Page 9 of Marvelous

The moment I had it inside, I handed Will a bottle of beer, to which he winked, and then left.

I took the key that I had been given and sat down in front of the trunk.

I took in a breath and then inserted the key into the lock and twisted it.

When the lock clicked open, I opened the trunk.

I was happy to see that the inside was clean as well and even went so far as to do a little happy dance.

Blankets, a few old dresses, and a few old necklaces were in the trunk.

And as I dug through the contents, I inspected everything.

It was all nice quality.

I had been looking at one of the dresses when Sara came out of her room, walked past me, with a raised brow, and then headed to the kitchen.

That was when my fingers came into contact with paper in the trunk.

I moved my head and looked down.

Seeing the... wait. Envelopes? That’s what it looked like.

They were wrapped in a red ribbon.

“That’s what you wanted to go buy at seven in the morning?” Sara asked with a little sneer on her face.

What was her problem?

And tired of it, I asked, “What’s your problem?”

She lifted a brow, had I shocked her by asking her that?

Probably, but did I care... no.

She sighed, then just shook her head and went back to her room.

I was shaking my head as I inspected the envelopes.

I opened one of them, carefully, and started reading.

***

My Dearest Elaine,

There are no words to describe the pain I feel in my heart. No words to describe the feeling when the fibers of my heart broke apart. You are the only person in the entire world who has the power to break me. The power to hurt me.

Seeing you sitting there in the back of my old Ford pickup with the flowers in your hair, that smile, the one I knew was solely just for me. Throwing your head back, the long expanse of creamy skin, the way you laughed with abandonment. That dark hair glistening in the sun with its softness. Those. Those are the memories that keep me going.

All My Love,

Jacob.

***

My Treasured Jacob,

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and I hope they are right. It has been three months since you left, and I miss you. I treasure you. I hope you are out there, fighting. Fighting to come home to me.