her to go meet him, why am I getting excited I know she didn't' Tiny thought looking at the contents of the next letter
My Beloved Mercy
I got a letter from our president today it simply said 'in god we trust' and I knew it was from you, I'm glad you think our souls will meet again and I pray for that too. It's maybe not even linked but you made this the happiest day of my life, My son Daniel was born today a bit touch and go this morning but everything seems to be working out for him, I'm so proud, and with all this pride I'm feeling for my new son my heart still wishes I was looking at you as his Mother with his older sister standing beside us. I'm still incomplete Mercy because my love is missing
I will love you forever
Sam
"She sent a letter from her place of work naughty Grandma" Tiny chuckled "So he got married had a damn child and still insisted on writing love you letters to my Grandma. I would have dissed him too Grandma but now he's all settled and everything you choose to reply to his letter why did you do that, jealously caught up with you for a second" She laughed out loud saying
"You alright Mercy" Tina her room mate asked
"Sorry T just reading for an assignment" she said stuffing the letters under her pillow just in case Tina came closer
"Okay I'm going to see you know who so later right?" she asked
"Yeah fine" she replied waiting for the door to close before diving back under her pillow for the rest of the letters "16th July 1990"
My Beloved Mercy
It's been a while and I guess life, has done its best to both of us I hope you found some happiness, not as much as you'd have had with me but, enough to get you through. I'm only guessing you still have the same post box and you'll get this. It's another proud day for me and I just needed to share it with the love of my life, my son's getting married today to a pretty little southern girl, their love seems much like ours, it brings tears to my eyes every time I see them together. I know your daughter got married a few years ago it was high profile, and so it should be, you Anderson's are of high calibre. So yeah there's going to be a deserving Mrs Evans by the end of today
as always
I will love you forever
Sam
"He's never forgotten Grandma, in all he's done in his life he's never forgotten her, why did she choose to forget him?" A question Tiny knew she could never get the answer to now her Grandma had gone "Sam" she said wondering what he looked like, there was never a time she'd sat and considered what someone Grandma would fancy, 'is that the word' would look like, she was such a hard woman, to imagine her in love was difficult for the most imaginative person. "So his son got married and the only person in the world he needed to tell that was Grandma, please tell me you replied to that" she said as she rushed to open the last letter
My Beloved Mercy
It was so exciting to get your telegram today I had to write you straight back with my news too. We were meant to be together I always told you this, but you refused to believe it and now this for me seals the deal. We were born on the same day and now our grandchildren are born on the same day, both name sakes and mine looks like me and yours looks like you, could God be so gracious Mercy do you think he could?
I finally told Julia about you, she was upset at first but when I convinced her that you had never reciprocated any of my letters bar one from the President she calmed down. I'm sorry if I betrayed a confidence in doing that, I just felt like I'd been living a lie all these years, because try as I might I still want my days to be spent with you
I keep reading your letter over and over again looking for the word love but you don't use it, I know it was something felt and not for paper but if you could just once tell me again. I've lived on your declaration of love for me for over 28 years and I need to hear you say it just once more before I go
I still play our song and tell myself at the end of it, one day you'll arrive here and tell me your ready now, because you told me you would love me forever and I believe you
as always
I will love you forever
Sam
"22nd February 1993, why did I even have to look at that" she smiled as she read her birthday on the envelope "Why did she tell him about me?" she wondered for a while. "I guess when she had news she just wanted to tell someone she loved just like him" she surmised and smiled at that conclusion as she folded the letter to put in back in its envelope "What's this?" she asked as her hand touched a neatly folded note attached to the back of this last letter, almost as flat as the single page she'd just read "A PS" she said carefully unfolding the note to see different writing on it and for some reason excitement crept in at the find "Grandma" she gasped as she read the first line
My Beloved Sam
It's been 22 years since our last correspondence and I do so hope you and your family are well, as you said in your last letter 'Its now or never' we loved Elvis didn't we, yes I know I'm beating around the bush again but that's me. Of course I love you Sam, I always have, you're my heart but you know several things stopped us from being us back then and then at some point it just got too late to do anything about it. Maybe we should have broke the mould as you said then but I was scared, and you know why, my kind and your kind didn't mix well back then.
It was never pride for me, our love is special and I didn't want it tainted with slurs and innuendos from boggotted folk, who thought love was about colour, class, race, and the list goes on
My life has been blessed like yours Patrice fills me with pride every time I look at her, she's filled that second chamber in my heart, until you came along and my beautiful granddaughter Tiny I call her, she's just me all over again, makes me smile just mentioning her name, completed the fourth chamber of my beating heart
Yes, I'm getting to the point, I'm not well, I don't have long left and I needed you to know that although I love my life, if I had it all over again, I'd choose you to be in it too, remember our promise and so, as my parting gift to you, I'll tell you again as you asked
I will love you forever
Mercy
(Goodbye for now my Love)
Tiny was in tears as she read the note from her Grandmother to the love of her life "This has to get to him" she told herself "He has to know that she loved him to the end" she said taking the time to fold the letter back in its original folds
The next morning Tiny couldn't help but call her Mom with the news "Mom, don't kick off but I read all the letter" she said waiting for a response
"I knew you would" her Mom said with a smile down the phone
"All this happened well after Granddad passed" she told her Mom
"It's not about Dad for me, I don't think I want to be the reason why Mom didn't live a full life" Patrice told her daughter
"You weren't"
"Why didn't she then?"
"She did she was happy enough, but she loved this Sam all her life"
"As I said because of me she wasn't happy"
"It wasn't because of you, it was because Sam was a different colour to her"
"What white?" her Mom asked in shock
"Doesn't say, she just says different Colour, class, race"
"There are only two colours baby, Black or white" her Mom laughed "So Mom was in love with a white man and she was what ashamed of that?"
"No, I guess she didn't want the stigma for them, and with you already being born I guess for you too"
"He mentions you in his letters" Tiny told her stopping her Mom's breath
"Me? What did he say?"
"When his son was born he said he felt so proud..."
"That's about his son, what did he say about me?" her Mom butted in
"I'm getting to it" Tiny giggled "He said the only thing missing was Mom's face and his son's big sister standing at the side of the bed, which was you"
"That's nice"
"He also said, he'd heard you'd got married because it was high profile and you deserved it but he wasn't surprised because the Anderson's where high calibre anyway"
"Oh, that is so sweet" Patrice replied obviously with tears as the tremble could be heard in her voice "So" she said pulling herself together "What are you going to do about all this new found information you've got?" she asked
"Nothing really, I've got no addresses just Grandma's and I've not got the time to go on a wild goose chase" Tiny said "It's just good to know Grandma had a second chance at love and he loved her all her life, I suppose also that we can put a name to him too" she giggled "But I do have to wonder what kind of white man could float Grandma's boat"
"Tiny" her Mom said sharply before laughing herself
"Mom something else" she said sobering up "Grandma knew she was ill" she said trying not to let her voice break "She told this Sam guy a year before we knew anything"
"A year!" her Mom shouted through the phone "So she had time to do something about it?"
"I'm sort of guessing that by the time she wrote to him about it she'd tried everything there was to try" Tiny said reading between the lines of her Grandma's letter "Anyway just called to let you know I've got to go study for this exam later today"
"Good luck with that Tiny although I know you don't need luck you've worked hard for this" her Mom said blowing a kiss through the phone "Bye"
"Bye Mom kiss Dad for me" and the conversation was over
Three months later and Tiny had sat all her exams, quietly pleased with the results, although she was, like everyone else waiting on the official results, and just waiting for graduation day to be free of study for a short while, just one lazy summer and then she'd be starting at a senior school in Lima as the Music tutor. If she wasn't so excited about the whole thing she'd take a minute to be terrified of being in pastures new without her parents, but she'd felt that way about going to university and fitted in just fine. She was going to miss the band, they'd done so many gigs, saved so many lives when other bands didn't turn up for functions, become very close friends, she knew those bonds weren't going to be easily broken. So three weeks later when she got her results passing out with top marks for her four subjects, it was proud parents that stood on the podium congratulation their daughter for bagging The Outstanding Student Award before the party went down, they booked an hotel for the night and all three went back to Los Angeles the following day.
"So" Patrice said to Tiny as she sat shoving a few bits of food around her plate "What are you going to do with the house?" she asked her
"I don't know, I'm never going to live there I know that much but it was Grandma's house and I'm torn I guess, between moving on and wanting something of her to always be there" Tiny told her
"You know Grandma and what she'd say to you about that" Patrice told her daughter "Follow your heart"
"I'll go down this weekend and have a look around and stuff make my mind up and let you both know" she announced shoving the last bit of food in her mouth before picking her plate up and leaving the table
The Weekend
Mercy reached South Carolina by noon on Friday hoping to grab hold of some real estate agent to discuss her estate and options, she visited the house which looked pretty much the same as they'd left it nearly four months ago, she looked around wishing the old house had been built in some town much like her parents lived in with vibrant businesses, café's, clubs, bars, a good choice of men even. This place looked like cousin city, there was no way a man hadn't known his wife from birth in this place, 'maybe they impregnated to order' she laughed as she thought it
As she walked through the town passing the old barber shop; where men still congregated to talk about their wives and girlfriends, the bakers; smelling that age old smell of fresh everything cakes still loaded with fat and turnovers with much too much indulging Jam in the middle, made her lick her lips. As she walked past the post office a hand waved at her and she waved back, not knowing exactly who it was she stopped and went in to look.
"Mark, my you've grown" she said surprised to see him in the shop, his scrawny, gangly body had bulked out into a muscled tower, his looks were still in tact and his dark blotchy skin had evened out giving him a plain chocolate sexy look that she could seriously get into "What are you doing in here?"
"Working Tiny, you rich girls don't know what that is" he smiled
"My parents are rich Mark, I'm a struggling artist" she laughed as she told him "So your the post master now?" she said proud that although his Father had just passed two weeks before her Grandma, Mark had overnight become this responsible adult. He hadn't attended the funeral, he was overseas finishing his education and was now a qualified Lawyer but had still chosen to run his Fathers business, after that sacrifice
"Post masters son" he corrected her "I'll never take that title from Dad, rest his soul" he said looking up to the heavens "You here to deal with Ma Mercy's house?" he asked as his eyes focused on Tiny again
"You mean my house?" she corrected him
"I was right first time then, rich girl" he smiled "I've always liked you Tiny, and I know you know this, but you insist on ignoring my advances why?"
"I was studying, no time for distractions Mark and now I'm off to work in Ohio after the summer, I'm here for a week and no way do I need a relationship right now especially not a long distance one"
"Always got an answer for everything" Mark laughed
"Sorry" she said flashing her eyes at him making him laugh all the more
"Sorry, and then you give me those damn eyes of yours" he laughed harder "Go sort out your house I might see you later if you're lucky"
"You mean, if you're lucky" she said flicking her hair and walking off leaving him watching her leave
"And you know Cane's up the road, tell him I said to leave you the hell alone" he shouted after her as she left looking down at his fidgeting hands as he chuckled to himself for the madness that came out in him when that girl came around
News had already reached Cain because he was standing outside the bar when she approached that side of the main street with a smile on his face "Tiny, Tiny Tiny" he said as he walked towards her with his arms open waiting for her to walk into
"Cane, Cane, Cane" she mimicked back at him stopping before she got to his arms "We ain't tight like that" she said looking at his outstretched arms "What you up to nowadays?" she asked standing far enough away from him to let him know he was not touching her today or any day really
"Out of the cafe and into the bar" he said pointing at the only bar on the street
"You upgraded" she smile sarcastically
"I'm working my way up, by the time you're ready to settle down I'll be managing this place you watch" he grinned
"You know it's never been about material things for me Cane, I couldn't give a damn about what my man has or hasn't got if I feel it I feel it and that's just it"
"Do you feel it for me Tiny?"
"No Cane I don't, so please stop with the trying"
"Tiny" she heard from behind her "Tiny" the voice said again and she turned to see Mark waving her to go to him
"Between you two I'm seriously being put off coming here again" she said "Hold up Cain" she said turning to go see what Mark wanted, knowing he was just going to ask her if she'd told Cain what he'd said "Yes Mark" she said, rolling her eyes when she got to him
"I forgot to mention your Grandma's post box, there are a couple of letters in there and it needs paying for and, or closing down" he said
"Of course" Tiny said following Mark back into the post office to sort things out
"If you need any legal advise in regards to the house or anything I can help I'm the Lawyer around here too, I do that freelance" he smiled in a professional way
"Got that" Tiny said still following him to the post box, he took out two letters and passed them to her, standing watching her look at them "What?" she asked opening her arms for the explanation
"Pay or close which one?" he asked "Are you with it Tiny?" he laughed asking
"Yeah I'm with it, just close the box and have them sent to the house for now, no keep the box" she decided "Just take my number and let me know when letters come" she concluded while taking her mobile out to give him her contact number "Bye" she said as she walked out looking at the envelopes paying no mind to Cain still waiting outside the bar as she got in her car, threw the letters on the seat next to her, started the engine and drove away to her house.
She made her way to the kitchen and set the kettle on to make herself a drink, sat at the kitchen table and finally took the letter out of her bag post dated 24th May 2016 "God" Tiny gasped "That was the day Grandma passed" she said winded as the letter somehow fell between her fingers as she sat just looking at it "Come on Tiny do your thing" she told herself reaching for the letter and opening it to read the next revelation
My Beloved Mercy
Sad news I'm writing today, on top of your sad news which broke my heart, Julia was in a car accident last night coming from church and she was killed at the scene, My son was in the car too, driving, he's in intensive care and I am totally in bits about him. You know how easy it is for me to cry well I really can't stop, and you know you could hold me and stop me in a minute, or is that a hot minute, I laugh well, I need you to do that for me now my love, my heart is breaking and somehow I can feel you getting closer to me, I just needed to speak to you right now, do you have a phone?
Hopefully you'll get this letter and read it, I know that will make me feel better, I miss you so much sweetheart, all these years lost we need to be together, I wished I could get mad and demand that you come to me or let me come I should be looking after you now, we're none of us young any more. I'm holding that olive branch Mercy let me come see you , before my eyes close
I will love you forever
Sam
"His wife died the same day as Grandma, and she still thinks they weren't destined to be together" she said feeling around for the next letter "28th November 2016 this one's only a few days old, he still thinks she's alive" she said ripping the letter open to read the contents
My Beloved Mercy
You'll be glad to know, Daniel is well now, he's finally out of hospital and off recuperating in Canada with his family, they plan on spending a month there apparently his wife's brother lives there which leaves me at a loose end. I've therefore decided to bite this particular bullet and follow my mail to your box.
I should get there for about 12.40 on Saturday 3rdDecember 2016, I'm praying that you'll come and find me, whatever you need to tell your family we can do that together, but I need to spend my last days with you, otherwise my life would have been pointless.
I can hear you cussing me now, it's making me laugh actually, but only because I know while your shouting at me your heart will be bursting with joy at the sight of me, and I'm not being big headed in saying that I just know how you work, remember?
I'll see you in a few days
I will love you forever
Sam
"Shit" Tiny said looking at her mobile "He's coming in what, Tomorrow"