Chapter 29
"Wow, do you guys really think that that is true? That they could all be reincarnated?" Chloe asked eagerly.
"I don't know, honey. I have never believed in it before. But then I did not believe that someone could 'see' where someone else that was in danger was, before, either!" Mac answered her.
"I think the main thing here is to keep an open mind," AJ said, "and we might find out more if we keep reading." He picked up the next letter in the pile, which was from Alvin to his wife, and read:
Dear Shannon,
It has only been three weeks since I have been gone, but it seems like so much more. I know that you could have joined me on the base, but your decision to stay in our new home and continue to work on decorating it was good one. It is just that I miss holding you through the night, and waking to your lovely face in the morning.
Basic training is NOT fun. But it will be over soon, and I will be home on leave until we ship out. They have said that we will be home for both Christmas and New Year's. Five weeks of being home with you again before who knows how long that we will be apart again.
I know that I promised to write every night, and I know that I have not kept that promise. Please forgive me! I fall into my bunk every night so exhausted that I can barely think, let alone write! This does not mean that I love you any less, just that I cannot even pick up a pen. War cannot possibly as hard as this! I am sure that they are just trying to get us really scared so that we are more careful when we ship out so that we come back alive!
This is Tuesday and I will get my weekly phone call again on Saturday. So it will still be five days until I can hear your voice again! Please stay well until I can hold you in my arms again.
All my love,
Alvin
Without a pause, or interruption-it seemed like they were all eager to hear what the rest of the letters had to say-Mac began to read Shannon's response:
My dearest Alvin,
I, too, have been busy. Our new home is taking shape nicely, and I am working on one room at a time. I hope that you will like all of the colors that I have picked out for the house. Even though we talked about them, it might seem different when you actually see the color on the walls. Your mother was over the other day and wanted to know why I was not doing the nursery first. She spent several hours here grilling me about when we are going to start a family. I told her that with the war on we had talked about waiting. She does not think we should. I am afraid that we had words.
I did try to apologize, but she did not take it well. I am sure that you will be getting a letter from her telling you all about it. Your mother is a fine woman, but since she lost your father she seems at loose ends. I am trying to talk her into volunteering at the hospital or somewhere that she could help the war effort. And I will admit that if she does that, she will have less time to be over here trying to give me advice.
My thoughts are constantly of you, and I am counting the days till you are home from basic training. Five whole weeks together before you ship out sounds wonderful. I am so glad that you will be home for our first anniversary! Our new bed should be delivered by then, and we can break it in together! If you know what I mean…if you don't, then you have been away too long already!
Counting the days till I see you again,
Shannon
To be continued….
