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

really like them. Not withstanding the fact that old Skip is a great volleyball player, the fact they picked you as a friend, shows good taste."

"Thanks for saying that. Meeting you again has changed my life, for the good I might add. I've been on my own for a long time, too long. Thank you for being patient."

"Sure, it shows my good taste, too." With that he tickled her and made a run for the house. "Come on, I've got to go to work at two, let's clean this place up. You know, I really hate leaving you, even to go to my job. It's beginning to interfere." Alec said with a mischievous look in her direction.

"Oh, come on. You know you'd never be happy if you weren't chasing the bad guys." She folded up some lawn chairs beside him.

"I like chasing you, too." His grin was irresistible. "Seriously, I like my job. But, maybe I don't like change any more than you do. I want it all and right now I feel like I'm almost there." He hugged her. "You know, you are a very pleasant distraction."

"You're changing the subject again. We were talking about your work. I'm beginning to see how dangerous it can be. But you're good at it and I trust you. I want you to be happy too. A relationship has to work for both of us."

"I think we're doing pretty well. And you're right. We both have to be happy. Are you happy?" He tugged at her chin and smiled.

"I sure am."

"Good. That's just what I wanted to hear. Okay. No use putting off going to work. Everything looks back to normal. I'll see you later. Get some rest and stop thinking so much." He touched the tip of her nose and she gave him an unhurried smile.

"Thanks for helping clean up and seeing Buffy and Skip off." Looking up at his tall frame, she felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

After Alec left, she gathered up the diary and letters and went out to the wicker lounger on the porch to read. The letters from Aunt Madeline's husband were so tender. They spoke of personal things, declarations of love and loyalty. Maddy felt a little guilty reading such private correspondence.

Wistfully she looked out over the quiet town, wondering how her Aunt had stood the loneliness for her husband over the years. She missed Alec the moment he left the room.

Maddy neatly refolded the letters and put them back in their envelopes. A yellow telegram fluttered to the floor. The wording was how Maddy had heard it in the movies. We regret to inform you that your husband has been killed. Maddy felt tears slide down her cheeks. It was dated June 6, 1944. Somewhere in France her husband had been killed. The words and warm sun lulled Maddy into a dreamy sleep of foreign beaches and war.

Some time later Alec woke her with a gentle kiss on the forehead. Smiling, she made room for him on the wicker lounger. "Hi. What time is it? I must have fallen asleep after you left."

She handed Alec a pillow and settled back with the diary. "I've read bits and pieces. The letters were sweet but nothing important. But wait until you hear what’s in the diary. Maddy began to read softly.

Xmas Day 1924

What a strange way to spend Christmas, with the people at the diner. I love them like family. I heard my parents have stopped looking for me.

Alec shrugged, "So, they were looking for her then they quit."

"That was later. After she ran away she worked in a little diner on the East end of Chicago and seemed very happy away from the family."

"Funny, a kid with everything in those times and she runs away." Alec shook his head.

"You know what's really weird? Everyone was afraid of these people that I grew up hearing about, too. They were all intimidated. Now I know why, they were bullies and their children were bullies."

"Sounds like a dysfunctional family, no offense." Alec's blue eyes held a far-off stare as he settled snuggly beside her. "You think you know someone, trust them and then bam! Right between the eyes when you don't expect it."

"Sounds like you've had some bad experiences too." Maddy sat back pensively.

"What? Oh," he smiled sheepishly, "guess I got a little off the track, but, yeah, just forget it."

"These things have lain around all this time. A few more minutes won't hurt if you want to talk about it."

Alec sat silently for a minute and then took a deep breath. "I told you I was married briefly." Maddy nodded and looked into his face that was now hardened and distracted. "Well, I thought we were happy. But one day, she just up and left, filed for divorce and that was that. Didn't want to live in a small town, didn't want to be married to a man in law enforcement, not enough money. She had a long list of complaints. I guess she didn't want to be married. I just never thought I'd end up divorced. It really depressed me. About gave up on the notion of loving someone as much as I do now."

"Divorce isn't an end, at least not for us. It's given us this second chance." Maddy whispered.

"You don't mind? I thought maybe it was why you didn't want to talk about us, about getting serious." Alec’s mood was somber, quiet.

"Alec, it's nobody's business what we've done before. You said that about Larry and me. I know you must have loved her very much to have married her. She's the loser, not you."

"I went on with my life, just wandering, my job and friends kept me sane. But when you came back to town, I started remembering things, feelings, about you and us, even when we were in junior high. Then I thought about a home, kids and all of it with you. It's why I probably pushed