Letters
August 1959
Blythe,
I am so glad that you have finally got what you have always wanted - a baby boy and I bet John is really proud. He will have someone to follow in the family tradition. I must say I am slightly jealous, although I have no right to be. I hope John takes more care of you than I did.
I am glad we can still be friends after the way I left, I just wasn't ready to settle down again - I don't know if I ever will be. I'm not even sure if I will be in the RAF much longer - I keep getting in trouble. But thats me all over.
Love always
Buddy
December 1959
I am finally free of the RAF - well actually they fired me. I don't know what I'm going do now but it feels good to be free. My father is not talking to me though, I think I have really pissed him off, haven't kept up the family name etc. My ex-wife has also got remarried and I am actually pleased for her, we were never right for each other, we only got married because she was pregnant. The kids are doing great, haven't seen much of them but I have spoken to them alot - I do miss them.
So hows Greg doing? is he sitting up yet or cutting teeth - my 2 were a pain when they did that. I'd love to see a photo of him - I feel like a proud uncle or something. Write soon your letters always make me smile.
Love always
Buddy
June 1960
It sounds like you are being kept really busy and moving aswell, that has got to be rough on you. How are things with you and John - I'm glad things worked out for you.
I've put a birthday card in for Greg, but I doubt John will appreciate it and I wouldn't want to cause an argument, so I will leave it upto you, if you want to give it to him, as I know John doesn't really like us writing to each other. So Greg's walking already wow! great news - he's going to be an intelligent one.
I got a job as a lab technician in a science lab working for the navy, not sure why they let me in but they did, it is really interesting, I always loved science, now maybe I can put my education and brain to good use.
Love always
Buddy
November 1963
Blythe, I am sorry to hear that you and John are having problems. Why does he not think that Greg is his ? He has been his dad since the day he was born so how can he not be his? (regardless of the biology) He sounds like a great kid, who wouldn't want him to be theirs. I'm sure things will calm down and get back to normal. Let me know if there is anything I can do.
You're in Holland now, I'm glad you write to me each time you move otherwise we would definitely lose touch
I am a full blown scientist now, working for the navy and my dad is still not talking to me, I spend so much of my time here, I finally feel that I have found somewhere that I belong.
Love always
Buddy
April 1974
Oh dear, sounds like your having fun with Greg. Mind you continuously moving around must be hard on him, you're in Japan now and John being the disciplinarian that he is, I wouldn't want to be in Greg's shoes. He sounds so much like me when I was that age, I never felt like they were teaching me anything either, they were all idiots because I already knew more than they did. None of them could keep my attention, I guess that's why I got sent away to Military School, please don't let John do that to Greg, it will be the worst thing he has ever done.
I still love my job, I am head of the lab now and my dad is still not talking to me- the idiot. I have tried talking to him but he just won't have it. I have 20 lab rats working for me. I don't have much of a life outside though, I seem to live for this job. Is Greg going to follow in John's footsteps?
Love always
Buddy
August 1985
Blythe, I have something to tell you. You know how I couldn't settle down - even with you - whom I consider to be my soul mate. It turns out there is a good reason for that - I'm gay. I have fallen in love properly for the first time and it's with a man - go figure. But we are keeping it quiet for now - not sure how the navy would feel about me being gay, but I have told my ex-wife and the kids. My son won't talk to me but my ex-wife and daughter are ok with it - I hope you are too?
You guys must be so proud of Greg - Graduating top of his class at Johns Hopkins - I know I am - even though we are not related. I put a card in here for him, but as usual I'll leave that one for you to decide.
Love always
Buddy
PS. I forgot to tell you - I'm a Grandad.
July 2000
Blythe is every ok? I know we haven't written in a while, but I keep tabs on Greg on line, but there's nothing in his brilliance for almost 2 years - it's taken along time to realise. I thought I might come out and see you as I am really worried about both of you. Are you still living in Lexington or have you moved again? Is Greg still a doctor, I know he got fired a couple of times but that's old news, there's not even a paper or a seminar he's attended, I can't believe I have only just realised, but I guess I do only check on him periodically - I'm not stalking him or anything, just like to keep tabs.
Please let me know if there is anything that you or Greg need?
Love always
Buddy
November 2000
Oh my god Blythe, I wish you had told me - not that it's any of my business, but god what a life changing event. How's he doing now? Is he walking? mind you with an injury like that I'd be surprised if he was, but then knowing the way his mind works (and mine too) he's probably up on 2 feet even if it's killing him. I'm meant to be retiring myself but I can't seem to do it, Anthony keeps pestering me to give up, but those of us with over active brains don't do well when doing nothing. I know it's got me into a lot of trouble over the years, I have often wondered how I have managed to keep my job for so long.
Anyway pass my concerns onto Greg. Don't take it for granted either that if he is back of 2 feet that he is ok, because nothing will ever be the same again, he will always be in pain even if he says he's not, make sure he gets a good handicapped parking spot when he goes back to work. I know he will go back to work or he may even be back already. When I retire I'm gonna come for a visit.
Always yours
Buddy
November 2009
I'm sorry that I didn't make it to John's funeral, you know I would have come for your sake if I could have. Anthony has been in hospital, he had a stroke and now they don't think he's going to pull through. I think it's time for you to be happy now. I hear Thomas is free now - go rekindle your love for each other - you always did like him, all those demonstrations you went on together - I bet John never did know. You deserve to be happy.
Wow! that son of yours is totally amazing, not only did he come back from that life changing event but he has made a real indent in the world of medicine and in some areas of research aswell. I'd like to meet him one day, I think we would have a lot in common, you did a good job there Blythe don't ever forget it!
Love always
Buddy
They had been sitting at the Piano for a couple of hours reading through the letters and that was the last one. House thumbed through the rest of the box, there were lots of birthday cards, there was a graduation card and a blank card. All of them had been opened but he had never seen them before. There were some photographs of Buddy he assumed, again not someone he ever saw around and even some news paper clippings about the work that he was doing with the Navy, he was a top notch scientist.
Andrea looked at Greg who had a kind of light in his eye. "So do you think he knew you were his?"
"maybe - yeah I think so, he knew me better than John did and he hadn't even met me" He said almost sadly.
"What are you going to do now?"
"Read a lifetimes worth of Birthday Cards" He said sarcastically "I am going to write to him to let him know about my Mom, they were obviously close, although he could be dead himself he's got to be in his eighties"
"That sounds like a really nice idea. I'll leave you to it, I'm going to start dinner" She said getting up from the piano, kissing the top of his head and leaving him alone.
House sat there for a while longer, looking through the photos and other memorabilia, he actually felt for the first time ever he had some idea as to where he came from. This guy was alot like he was and even looked a little like him. The guy had sent him birthday cards for 18 years and each one had a message inside, he had sent him graduation cards and even a note when he got his double specialty and he even had an understanding of his disability unlike his own father. mmm maybe one day he would meet him if he was still alive...
DINNERS READY was the next thing he heard. He put the letters, cards and photos back in the box safely and took it with him back upstairs, so that he could write to him after dinner.
