It’s been wellover two months since Troy showed up in Copper Creek and convinced Kate to renovate Charlotte’s house. Along the way, they’ve had a number of setbacks: the wiring wasn’t up to code; the chimney and the various vents in the roof also needed to be brought up to today’s standard; there was an issue with the plumbing; the skylights in the attic were leaking; the support beams in the living room went the wrong way, and the roof needed to be retiled.
I don’t even want to consider the money Kate has poured into the place.
“I can’t believe how great the house looks so far,” I say, surveying the open-concept living room. Troy was right about Kate having an eye for design.
“It definitely looks better without the wallpaper,” she says.
Amen to that.
The tacky, pain-in-the-ass-to-remove paper has been stripped from the walls, which have since been repainted white. The god-awful green linoleum kitchen floor has been replaced with medium brown tiles that now match the hardwood floor in the living room.
Troy and Kate also added decorative wooden beams in the ceiling. Wooden beams that were once part of the old barn.
Troy enters the room. “You guys ready to leave yet?” He hands me an envelope with my name on it.
“What’s this?”
“I have no idea. I found it in the guest room upstairs. It had fallen behind the drawers.”
Kate looks at the envelope. “That’s definitely Charlotte’s handwriting.”
Curious what’s inside, I rip it open and remove what looks like a letter.
Dear Noah,
If you’re reading this, it’s because I’m dead and my lawyer has given you this letter at my request.
I know you love the old Thunderbird and you were hoping I’d sell it to you so you could perform your magic. I hope you can understand why I couldn’t do that while I was still alive. I have some very fond memories of the car from my time with the man who was my soul mate. I’m sure you don’t want to know what those memories are, but I assure you that I was once a young woman with the same sexual urges you have. Yes, I am aware of how popular you are with the young ladies in Copper Creek.
I knew that once I gave you the car, I would lose an important part of me. You see, my dear John and I were to be married. But, unfortunately, he was sent to Korea to fight in the war. He was supposed to return to Copper Creek soon, and we would finally be husband and wife. The war had different plans for us, and John died a week before he was due to return home.
There was no other man for me after that. He was my one-and-only. That doesn’t mean I didn’t date other men. I just never fell in love with any of them, and I never told anyone about the one man who changed my life for the better. The man who took me away from a life I didn’t really belong to. I hope one day you will understand that kind of love. I hope one day you’ll find a woman who will cherish your heart the way John cherished mine. You deserve that, Noah. Never doubt it.
I never told you, but I’ve always considered you to be my grandson. I enjoyed spending all those days when you were younger, helping you learn to read. I enjoyed every minute you spent with me, talking about your schoolwork, your family, your friends. I never got to know my own great-nephews and great-nieces, with the exception of one great-niece. I blame that on my unwillingness to return to LA and my family’s dislike of staying anywhere other than a big city or a five-star resort. I hope you have a chance one day to meet Kate. I have no doubt that she’s the same sweet and beautiful girl as when I visited her in California. She has my spunk and determination. I think you would like her very much.
Now that I’ve moved on to join my one true love in heaven, the car is yours. It is my hope that after you restore it to its former glory, you will create your own memories in it, much like John and I created all those years ago.
Love,
Charlotte
At least Kateand I now have closure as to what happened to John, and why Charlotte chose to never marry after he died.
Sniffing and grinning at the same time, Kate wipes the tears from her face.
“Is everything okay?” Troy asks.
Kate nods. “Everything’s fine.” She kisses me on the cheek. “I’m just sorry I won’t be around to see the car after you’ve finished restoring it.”
I’m sorry she won’t be the one with whom I’ll be creating those memories that Charlotte hinted at.
My gut stirs as if plagued by a heavy dose of sour milk. The idea of having sex in the car with anyone but Kate doesn’t feel right.
That’s because you’re falling for her, dumbass.
Never mind falling. I’m already there.
Unfortunately, it will never work out between us. Copper Creek is my home. Kate lives in Beverly Hills. We’re from two different worlds.
