The idea of what Andrew might say to his aunt and uncle appealed to me so I thought I would add one more chapter. I hope you enjoy it :)
1940
Dear Auntie Alice and Uncle Charles,
I'm sorry. If you are reading this letter then that is the first thing I need to say, I am so sorry for all the pain I will have inadvertently caused you. I had always planned to come home again but I suppose everybody does. If this is the cost of keeping Britain safe and defeating the Nazis though then I do not regret paying it. I regret the pain my death will cause and losing the time that I had hoped to spend with you but (Uncle Charles I know you will understand) sometimes we must serve a cause that is greater than ourselves. Freedom from Nazi rule is one such cause.
I hardly know what to write. Thank you both for always treating me as your own, especially after Mum died. The weeks I spent with you in the summers have always remained some of my happiest memories.
Auntie Alice, thank you for always knowing when I needed a hug (even when I didn't know myself), for encouraging me to write and for everything in between, like teaching me to dance (sorry again for stepping on your toes so many times).
Uncle Charles, thank you for teaching me to swim and for always demonstrating through your actions how to be a true officer and a gentleman. Of all the men I have met, you and Dad have always been the men I admired most and strove to emulate. Thank you both for always telling me stories about Mum and thus ensuring that she was always part of my life, it helped more than I think you realize.
I know Dad will take my death very badly and I regret the pain I will have caused him more deeply than I can explain. But I also know that you will both look after him for me, just as you did after Mum died, and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I promise that I tried my hardest to come home to you all but if you are reading this then I suppose I wasn't successful. Please promise me that you will carry on and celebrate with the rest of Britain when Hitler is finally defeated.
Auntie Alice do you remember those fairytales you used to read me when I was little, where in the end the knight would ride off into the sunset? Please remember me like that, flying off into the sunset, for I can tell you honestly that flying is just as glorious as I imagined it would be all those years ago. So regardless of what the report says (yes Uncle Charles I know you will have read it) please ignore it, and think instead of me just flying off and forgetting to come home for tea.
Thank you for being the best uncle and aunt I could have ever asked for. God bless and God Speed (fair winds and following seas Uncle Charles),
Your loving nephew,
Andrew
June 1945
The Howards' looked at each other and then at the young man who was sitting across from them with a worried expression on his face.
Andrew was studying his aunt and uncle carefully, Auntie Alice was clearly upset but Uncle Charles was much harder to read. He winced as he saw tears gathering in his aunt's eyes; this is what he'd been afraid of.
He hadn't planned on showing them the letter at all, but then Dad had found his when they were going through his kit and it had helped. In a way he had never expected it had helped to know that his father had read those words and knew how much he loved and respect him without the challenges of navigating such a conversation. It wasn't as if they never spoke of such things but it was still much easier to say some things in writing.
So when he had been packing the night before he had taken the slightly battered envelope that bore his aunt and uncle's address out of his desk and brought it with him. Now, as he allowed his aunt to pull him into a tight embrace, Andrew wasn't sure that showing it to them had been a good idea after all.
Charles Howard swallowed hard and then licked his lips but words continued to elude him as he watched Alice cry softly into Andrew's shoulder, if not for his years in the navy he imagined he would be tempted to do the same.
When Andrew said there was something he wanted to show them the last thing he had been expecting was to be handed the letter his nephew had written them in case he died in combat.
It was one thing to know how bloody lucky they were to have Andrew return home safely, and quite another to be handed a tangible example of how close they had come to losing him forever. He shivered at the thought and ran a hand over his face.
Howard had served during both wars although he had been, to his displeasure, on dry land for the entirety of this one. He knew how unspeakably awful war was and while he was very proud of Andrew for all he had done, he had also spent the entire war dreading the day he would see his nephew's name in the RAF casualty reports that he read daily.
Instead, by the grace of God, Andrew had come home alive and miraculously in one piece. Charles knew though that the mere fact that Andrew's limbs had remained intact did not mean he had come through the war unharmed. There were shadows in and under his eyes that spoke of sleepless nights and untold horrors. With all his heart Howard wished he could ease his nephew's mind but he knew, from his own experience, that only time could bring Andrew true peace.
"Please don't cry Auntie Alice" Andrew murmured as he held his aunt tightly, "I'm right here and you can see for yourself that I'm perfectly fine. I didn't show you that to make you cry, I just wanted to make sure you knew, well all of that."
Alice nodded and drew back reaching up to cup his cheek gently, "I know and I'm glad you felt you could show it to us. I'm so proud of you Andrew and so relieved to have you home again. I don't know what they were feeding you on those bases, you're far too thin."
Andrew chuckled at his aunt's indignation, "oh they fed us as well as they could Auntie Alice, not everyone can cook like you."
Alice gave a watery laugh, "Andrew Charles Foyle you really are incorrigible!"
Andrew grinned, "Does that mean I'm forgiven?"
"Of course you are! That was a beautiful letter, but I can't tell you how glad I am that it never got sent."
"I'm glad too Auntie Alice" Andrew whispered as he allowed his aunt to hold him close again.
After a minute Alice stepped back and wiped her eyes before looking at her husband, who had yet to speak. Charles was still holding the letter his eyes far away, and she got the feeling that he and Andrew might need a moment alone. Wiping her eyes once more she smiled at them and said, "I'll just go and fetch us some tea."
She squeezed Charles' arm as she went by and he answered her questioning look with a slight nod and a weak smile. Once they were alone Commander Howard took a deep breath and looked at his nephew, "that was quite the letter Andrew."
"It was all true Uncle Charles, I meant every word of it."
Charles nodded as he took a step forward and rested a warm hand on his nephew's shoulder, "I know you did Andrew, and I want you to know that I am so very proud of all you have done and the man you have become. Your mother would have been as well."
It was Andrew's turn to swallow hard and he ducked his head to hide the fact that he was blinking back tears, "thank you Uncle Charles, I like to think she would."
"Take my word for it Andrew, she would have been exceptionally proud of you, just as your father, aunt and I are."
"Thank you Sir."
Their voices were much rougher than either of them would admit and after a moments hesitation Charles pulled his nephew into his arms. It had been a long time since their last embrace and Howard was struck by how much taller Andrew had become in the intervening years. He also realized that Alice was right, the lad was far too thin.
He frowned stepping back and looking his nephew over from head to toe, "Alice is right, you do need some feeding up. Well at least you're in the right place for it. Now how many days did you say you were staying?'
"I thought maybe three or four, if that's all right with you and Auntie Alice."
"Of course it's all right. We're delighted to see you Andrew and you know you're always welcome. What sort of work are you looking for?"
"Depends on what's available of course but I'd like to try my hand at some writing if possible, see if I can't put those years at Oxford to good use."
Charles nodded and by the time Alice came back with tea they chuckling over stories of Andrew's Oxford days. She paused in the doorway for a moment suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude as she studied the two men before her.
She loved them both dearly and could have lost them so easily in this war and the last. Andrew's letter had been a heartbreaking reminder of that and she couldn't help whispering a prayer of thanks as she entered the room.
The End