Helen was sitting at the desk in her bedroom as she read today's letter. She felt a wave of nostalgia hit her at the thought of the five of them together.
One can't ever go home again, she knew that literally now as well as figuratively, but sometimes she could close her eyes and just remember the five of them, working together, laughing, joking, teasing. John baiting James as they sipped brandies. Nikola and Nigel bickering without really fighting over anything and everything. James looking like everyone's big brother when they would get too rowdy.
Rowdy usually being someone removing a jacket or Helen taking some of the damned pins from her hair.
As sad as she was those times were gone, there were no tears today. She was enjoying the fact that Nikola cherished that time as much as she did, and had truly felt accepted, as she had, and as she'd hoped for him.
No tears today as she tucked the note with the other opened ones and rose to get showered and dressed. Just a sense of the past that was less weighty ghost and more treasured sensations.