Lanore's POV-
Jack walked in the room. Lanore looked down at the lovely baby in her arms, sound asleep. She watched as Jack smiled, in tears of joy, and cradled the baby. Lanore smiled choking back tears. But hers were not tears of joy. For she knew that the baby that Jack was cradling in his arms was not his child.
Six months had passed since the baby, who Jack had named Elizabeth in (honor of Elizabeth Swann), had been born. Lanore had never dared to tell Jack about Joe, and Jack had never suspected anything. After all, he believed his wife was faithful and would never do such a thing.
Lanore, however, felt she needed to talk to Joe. She had not talked to him since their rendezvous over a year ago. She couldn't just call him up and say, "Hey Joe. What's up? By the way, I had your daughter." No. That was not going to happen. She needed an excuse to talk to him, something that almost forced her too.
Finally, Lanore came up with a plan. Her brother. He was going to be in the ninth grade next year, and chances are Joe would be one of his teachers. She needed to talk to him to tell Joe not to treat her brother differently, and not to let anything out. A perfect plan, she thought. However, she did not know his home phone, only his cell. And she wasn't in the mood for an awkward phone conversation anyway. No, she decided. "I'm going to write him a letter."
Lanore had gone through numerous pads of paper before she came up with a letter that sounded casual and yet informative. Here is what she wrote:
Dear Joe,
Has is been over a year? Hard to imagine. I know you may think it is odd that I am writing to you now, and I haven't in the past. It is complicated - too much to explain to you in this letter, now anyways. But I must not get off topic. My brother, Matthew, is in the eighth grade currently. That means you will most likely be his Geography teacher next year (assuming you're still there). I just want to tell you not to treat him differently than the other students. I know he knows you were my teacher at one time, but other than that, you must say nothing of me (or us). There is more to tell, one very important thing. But I cannot now muster up the courage to say it, that is, until you respond to this letter. Good luck with your job. I wish you the best.
Sincerely,
Lanore Sparrow
(Yes, that is what you must call me.)
Lanore addressed the envelope and stamped it. She brought it to the town post office (for she could not risk Jack finding it in the mailbox). She had also changed the return address - so Joe would respond to her at the small shop she owned rather than her house, where Jack may see it.
About a week or so after Lanore sent the letter, she received a letter at her shop (which specialized in band merchandise). She turned the envelope over, and saw Joe's name. Ever so carefully, she opened it.
Dear Lanore,
I am glad you wrote to me, because I probably would not have had the courage to do it myself. Your letter, however, has left me quite puzzled. Not about your brother; I promise I will say nothing. But the more important thing you needed to tell me. If it is so hard to say in a letter, then why don't we meet and you tell me in person? It's not a date; I assure you. But I really miss you, and I need to know this secret you're not telling me.
Sincerely,
Joe
p.s.-meet me at the old Kessler farmstand at 9 AM on Thursday. I'll be waiting.
Lanore finished the letter, and did not know what to think. He misses me, she thought. But he wants to meet in person. Lanore thought how she would break the news. It would be very hard to do. What would he say?
Lanore decided she had to go, because eventually, both Jack and Joe would find out. Might as well tell them while I'm ahead, Lanore thought.
review! review!
I have something very unexpected planned for the next chapter...heh heh
