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“What’s not there?” John asked, now pulling out his own mail.
“Just a letter I’ve been waiting for.” I shoved the mail into my briefcase, disappointed, and pressed the button for the elevator. As I stood there waiting, I couldn’t tear my mind from that damn letter. It should be here, I mean I hadn’t gotten my mail in a week and over the years, Leah had gotten damn good at getting those letters to arrive on the actual holiday, not a day before or after. “It is the fourteenth, right?” I asked John who now stood beside me.
“All day, man, all day. Which reminds me I forgot fucking roses. I’ve got to run and get those. If you see Cynthia, just let her know I had to run back to the office, okay.”
“Sure thing.” I watched as he ran out the door, in some ways I was glad I didn’t have to deal with that yet.
Once I had gotten changed, I heated leftovers from the night before and ate dinner in front of the TV, just like I always did. I flipped through the channels trying to clear my mind but the fact the letter hadn’t arrived was bothering me more than it should have. I even ran back down and double checked that I hadn’t missed it because it was pushed up against the wall of the mailbox, but there was nothing.
I slammed my apartment door and went straight to the closet. I reached up to the top shelf and pulled out the little shoe box that sat there. I took it to the couch and removed the lid. Inside sat nine year’s worth of letters mixed with funny odd little gifts. I pulled out the one that stuck out most and opened the pink envelope.
Logan,
Happy Valentine’s Day! Hope you enjoy this black licorice, black instead of red because it matches the color of your heart!
Leah
I smiled as I dug through the box and found the disgusting black licorice buried in the bottom and flipped the box over in my hand. I continued routing through reading and re-reading all the letters she had sent me over the years. I remembered receiving every single one of them and although I never answered her, for reasons only I knew, I was utterly gutted that one hadn’t arrived today. This was the first holiday in ten years she hadn’t sent me anything, I guess perhaps some guy had won her heart and she had forgotten about me. The thought piqued my curiosity, who would Gingersnap date, she was so pouty and bratty most of the time. The only thing I knew had changed about her was her language in her letters, it had become more sophisticated over the years, I silently wondered if maybe the rest of her had caught up. I grabbed my cell phone and opened Facebook.
The only notification I had was an invitation from Leah to my parents ten-year wedding anniversary. I glanced through the photos she had posted. I hadn’t seen my mother in a few years; she looked great, almost as if she had aged in reverse. The anniversary party was being held in two weeks. I quickly glanced at my calendar, that is the weekend they were supposed to close in the framing on my house. I knew John would probably look after all that for me, it would only be one weekend.
Without giving it a second thought, I quickly booked a ticket to head back home for the party. I thought about responding to the invite but decided I would let it be a surprise, not only for my mother, but for Leah as well. I wanted my damn Valentine’s Day letter, and I would get it, even if it meant going back home.
ELEVEN
Logan
I woke and looked around the room through blurry vision, almost forgetting where I was. I stared at a chair I didn’t recognize and then I remembered that I had taken the red eye in last night so I wouldn’t have to miss a day of work. I was swamped with projects and couldn’t afford any extra time off. I ran my hand over my face and reached for the room service menu that sat on my bedside table. I was starving and tired since I had only had two hours of sleep. I had thought about going to see everyone this morning for breakfast but decided last night it may be better to wait and see Mom alone after everyone had left for the day.
I read through the menu, pancakes and bacon catching my eye. I picked up the phone and placed an order then I jumped into the shower while I was waiting. A long shower was just what I needed and after thirty minutes of letting the hot water run over my aching body, I shut the water off and wrapped the white towel around my waist. As soon as I stepped out of the bathroom, I could smell the fresh blueberry pancakes and found them under a covered plate on the desk. I poured a cup of coffee from the little coffee maker and sat down at the desk and dug into the stack of steaming pancakes after dousing them in syrup.
I drank down my cup of coffee, refilling it after I finished eating and then headed into the bathroom to shave. I normally kept my beard trimmed short, but I had been working so much I had little time to worry about it, but I didn’t want to see my mother without looking half decent.
It was close to ten thirty by the time I had finally gotten dressed. I grabbed my wallet and keys and headed out the door. I figured Mom should be alone by now, everyone else would be working. I had a good half hour drive to the house. As I drove down the once familiar streets of the old neighborhood, it was like time had stood still in this small town.
I finally pulled into the driveway the house looked the same as it had the day I left. I turned down the music and sat there for a moment. I had vowed never to return home after I left for Boston, and I had succeeded, until now. I didn’t even know what I was doing here. I didn’t know how I would face Leah after that kiss we had shared, and how I ran after wards. I got cold feet and was about to back out of the driveway when I caught a movement in the front window. My mom stood there looking out at the unfamiliar car that was sitting in the driveway, my car. As I watched her through the window, I shut the car off and climb out, taking my time to walk to the front door. I had opened the screen door and was just about to knock when the door was pulled open and my mother stood in front of me with tears in her eyes.
“Logan, is it really you?”
“Yeah, Mom, it’s me.”
She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me in for a tight hug. “My god, it’s so good to see you. My little man all grown up, looking as handsome as his father.”
I pulled out of her embrace and looked at her, really looked at her. She didn’t have that exhausted look she used to have, nor the deep dark circles under her eyes. She wore black dress pants and an expensive white sweater, her hair professionally colored and styled, she even wore makeup. I couldn’t remember a time I had seen her wear makeup. She was well looked after, about ten pounds lighter and she carried a sense of peace and happiness about her.
“You look great, Mom. I’m glad to see you’re taking care of yourself.”
“Thanks, honey. It’s easy to do it when you have the money and time and aren’t run off your feet every waking second. Come in, are you here for the party? Leah didn’t tell me you were coming.”
I stepped inside the house and noticed it had been redesigned by a professional, everything had its place. “That’s because she doesn’t know, I didn’t respond to the invite. I wanted it to be a surprise,” I said continuing to take everything in. “How do you know about the party, the invite said it was a surprise?”
“Well, Leah had to tell us, we were planning to go away for the weekend.” She smiled. “And yes, I’m surprised. Joe will be so happy to see you. Come in, tell me what is new? Where are you working? Are you dating anyone?”
I removed my shoes and together we sat down. You would almost think I didn’t speak to my mother on the phone by the way she was acting. “No, Mom, I’m not dating anyone. I’m in the middle of building my dream home though. Maybe after that is done, I will find someone to share my life with, if not no big deal. Did you want to see it?” I pulled my phone from my pocket and showed her the pictures of what they had accomplished and then I pulled up the floor plan.
“You designed this?” she asked studying the plans. “Maybe I should talk to Joe about hiring you to design us our dream retirement home. He promises he is getting ready to retire sometime soon.” She giggled.
“I did, Mom, I designed it. I would be happy to do something for you guys. I mean you guys paid for my education.”
