Anne would pass the post office almost every day to inquire for letters, just so that she might have them a little earlier. Alice didn’t write as often as Anne wished, but each letter brought a sparkle of hope, no matter how formal and reserved their contents. At least Alice still wrote to them.
“Ward. Let’s see, here you go, love.”
The letter was heavier than usual and that was promising. Perhaps this time Alice wrote more than that she and the baby were doing well and that they were now in this or that stage of the agricultural year.
The letter was opened before she stepped out of the post office. Anne found herself staring at another letter wrapped in the one she had just opened. Lory? Why was Alice writing to Lory? Of course, she didn’t know what wicked things Lory was up to nowadays – father had explained it to Anne quite clearly and had warned her to stay clear of her cousin – or did she? Why else would she not send it to Lory’s old address but instruct Anne to give it to her cousin. But why would Alice write to Lory if she knew?
Anne read through the letter addressed to her and her family. Alice was coming to Whitby for the Regatta! Tobias was joining one of the yachts!
When she had read through the letter a few times, her attention was once again drawn to the other one. She tucked the read letter away and began to walk in the direction of the Diamond Pony, staring at it.
Alice had never kept any secrets from her before she had gotten pregnant. But nowadays Anne felt like she barely knew her sister anymore and Alice seemed to work hard at keeping it that way. It hurt her every time.
The letter sat there in her hand. It wasn’t sealed.
She found a quiet corner, looked around, and then opened it quickly, before she could change her mind.
Alice was going to watch the Regatta with Lory, rather than with her? But they had always watched it together!
Once again, she felt the waters between herself and her sister grow, and there seemed to be nothing she could do to stop Alice from drifting away.
She could tear up the stupid letter.
She could rip it to a thousand pieces! Toss it in the Esk! Write an angry letter to Alice to tell her that father would never allow it!
But then she would have to confess that she had read the letter and Alice might only shun her even more.
And so the letter found its way into the Diamond Pony postbox in the end. Anne hurried away as fast as her blurred vision allowed.
“Ward. Let’s see, here you go, love.”
The letter was heavier than usual and that was promising. Perhaps this time Alice wrote more than that she and the baby were doing well and that they were now in this or that stage of the agricultural year.
The letter was opened before she stepped out of the post office. Anne found herself staring at another letter wrapped in the one she had just opened. Lory? Why was Alice writing to Lory? Of course, she didn’t know what wicked things Lory was up to nowadays – father had explained it to Anne quite clearly and had warned her to stay clear of her cousin – or did she? Why else would she not send it to Lory’s old address but instruct Anne to give it to her cousin. But why would Alice write to Lory if she knew?
Anne read through the letter addressed to her and her family. Alice was coming to Whitby for the Regatta! Tobias was joining one of the yachts!
When she had read through the letter a few times, her attention was once again drawn to the other one. She tucked the read letter away and began to walk in the direction of the Diamond Pony, staring at it.
Alice had never kept any secrets from her before she had gotten pregnant. But nowadays Anne felt like she barely knew her sister anymore and Alice seemed to work hard at keeping it that way. It hurt her every time.
The letter sat there in her hand. It wasn’t sealed.
She found a quiet corner, looked around, and then opened it quickly, before she could change her mind.
Quote:Dear Lory,
I hope you are doing well and that your family is well. When we talked, some weeks ago, you asked me to join yourself and the girls to watch the Regatta and I told you I couldn’t. I am glad to tell you that we will be in Whitby for the Regatta as Tobias is participating. I would love to join you, if you are still planning to watch.
Please let me know. A short note will do. I would love to write more, but you know I’ve always found the written word so restrictive. We will be at liberty to speak all we want when we see each other.
Yours truly,
Alice
Alice was going to watch the Regatta with Lory, rather than with her? But they had always watched it together!
Once again, she felt the waters between herself and her sister grow, and there seemed to be nothing she could do to stop Alice from drifting away.
She could tear up the stupid letter.
She could rip it to a thousand pieces! Toss it in the Esk! Write an angry letter to Alice to tell her that father would never allow it!
But then she would have to confess that she had read the letter and Alice might only shun her even more.
And so the letter found its way into the Diamond Pony postbox in the end. Anne hurried away as fast as her blurred vision allowed.
