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Chapter 5 – The Letter

Samuel squinted his eyes from the bright sunlight. "Gosh, that's….terrible." He mumbled just as someone handed him his New York Yankees ball cap.

"Cheers." He told them and put it on his head. He turned so the sun would shine to his back and rubbed his eyes back into focus.

He looked up and saw her. The strange entity that always took the form as his Mum. She was standing a few feet from him, smiling proudly. "Well, hello there you."

Samuel rubbed his eyes again. "And you again? I'm sorry, what should I call you?"

"The Bad Wolf." She put her hands behind her back and smiled. "That's a much warmer welcome that you have given me in the past."

Samuel nodded and looked around. "Dad told me that I have nothing to fear from you."

She smiled, "And he's right. Me, and your Mum, are the same."

Samuel shook his head. "I don't think so, but, alright. We'll go with that for the moment."

"Still don't trust what your heart tells you?"

"I don't trust myself right now."

She nodded, "Something I can help you with?"

He was standing at the top of the cliffs on the island where he had grown up. The waves crashed below him, but he was far enough from the edge that he was in no danger. He had jumped off of this same cliff many times.

The Bad Wolf spoke. "So, I'm pleased to see that you are finally beginning to accept these changes."

"So, I am changing?"

The Bad Wolf looked surprised at him, "And you haven't read your letters?"

He sighed. "No, ma'am. I haven't."

"You promised your wife."

He crossed his arms and cleared his throat. "I've been…rather busy."

The Bad Wolf rose her eyebrows at him, "Busy, Samuel?"

He nodded. "Yes."

She smiled and shook her head in disbelief. "You are so much like him."

"Who, ma'am?"

"Your father. Gosh, he was a stubborn man, too-"

"Was? My father is quite well, ma'am."

She waved her hand. "Yes, he is. I apologize. He's fine-"

"Is there something I need to know about him?"

She smiled and relaxed, "No, Samuel. Your father is fine. I'm sorry to have worried you. I brought you here to talk about you."

He looked around. "I'm on the island."

She walked over and stood directly in front of Samuel. "You, Samuel, are still on your island. Lying in bed next to Karen."

Samuel looked at her and reminded himself that his Dad had told him that he wasn't to fear her. She was very close to him, though. He couldn't help but to be a bit unnerved.

"May I ask you something?"

"Sure. Ask me anything." She replied.

"I remember. Everything that happened."

"Do you want to?"

"I don't understand what that means."

She put her hands on her hips and groaned. "Samuel. You are so much like your father. You make me mental!"

As said that, she smacked Samuel across the chest.

Startled that she had hit him, he woke up with a start. He had felt her strike him. He rubbed his chest and then realized that Karen had actually hit him in her sleep as she had rolled over. He relaxed and lay back on the pillows. He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her arm that lay on his chest. His fingertips begin to tingle as the electrical current began to move between them.

He sighed as he realized he had missed his opportunity to ask the Bad Wolf what the current was.

Karen took a deep breath and smiled in her sleep. "Samuel."

He kissed her head again. "Rest, Karen. I'm here."

She relaxed in his arms and continued to sleep.

He ran his fingertips up and down her arm. The familiar sensation crept up his hand, up his arm, and into his shoulder. He closed his eyes and started to drift off to sleep.

Just as he had almost drifted back to sleep, he heard The Bad Wolf complain in his head, "And this doesn't look like reading letters."

He opened his eyes and sighed. "Damn it."

He kissed Karen's head again and slipped out of bed.

He walked over to the dresser and pulled on a pair of pants and shorts. He opened the top drawer and took out his wallet. He quietly walked out of the room, and down the steps of his flat.

The flat was dark, and he yawned as he scratched his chest. It was 5:39 am and the wind blew the palm trees outside of the kitchen. He made himself a cup of tea and sat down at the bar.

He took the letters out of his wallet and tapped them on the bar as he blew his tea. He really didn't want to read them, but remembered that he had promised Karen. At least she was still asleep if something in them made him cry, she wouldn't see.

He sipped his tea and took a deep breath. "Man up, Samuel." He fussed at himself.

He unfolded the letters and sat the one from himself to the side. He looked over the letter from Karen and smiled. He turned it over and saw Caroline's drawing. He ran his hand across the page.

He flipped the page back over and read the letter from Karen.

Dearest beloved,

Well, there you are. Probably sitting there looking very handsome and scratching your chest.

Samuel laughed and stopped scratching his chest.

First of all, your chest. It will continue to itch as long as you wear certain fabrics from Earth. So, take yourself to Plentitude and go shopping.

You, are changing, but know that you are always the same wonderful man who I love more than anything. Don't be frightened and know that you can talk to me about all of these odd things that are happening. I'm not going to run away in fear of anything you say. You need me, as much as I need you. I'm not sure when I'll read this letter but know that I am always, here for you.

Samuel. You will be the reason Rose finally accepts who she is. And you'll have to be the one who figures out how to use these unique gifts you have, and then make her comfortable using them, too. Don't worry, I'll help you as much as I can. It's helpful because, as Arles says, "Your children are as strange as you!" It's great fun, and there is never a dull moment with this brood.

He smiled as his heart swelled with pride. "My children."

When I was preparing to write this letter, you and I spoke a lot about this time in your life and the fears you had. Sweetheart, one thing I will tell you that you have to do immediately is to stop living in the future. You're life is here now, and wishing you are back in the future only breaks your heart. Life does that enough with the daily ups and downs. Don't unnecessarily put that worry on yourself. Take a deep breath, and know that everything is going to be alright. It's a long road to there, but it's worth every step. And I'm with you, holding your hand, the entire time.

I love you and you've been 'cheeky' as you say, and asked me to give you something that you will find helpful. So, the next page is that. A Karen Cheat Sheet, as your Uncle Tony called it.

Samuel pulled the next paper out and looked at it. It was in Karen's handwriting. "What about the letter from Mum?"

He returned to reading the letter.

And Rose wants to finish this letter, but wants me to write it in my handwriting so you will actually read it.

He laughed. "I would have read it, Mum."

She says, "Samuel, I'm so incredibility proud of you and Karen. Please know that I'm not sitting here, broken hearted as you have told me once that you thought I was. Give me some credit, son. I'm made of tougher stuff than that.

He laughed. "You're right. Tough as leather."

In fact, the way everything has happened has worked out beautifully. You can trust me on this. (wink) The way the lines have moved, I don't actually remember you lot leaving. But, you are here, twice. It was as if it was always met to be this way.

And your brother will be determined not to read his letter. He's so much like his Papa, that it doesn't surprise me at all. So, please tell him that I'm not cross at all, with any of you. Even Genie and Legate. My brother, Tony, well….he had his reasons.

Jack was just here, and I'll try to write you again soon and send the letter with him. As soon as I have sat down to write this, I have forgotten so many things I wanted to say. And I suppose that's to be expected.

Know that I love you. I'm proud of you. And even though I'm not the Rose from here, I am still your Mum and you can come to me about anything. Alright? In fact, when you come to talk to me about you changing, this is how you will need to handle it."

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