The Letter — Part 4
She collected her thoughts and calmed herself a little. She looked over at Nolan’s picture. He was in uniform and had that hint of a smile on his face. What would Nolan do? What should she do to honor his memory? Thinking of Nolan brought the tears back again. She rocked gently on the bed, back and forth. The hot tears on her face spread a warm glow through her body. She looked down and realized that she had crushed the pages of the letter into a ball in her hands.
She steadied herself again. She took out the small bundle of old letters that she kept in the desk by her bed. These letters were stiff and a little brown around the edges. A big rubber band held them together. She pulled out a few and began to read through some of them to see if there was something in them to give her some help in deciding what to do. Was there anything in there about Frankie or his friendship with him? Anything good or bad?
This whole thing had really knocked her for a loop. She had expected just one more typical letter from Nolan, but nothing like this old bombshell that she had just read. Maybe she could just talk it over with someone first. Maybe with Joe or Nolan’s brother. She would really like to know what to do, what would be best for everyone, the kids, herself and even for Nolan. She couldn’t just let Frankie get away with this whole thing. He was sitting pretty, without a care in the world. What a crook and false friend he was. But there was the whole crowd downstairs waiting for her to come back. How could she just not say anything, or how could she tell everyone exactly what had happened. Exactly what was in this letter. She looked over at the wall by the bedroom door. She had a small crucifix hanging there. It was something Nolan’s mother had given her after the funeral. She stared at it for a moment. She decided to pray about it for a couple minutes and ask God for an answer.
After a few more minutes, Marjorie had made her decision. She took all the letters in the bundle with her, and went into the bathroom to compose herself before going back downstairs. She couldn’t let anyone see her like this, to see her confusion and tears. She needed just a little time to compose herself and finalize her plan of action.
About five minutes later, she heard Trudy knocking at the bathroom door.
“Mom? Is everything okay? We were beginning to worry about you. Are you coming downstairs soon?”
The door opened and Marjorie walked out. “Yes dear, everything is fine. Let’s go down. I think I can read the letter to you all now.”
She was calm and determined now. As they walked down the stairs, everyone stopped talking and looked towards Marjorie. She stopped at the last step and faced them.
“You’ve all been patiently waiting for this and I am sorry for such a delay. I think I can now read you Nolan Sanderson’s last letter.” She began to read it to them….
My dear Marj, How are things with you and the kids? I miss you all terribly. I bet little Joe is just sprouting up like a corn stalk in July, he probably won’t even recognize me when I come home. And Trudy, will finally have a chance to see her old man at last. It will be good to be home. I pray that they never have to fight in a war like this……
She read the rest as quickly as she could, it wasn’t very long. Her voice started to crack a little as she finished it…..
I hope you know how much I cherish you all. Give my love to my Mom and Dad, the them that I’ll see them soon. Kiss the kids for me. All my love, Nolan…….
A few of the women wept and even some of the men looked a little misty eyed. Both Joe and Trudy came over and hugged her. Marjorie made sure that she was able to fold the letter and put it in the pocket of her dress. She didn’t want anyone to know that she just read the letter that she received just before he died. As far as they were all concerned, that was the real last letter from Nolan. She hoped that the ashes in the waste basket upstairs would go unnoticed till she had a chance to clean it.
Marjorie sat down in her old rocker and looked around the room. Everyone started talking again, people were eating pie and drinking coffee or tea. The reason for the gathering was concluded and people were now getting back to their own lives and latest gossip. The tension was gone and they were no longer focusing on her anymore. Now Marjorie gathered her thoughts on the results of this eventful day. Things would all work out for the best. Trudy would be married in a few weeks. She and Dan would get that place outside town with the creek running through it. She would sell this old house with all its memories and then would get a new place by the kids. She would soon be able to quit her job and start a new life. Watching Trudy and Dan have what she and Nolan always wanted. She would help raise the grandkids right. Then when the crops began to grow in the summer, she could walk into the fields, smell the fresh breeze coming over the corn and think about Nolan and his dream. He would be happy that even if it didn’t work out for himself, it would for his daughter, and as he might say -’that was pretty good’.
The End.
copyright@2020 Bill Melnik