Chapter 2

True to her word, Peggy borrowed her brother in law's car and drove up to see Sally Draper the same day her father left town. Peggy felt strange asking the headmistress to see Sally and Sally wore an expression of bewilderment when she came down to see Peggy.

The two women went for a walk on the grounds of the school.

"You're probably wondering who I am and why I'm here to see you aren't you?"

"I remember you. You work with my dad."

"You're right, for a little over ten years."

Peggy then handed Sally the letter written by her father.

"What's this?" Sally asked.

"Your father asked me to give this to you. Please read it...he said that it would explain everything."

Sally sat down on a bench and opened the letter. Peggy walked along the edge of the pond in order to give her some privacy. Eventually Peggy saw Sally double over, her body wracked with sobs. Peggy hurried over to where Sally was sitting and pulled her into an awkward hug.

"Sally, your father loves you very much. His biggest concern in this whole mess was you and your brothers."

Sally pulled away from Peggy and she turned to look at her.

"Where is he now?" Sally asked tearfully.

"He went to turn himself into the authorities."

Sally sat there silently for a moment, digesting all she had just learned. Peggy sat next to her silently After a few minutes Sally was calm enough to speak.

"I know my dad isn't a saint Peggy, I'm not stupid. I blamed my mother for the divorce for so long. I thought that she sent him away, and that she made him feel unwelcome in his own home. I'm sure she wasn't completely blameless in the whole thing, but I now realize that the guilt lay mostly with him. He was often absent. He would just take off without any word to anyone and my mother would have no idea where he was. He once disappeared for two weeks! My mother told us he was on some business trip but apparently he was just out in California trying to "figure things out." He would often stay in the city for work...meetings with a client, or some other convenient excuse. I realize now that that was all a cover and that he was seeing other women. I know he cheated on Megan too because I caught him in bed with his neighbor."

Peggy gasped. "Jesus, really?"

Sally frowned. "Yes. I was angry with him for so long but he has been trying very hard to be a better father. He's made a point to visit me every other weekend and he has been visiting with Bobby and Gene equally as often. It has been great and it felt like we were finally getting to know who our dad he really is."

Peggy rubbed Sally's back, encouraging her to continue.

"He told me all about his childhood. He even showed us where he grew up. He was so ashamed but he wanted us to know where he came from. He told me that he had changed his name, but he didn't explain how or why he did it. He just said that he needed a fresh start."

Sally paused and she looked at Peggy. "I know he is far from perfect, but he is my dad and I love him."

Peggy's eyes filled with tears. "He is lucky to have you for a daughter. He would be so proud of your maturity right now."

Sally began to cry again and Peggy continued to rub her back reassuringly. After a few minutes Sally had calmed down enough to begin speaking again.

"My dad mentioned you in his letter."

"Really?"

"Yes. He said that there isn't another person in the world that he respects more than you, and that if I was in need of a real role model that I should look no further."

Peggy felt her heart flutter. "He said that?"

Sally nodded and she eyed Peggy curiously. "He also said that he loved you very much and that he wished that things could have been different so that the two of you could've been together."

Peggy sighed. "He said that huh?" Peggy knew that Don had written the letter prior to coming to see her. She found it interesting that he had written of his feelings for her to his daughter, especially since at the time of its writing their relationship was still platonic.

Sally nodded. "He did. Do you love my dad Peggy?"

Peggy smiled sadly. "I do, very much."

"This must be incredibly hard for you too then."

Peggy nodded. "It is. I've known your father for a long time and we haven't always had the best relationship. He was my mentor, my friend and then later my adversary. Luckily though, after he returned from leave we were able to repair our fractured relationship and we grew closer than we ever were. I don't think I was even aware of my true feelings for your father until yesterday they had come on so gradually. But I know now that he is the only man I could ever be with. I guess you and I are just going to have to hope and pray that he is able to return to us soon."

Sally smiled sadly. "I guess. For what it's worth, I'm glad my dad has you. I think you'd be good for him."

Peggy smiled. "Thank you Sally."

Sally and Peggy agreed to write regularly and Peggy encouraged Sally to call her anytime she wanted to talk. Peggy also promised to visit Sally as often as he schedule would allow.

On the drive home Peggy found herself thinking about Don and wondering where he was and how he was fairing. Hopefully the army would show him some leniency since he turned himself in. She wondered not for the first time that day whether she would ever see him again