“Overpriced coffee cups and bridge, Mother. Coffee cups and bridge. Shall I start touring retirement homes? I think you have a real problem and need an intervention. While you and Dad are gone next week I’m gonna donate 25 of your cups to the homeless.”
“Avery Jacob Thompson! How dare you even say such a thing!”
I snorted at her outrage and the preposterous look plastered across her face as she stared at me, open-mouthed.
“I’m gonna take your key away from you!” she threatened.
I shrugged. “Fine, but then I won’t be here to water the plants…”
“It’s four days, they’ll survive.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I won’t be here to hide your Amazon packages from Dad, either.”
She rolled her eyes. “Aren’t you gonna be late for work or something?”
“Yes, I just came by to pick up my mail.”
“And pilfer another coffee cup from your defenseless mother,” she added.
“Well, if you feel that strongly about it, call the police,” I said breezily, waving goodbye as I disappeared out of the kitchen.
“Very funny,” she called to my back.
I stopped alongside the basket by the entryway, grabbed the small stack of envelopes with my name on them, and stuffed them into my backpack. I stepped into my shoes and headed out the door before I had to hear her complain about cups again.
I cranked my car’s heater and headed off towards the diner, sipping my iced coffee in peace…finally.
Fifteen minutes later, I was sitting in my favorite spot on the curb in the alleyway behind the diner. No one ever went back there except the staff, and it wasn’t even accessible from the road. It was the perfect sanctuary for the kitchen lackeys to hide from guests. I had arrived twenty minutes before my shift started, as per usual, and pulled a Marlboro Smooth out of my hidden pack, deep in the inside zipper pocket.
I lit the end, inhaled, and pulled out the mail I’d collected that morning. It was all junk and advertisements, except for one smaller envelope on the bottom.
I held the cigarette between my lips, pinched the small edge of the envelope, and tore it off. I tilted the envelope and a tri-folded piece of paper slipped out into my other hand.
Avery
4077 Boulder Crest Lane
Uptown, Emberford
My Dearest Avery,
I hope that when you read this you get as excited as I am writing it. I know we’ve talked about my sentence in the past, but I just thought I’d let you know that it’s over. Nearly, anyway. I’m set to be released next week on the 18th. You probably won’t even get this before then.
I’m staying with my brother, but I don’t know his address to give to you. The first thing I’m gonna do when I get out is try to get a phone. Once I do, I’ll write you with the number and you can call me. I can’t wait to hear your sweet voice and see your smile for the first time. The thought of being with you when I get out is the only thing that’s kept me going through all of these years.
I want to be everything you need, Avery. I want to take care of you, I want us to build our lives together. I have no clue what the rest of my life is going to look like, but I do know two things…
I’m never coming back to prison, and I’m in love with you. I didn’t know it was possible to crave a person you’ve never met, but I do.
I can’t wait to wrap my arms around you and taste your lips like we've written about a thousand times before. We’ve almost made it!
I’ll see you soon!
All my love,
James
***
