I'm sorry there wasn't be a chapter yesterday but I was taken on a surprise belated Birthday treat this weekend which meant no writing time!
…
The letter was sitting on the mat when Tad came home. He recognised the handwriting straight away.
Dixie.
She had written him only a few letters since moving away to Llanview to be near JR. Always the letters were filled with news of JR's recovery and promises of her return when her son was finally well.
Tad sat on the couch turning the letter over in his hand. Did he want to know about JR..? Not really. Did he want to read Dixie's empty promises of a return…? Even less so. But maybe this time the letter would say that she was sorry; that she was going to leave JR to fend for himself and come home to be with him and their daughter?
Tad tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter. As he began to read he could almost hear Dixie's voice in his head.
…
Dear Tad.
JR is getting much worse. Dr Bennett said that he is showing resistance to the anti-psychotics that he is taking and they plan to change his medication to something stronger. He is still hallucinating but Dr Bennett also said his anger issues are the underlying problem. He is so very ill, he can't control his actions. He attacked a female patient last week and they have had to confine him to his room.
You can understand can't you? Why I left? I can't leave him in this state. My poor boy; I did this to him, I abandoned him, and I have to help him heal.
I have found a new apartment to rent in the city. It is closer to the hospital and so much more convenient. Could you send me the rest of my things? The weather is warming up I am still wearing my winter clothes. Maybe you could bring them up yourself; I know JR would love to see you. And I know it is a lot to ask, but if you could bring any news from AJ - pictures, or maybe a letter from him to his dad, I think it could make a world of difference to JRs recovery. (Although it is probably best if he doesn't mention Bianca in his letter.)
Give my love to the girls.
Dixie.
X
…
Tad starred at the letter. He didn't know what to do.
As much as he wanted to see Dixie, he didn't want to see JR and there was no way he was asking AJ to write to his dad after everything.
…And he knew Dixie would hate him if he told her that.
He knew JR was a monster, but Dixie could not bear to believe it?
Well, he could grant her one request, send her summer clothes. They were still in the closet in his room. All that remained of her in the house. She had taken the rest when she moved out. Well now she could take it all.
…
Tad climbed into the attic to grab a suitcase to pack Dixie's things in. He pulled a small black travel case from the pile and was surprised to find it was already heavy. There was a label attached to the handle – The Pine Valley Yacht Club, Room 133, MARISSA TASKER.
Tad vaguely remembered putting the case up there when the police delivered it to Krystal after the shootings. It was everything that had been left in Marissa's hotel room, collected while she was comatosed in hospital. He would have to try and remember to get it back to her… but right now he needed to find an empty case he could send on to Dixie… That grey one looked a good bet!
…