The day started as any other day except that he wasn’t there to make the coffee for her. So she went about her normal Saturday activities of cleaning their little house and tending to the newly blooming garden before running out to the market for her groceries. It was a bright and sunny day that was proving to be a very warm one as well and it helped raise her mood greatly and she had hope that today would be the day that she’d hear something from him.

The mail was running later than usual she thought as she was putting away her groceries. She had decided while shopping that she was going to bake a cake for the older couple next door later, they were a lovely couple who had been married for close to 50 years and they were always there for her and her husband. And more so for her in the past year with her being home alone. They were such a cute couple and always made her smile. But it wasn’t to long after thinking about her neighbors that she heard the mail fall through the slot in the front door.

She didn’t want to get her hopes up that today would be the day but she couldn’t help but drop what she was doing and rush to the front door. There on the floor was the one thing that she had been waiting so long for. The letter.

The envelope was a bit worn looking, like it had been stepped on and folded up on a few times. It didn’t matter to her though. All that did matter was that she had a letter and that everything was just about right in the world.

She moved into the living room and sat in her chair holding the letter, looking down at the writing on the envelope for a few moments before opening it. He always had beautiful penmanship, she thought. She had teased him about it and how it looked like a woman’s writing shortly before he left a year ago. And now looking down at the letter she smiled at the familiar writing, running her hand over it gently. She couldn’t wait any longer and carefully opened the letter.

My Dearest Helen,

I hope that this letter find you well. I’m fine so please don’t worry! I know that you’re worrying but please don’t as everything is fine here.

Life on a ship doesn’t change much at all really. They have us on a really strict schedule, but I’ve told you all this before. We’re getting closer to our target and my letters will be fewer as we progress so please don’t be concerned. Know that there is nothing that can separate us and that I love you more than anything. Before you know it I’ll be home and we’ll have that big family that we’ve always talked about.

She paused for a few moments, looking down at the letter and it was then she realized that the letter was dated over 2 weeks ago. Of course she hoped that he was alright, but with this letter she had more hope that previously. She continued reading.

I was thinking the other day of the weekend that we spent in the city and how wonderful it was. Do you remember the long walk that we took in Central Park? It was so beautiful that weekend with all the leaves changing colors. The reds, oranges, yellows, and a few green leaves here and that hadn’t changed yet. And the weather was perfect! It was much warmer than we expected so we had our lunch there in the park under that big oak tree after visiting the zoo and stayed there as the stars came out.

Do you know what my favorite part of that weekend was? Remember I took you out to that little Italian restaurant and then we went dancing? You looked so incredibly beautiful in your dress and your hair all done up. They played our favorite song, Sentimental Journey. I keep the memories of that weekend and your face that night when you smiled up at me while we danced close because it’s what keeps me going. Gets me through the long days and nights. I know that we will be dancing again to that song soon. Until then my love….

~ James

She dabbed at her eyes and smiled remembering that weekend. It was truly wonderful.

She carefully placed the letter back in the envelope and then got ready to take the cake over to Henry and Mary.

This was my post for the The Red Dress Club.

Did you read the first part of this story? In not, here it is. A Letter from Her Husband.