Letters From Al by Pieper, Kathleen (ebook audio reader TXT) 📕

was thoroughly cleaned. Everything was locked up tightly, so she sighed and tried to settle in.

Only the fascination with what was in the letters and diary kept her attention. Luckily one of the tiny keys on a key chain fit the lock and her Aunt Madeline's world was there in her own handwriting.

She opened the thick leather cover almost reverently. The stiff pages were yellowed, but the handwriting was feminine and neat. The diary began the year before her aunt ran away. After reading a few pages, Maddy could tell her Great Aunt Madeline's life had been full of bitterness and anger at the way she was treated.

August 11, 1924

My parents have enrolled me in a Catholic boarding school in upper Chicago. I'm not to call or have contact with anyone from home until Christmas. What hurts is they act like I have no feelings, but I do have a plan.

August l5, 1924.

Mother took me shopping today. They want me to have the best of everything except love. They care how I look, but not how I feel. Plan is progressing.

August 20, 1924. School starts in two weeks. I haven't much time. Had another awful fight with father again then Grandmother locked me in my room. I'm leaving as soon as I can.

The next few entries were faded out and illegible. Maddy sat back and contemplated what it must have been like for her aunt. Her Aunt Madeline's spirit and independence were admirable, especially since Maddy knew how formidable great Grandmother Morris could be. She read on and on until her eyes grew heavy.

Glancing at the alarm clock, Maddy yawned. She should try and get some sleep. It was after 1 a.m. already. She put the diary down and touched the letters fondly, anxious to see what they said too. She needed to rest her eyes just for a few moments.

Snuggling under the covers she listened to the wind blowing outside. The cottonwood tree branches tickled the window screens and sent shivers down her spine. Trying to pick up where she left off was impossible. Her eyes refused to stay open. Gathering up the book and letters she tucked them safely under her pillow. The last thing she recalled were shadowy figures dancing and playing on her walls in tune to the wind.

Sunday dawned bright and clear. With Alec having to be on duty Maddy promised to go to church with Aunt Polly, and Leland called and said he planned on showing the house at eleven, the one and only time, Maddy reminded him. So, Aunt Polly invited her over for dinner after church.

Maddy wore a green suit with her Aunt's cameo. When Aunt Polly saw it she nodded in approval. She had traded in her Reeboks for a sturdy pair of low-heeled pumps and a suit.

"Your Aunt would have been so pleased to see you wear that jewelry. It meant a lot to her, just like you did." She said as they walked to church.

The simple fact was Maddy was happy with her decision to stay and belong to something and someone. The small town girl was slowly reappearing, and although the doubts that lingered was more about the decisions she needed to make, they were tempered by moments like this.

"I'm going to break the sad news to poor old Leland right after he shows the house, and, unless they offer me a million dollars cash, I'm staying put."

"I'm going to pray for really poor Looky-Loos today," Aunt Polly said.

"There's no amount of money that could give me the satisfaction I'm feeling right now, Aunt Polly. And, after going over the accounts here and what I have left in Chicago, I think I can make it stretch just fine."

"Well, where there's a will there's a way, my old Granddaddy used to say. If you ever need anything all you have to do is ask.”

Maddy patted her arm reassuringly and shook her head.

"That's nice but it won't be necessary, that's why I'm taking so long to see if I can really afford to move here. I'm going to have to find a job eventually, but I'll be okay for a while until I decide what I want to do."

"Well, there's one deputy I know who won't let you starve."

"Now, don't go rushing that either, Aunt Polly. Don't act like you aren't trying to do a little matchmaking. I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about Alec. Oh, that's dumb, I miss him the moment he walks out the door. But it's been such a short time since we met again. I guess I get a little scared when I have to trust someone. Just don't be giving him any more ideas. Things have to move a little slower, I've made too many mistakes in that area of my life."

"Guess that Larry character hurt you pretty bad, huh?" Aunt Polly tucked Maddy's arm in hers as they walked.

"More than a little, but I'm getting over it. I should have never accepted his ring so fast. It probably wasn't even a real diamond, not that that matters. If I love a guy I don't care if I even got a ring. It's hard to admit I made a mistake with him. I thought he was the one, but I couldn't trust him. It's all about trust for me." It was still hard for her to talk about how afraid she was to trust anyone fully, so she shrugged and kept walking.

When they got back from church Leland and his prospective clients were waiting on the front porch for her to let them in. She crossed the lawn and unlocked the door, coming back to sit with Aunt Polly on her porch.

"I hope you put those letters in a safe place." Her neighbor looked over at Maddy's house.

"Don't worry." Maddy patted her purse. "They're not leaving my sight, not after what happened yesterday."

"Good for you, Maddy."

"Here, listen to this one." Settling back in her lawn chair Maddy read