“I hope so.” She nodded and sighed. “But until I get a response to my letter, I’m going to lay here and think about everything he might not like about me.”
“Your phone is buzzing.” I motioned to the table in front of me.
“Probably work—wanting me to come in on my day off.” Lola sat up and grabbed her phone. “No! It’s Grace! I have a letter!”
“Yay!” A huge smile spread across my face.
“I’m going to get it.” She stood immediately. “Want to come with me?”
“No, I think I’m going to work on my response to Cain.” I pulled the letter out of the envelope.
“Okay, I’ll be back soon!” Lola grabbed her jacket and rushed towards the door.
I walked back to my bedroom after Lola was gone. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say in my next letter to Cain, but he gave me a lot to think about. I wanted to know more about him, and I figured it would be safe to share a few more details about myself. He didn’t throw my first letter in the garbage after seeing how much of a basket case I was, so that was fairly promising. The fact that he understood my perspective and had his own lingering concerns about love was actually a good sign. A man like that might truly value a relationship and fight to keep it. Maybe that kind of devotion would make me do the same.
Dear Cain,
Thank you for responding to my letter. I really wasn’t sure if you would. Your take on relationships is actually rather refreshing. I’m not used to meeting guys that understand how complicated they can be. I think I’ve just let myself believe there was nobody like that out there, so your perspective was unexpected.
My belief in that fairy tale ending you mentioned was shattered when I was ten years old, at my birthday party, if you can believe that. My father found out that my mother was having an affair and completely lost it. He showed up late to my birthday party, right after I blew out my candles. By the time the smoke from those ten candles dissipated, my cake was on the floor and my parents were screaming at each other in front of everyone. My mother accused him of working too much, neglecting her, and said it was his fault that she sought comfort elsewhere. The man she cheated on him with was at my party too—with his daughter. That poor girl had to watch her father get punched in the face several times before they were able to pull my Dad off him. Someone called the cops and my father was arrested while my mother cried in another man’s arms—a man that became my new stepfather as soon as the ink was dry on the divorce papers. The pattern repeated itself a few years later when my mother found out that her new husband was cheating on her… Screwed up, right?
My father never really recovered from his broken heart. He turned to alcohol and drugs, married a woman that had similar vices, and their lives revolve around their self-destructive habits. I love him, but there’s nothing left of the man I once considered my hero.
So yeah, that’s my screwed up life. I’ve always been hesitant and distrusting of guys I dated because of the experiences I had when I was younger. Every time I get close to trusting someone, I find out that my initial instincts were correct. Trusting someone will be difficult, but maybe I’m ready to try…
I’d love to hear more about you, whenever you have a chance to write me back.
-Chloe
If my first letter didn’t send Cain running, my second one might just do the trick. I had never shared all of the details of what happened at my birthday party with anyone, even Lola. She knew that there was a fight, and that my relationship with both of my parents was strained, but I never told her the whole story. The people that were in attendance remembered, but the story had been twisted and embellished as it was retold by people at school. Being able to leave the town I grew up in behind and start over once I got to college had finally let me put it firmly in the past. Still, it shaped me into the person I was, and I wanted Cain to understand why my trust issues had left scars on my heart.
* * *
“So…” I walked into the living room as soon as I heard Lola open the front door. “You got your letter?”
“Yes.” She nodded and a huge grin spread across her face. “I couldn’t wait until I got back. I read it as soon as I got to my car.”
“Ah, that explains why you’ve been gone so long.” I chuckled under my breath. “I’m guessing by your smile that it was a good letter?”
“Yes.” She clutched the envelope close to her chest. “He’s amazing.”
“Are you going to read it out loud like you asked me to do?” I raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
“No.” She shook her head back and forth. “You were right—these letters are personal. It’s probably best if we don’t share them—but, his name is Adam and he’s a doctor!”
“A doctor?” My eyes opened wide. “I thought Grace matched you up with a guy who was still in school?”
“Well, he’s doing his residency, so I guess he’s kind of a student?” She shrugged. “Either way, his letter was so sweet. I can’t wait to actually meet him!”
“You’ve got to write a couple more letters before that happens, right?” I chuckled under my breath. “Maybe you should get started on your next one.”
“Did you finish the one you were working on?” She looked at the envelope in my hand.
“Yep. I can drop them off tomorrow while you’re at work if you want.” I put my letter down on the counter.
“Perfect! I’m going to go write mine now.” She grinned and scurried towards her bedroom.
If things don’t work out with Cain, at least the trip to the matchmaking service won’t be a complete bust. Lola definitely deserves someone that can make her happy.
