Lizzie walked up the steps to Marie's front door. When she reached the landing she turned around to look at the view of the ocean. The afternoon sun cast sparkles across the water. She could hear the horns from the docks at Port Howat and the cries of the sea cranes in the distance. Marie opened the door.
"So, are you going to come in?" Marie smiled.
"Um, yes, I was admiring your view. It's so peaceful." Lizzie smiled back. She felt such peace in her heart at that very moment. It had been a long time since Lizzie felt so free.
Marie was wearing a light blue sweater. Lizzie noticed it made Marie's eyes sparkle like the sea. Her small house was very comfortable and warm. Marie motioned for Lizzie to sit down. It was the same sitting area that Lizzie had told Marie some of her secrets, secrets that she no longer had to keep. Lizzie took off her jacket and sat down.
"Thank you for being such a great friend Marie. I haven't been able to cry like that for years. Everything just hit me at once….Davey, Davey's will, then Frankie's letter, and……" Lizzie stopped. She couldn't express what she was feeling at that moment
"Lizzie, if Frankie has known all this time, then he knows how much you care about him. You wanted to fill that void in his life. You wanted to make up for Davey's mistakes. What you did was out of love Lizzie". Marie could see the tears welling up in Lizzie's eyes again.
Lizzie closed her eyes, "Yes, I would do anything for my son. You know what is strange? I feel like a part of me died with Davey. The part of me that was scared, that thought I didn't deserve to be loved...the part of me that thought I was better off alone". She opened her eyes and looked out the window at the ocean.
"Lizzie, Davey finally did some good. With the money from his will you can finally settle down." Marie hoped Lizzie would stay in town.
"I am not sure where I will go from here. The first thing I need to do is explain everything to Frankie. He is old enough to understand now. I am sure he knows more than he is letting on. He must have found Davey's picture. I was looking at it the day he died. Maybe he remembers the night his da struck out at him? Honestly, I am not sure how he found out, and it doesn't matter really. The fact is he knows that your brother was not his real da. He knows I made it all up. He wanted to let me know that he knew through the letter he wrote to your brother". Lizzie felt a lump in her throat. She was ashamed, yet relieved.
"Do you mind if I tell my brother about this? I think he should know. He cares about you and Frankie." Marie knew about the kiss Lizzie and her brother shared.
"No, I am sure he has forgotten all about us by now". Lizzie sighed as she thought of his kiss again. She wasn't ready to admit to herself that she missed him.
"Lizzie, you mean to tell me that you didn't feel anything for my brother?" Marie had to know. The story from her brother conflicted with what Lizzie had said.
"I do feel something for him. But…he's gone now. And, I don't know anything about him anyway, it's over….it's just over". Lizzie looked at the floor. She felt a sharp pang in her heart. She didn't want Marie to see how much she cared.
"I see, but you are mistaken. It's not over. It's a new beginning. Only if you want it that is, but it's up to you. I know he cares for you and Frankie. I want more than anything for him to be happy. God knows, he deserves it. Can I send him Frankie's letter? We can let him decide." Marie thought Lizzie was being silly. She understood the insecurities that Lizzie had because she had once had them herself. Lizzie was just trying to talk herself out of any happiness.
"I guess the letter is for him in a sense, but would he want to read it?" Lizzie stood up and unfolded her jacket and pulled out Frankie's letter. She handed it to Marie, "Here, I am going to trust you. It's time I learn to trust people again".
Marie stood up and took the letter out of Lizzie's open hand. She knew that by accepting the letter she was also accepting Lizzie's trust. She didn't want to fail her, or her brother.
"I must go, it's time I had a talk with my son". Lizzie put her jacket on and looked out the window. The sun was just above the horizon. The orange hue cast a beautiful reflection on the water.
"Yes, it's time. I will see you in the morning at the shop?" Marie enjoyed working with Lizzie. With the money from Davey's will she knew Lizzie didn't have to work if she didn't want to.
"Yes, I will be there bright and early". Lizzie walked to the front door, turned the handle, opened the door and started walking down the steps. Suddenly she stopped and looked up at Marie.
"Marie?" Lizzie smiled.
"Yes?" Marie stepped outside.
"What is his name?" Lizzie laughed at her question.
"Sean, his name is Sean Douglas". Marie giggled. It was fun for her to play matchmaker.
She watched Lizzie cross the street. As she shut the door she held Frankie's letter close to her heart. She knew that Sean would be touched by the letter. Destiny brought two lonely hearts together. She walked to her writing desk and pulled out some stationery. She knew exactly what she wanted to say to Sean.