Epilogue
My darling Jillian,
I don't know why I am writing this, because I don't think I would ever dare to give it to you. If I did, I might lose you forever. You might take Leigh away from me. And I don't ever want that.
I know Leigh is not mine. When I asked your father for your hand in marriage, he told me you were already withchild. I put on a brave face. I accepted his offer to give it a week's trial. I was hoping there would be something there which would make me have to give you up without hurting you. But instead I fell in love with you.
I hate the thought that you have been with someone else, someone other than me. At first, it was an almost unbearable feeling. But soon enough, I came to feel a protectiveness towards you instead, a longing to keep you free from hurt. And I want Leigh to be my daughter, truly my daughter. Although I can never have that, I still hold onto the hope that she will always think she is mine.
I was a lonely man until I met you. You and your daughter have given me meaning again. I don't ever want to let that feeling go.
Let's do it for Leigh, if not for ourselves. Let's keep the secret.
All my love,
Cleave.
My darling Jillian,
I don't know why I am writing this, because I don't think I would ever dare to give it to you. If I did, I might lose you forever. You might take Leigh away from me. And I don't ever want that.
I know Leigh is not mine. When I asked your father for your hand in marriage, he told me you were already withchild. I put on a brave face. I accepted his offer to give it a week's trial. I was hoping there would be something there which would make me have to give you up without hurting you. But instead I fell in love with you.
I hate the thought that you have been with someone else, someone other than me. At first, it was an almost unbearable feeling. But soon enough, I came to feel a protectiveness towards you instead, a longing to keep you free from hurt. And I want Leigh to be my daughter, truly my daughter. Although I can never have that, I still hold onto the hope that she will always think she is mine.
I was a lonely man until I met you. You and your daughter have given me meaning again. I don't ever want to let that feeling go.
Let's do it for Leigh, if not for ourselves. Let's keep the secret.
All my love,
Cleave.