Chapter 4:- 'What Letter?'

Caroline and Charlie travelled back and fourth; She was seeing things from Richard's perspective as she saw for herself the misery and loneliness that has long dogged him for a long time and the extent of that misery that was playing on his mind.

Richard was writing his one and only love letter addressed to Caroline in his old apartment aided by a bottle of wine for company. 'Dear Caroline, I don't know what I am writing so please bear with me. I know I am probably violating several rules of etiquette right before your wedding but i have feelings. Strong, strong feelings for you. I want to be with you. I want to share your laughter and wipe away your tears'... . If you feel the same way and if I have any chance with you at all, then come to Remos as soon as you can. You may not recognise me but if you walk through that door, I'll have a smile on my face previously unseen by anyone. If you're not here by seven, then I'll know your answer is no'.

For Caroline now, she now understood what it was like for Richard- she witnesses Richard penning that love letter, not to mention she now learnt about the famous love letter that he'd been trying to get across to her. She now learnt about Richard's hidden attraction towards her- an attraction of which he'd tried to hide and deny for a very long time, for 3 years in fact, as well as the extent of those feelings for her. It was an attraction based on his lust for Caroline, but one of which he was afraid of exposing to her. He was never someone who could easily confide in someone else and talk about their feelings, as openly and as truthfully as say Caroline. The irony however is that whilst Richard finally found out about Caroline's phone message, which declared her love for him, Caroline knew nothing of Richard's letter. Nor to her knowledge had she come across it at any stage. Of course, it was featured in Annie's sister's song 'Meet Me At Remos', which he helped write, but Caroline was unable to distinguish the fact that it was Richard's love letter that became the inspiration for the song and hadn't realised those lyrics were addressed to her, personally.

Caroline was still in disbelief over the letter, so much so that Charlie tried to get her attention, once again:

'Caroline? Hello? Earth to Caroline, do you copy?'

'Oh, i'm sorry Charlie. It's just that this is all so surreal, I mean, he loved me then but...'

'But what?' Charlie asked.

'Charlie, can I ask you something? ,

'Sure thing'

'When you've been with someone for a considerable time, when you've known them that long, and during those times you experienced problems, do you ever stop and wonder if it is worth continuing that relationship?' Caroline posed

'Well, I've never been in an actual relationship myself, but the one thing I noticed is that time goes by very quickly and that if you don't take the chances that are in front of you, then you'll live to regret it, as you get older. Likewise, I wanted to travel because I wanted to see the world and find out what I had to offer in life. That's what you should do, Caroline.

'What travel?'

'No, unless you want to; what I am saying is that you only get one chance in life and when you do, you have to take it and make the most of it. Even if things do go wrong, you have to persevere and keep on trying to make it work. Look, I know Richard said something that he regrets very much, but if you are going to give up on him, just like that- all because he said he didn't want children with you, then you are not being fair to him, to yourself... and you're not being fair to his son'

'But, Charlie he sounded as if he genuinely meant it'

'... and yet don't you think that perhaps that he was afraid and worried? Think about it- he's not used to being around children- but from what I saw in Italy, the way he handled the responsibility of being a dad was unbelievable. I think he has changed, he loves being a dad: he just misses having you around with them, that's all', Charlie exclaimed.

'Do you really think so?'

'Yes I do'. 'Now Caroline, what you do from now on is up to you...but if I was Richard, I would want to prove to my girlfriend how much being a father has changed me for the better. Caroline I have to go now'.

'Oh okay Charlie' Caroline replied. 'You will talk to Richard, if you see him, right?'

'Right' he insisted. 'i'll see you soon. bye. ' Charlie went.

'You too Charlie' said Caroline and in that he skated off, in search of Richard.