Chapter 2

Stevie watched Michael from the distance while she was slowly returning to their cabin. She had extended her walk back from the mailbox, using the time to contemplate when she should show Michael the letter.

His face lit up when he saw her approach the porch and sit down on one of the rocking chairs they had bought after having moved into the house. There wasn't a day he wasn't grateful that he and Stevie had gotten a second chance at being happily ever after together.

"Hey beautiful." He walked over to his wife and kissed her on the lips, noticing that he called her beautiful, a nickname he had often used for Bonnie. Luckily, Stevie was unaware of that which Michael was grateful for. He didn't want his wife to know how often his FLAG family was on his mind. "Isn't it a wonderful day today? Why don't we go for a hike around the lake?"

She nodded, still lost in thoughts. Her right hand was clutched around the letter in the pocket of her jacket. What should she do it with? Give it to Michael now and ruin the day for both of them? They wouldn't go on a hike once she'd given him the letter. Save it for later? Had she told Michael she was going to get the mail from the mailbox earlier? If she could only forget about the letter and make it disappear. However, Stevie wasn't a person who would hide things from her husband. He used to be a cop. He could tell if something was lying or hiding the truth. They'd also sworn to be honest to each other when they got married. She would honor that vow, even if it meant that their mood would be tainted and their plans for the day would most likely be changed.

Something was bothering her. Michael had known Stevie long enough and could read her like a book. Today, she seemed distracted, pensive, even tried to avoid eye-contact. The complete opposite from her chipper mood when they woke up. Something must have happened between breakfast and her return to the house. Michael wrinkled his forehead, trying hard to remember where she had been after breakfast and what she had done. She had mentioned that she was going somewhere. But where to? It must have slipped his mind. "Stevie, are you feeling alright? We don't have to go for a hike if you want to rest or do something else."

She looked up to him, startled by his words which snapped her out of her thoughts. There was no point in delaying the inevitable. She had to give him the letter. Now. Not after their hike or the next day. She wouldn't be able to look into Michael's eyes if she kept withholding it any longer. Maybe the letter would miraculously be swept away by a sudden gust of wind or being snatched away by a bird. Or Michael would spill his coffee over it. This was the scenario which would be the most likely. Would it solve the fact that the letter existed? Probably not. If Michael had looked at the sender before, he'd call Devon to find out about its content. And if he hadn't, Devon would certainly call at some point to ask whether Michael had received the letter.

"No, I'm fine. Really, it's nothing. I was just thinking about the song I'm currently writing." She quickly stuttered, using her music as an excuse. "And going for a hike would be fantastic. There are so many trails we haven't explored yet."

Her hand was still resting on the letter. Stevie forced herself to pull it out of her pocket.

She stood up from the rocking chair and handed him the letter. "I was at the mailbox earlier. You got mail."

Michael looked at her hand and carefully took the beige envelope. Like Stevie, he didn't have to look at the sender's name to know that it was from Devon. He had seen Devon's stationary often enough to be familiar with the envelopes he used to send out letters and invitations.

He stared at the envelope for what felt like hours before he noticed that Stevie was watching him expectantly. Suddenly, it dawned on him. The letter was the reason for her being so absent-minded and distant. It reminded her of his old life without her and caused her to worry that he wasn't happy with what they had now. "It's from Devon." He explained quickly, aware that this wasn't a secret to her.

"I know." Stevie answered quietly. "Aren't you going to open it?"

His eyes fixated on the envelope, he thought about her question. Yes, he was anxious to open the envelope and to find out why Devon had mailed it and what he had written. But what would happen if Stevie didn't like what it said? Would reading it cause a strain on their marriage?

"I don't know." He finally said. "What do you think? Should I open it?"