This Reminds Me of Us by Julia Gabriel

Author:Julia Gabriel [Gabriel, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Serif Books

Chapter 21

Two days later, Serena received a strange envelope in the mail. At first, she thought it must be from her mother—the envelope was a heavy, woven cotton paper. Pale grey. Expensive-looking. Who else did she know who would use fine stationery? She set her purse down on the small half-moon-shaped foyer table, hung her winter coat on one of the iron hooks on the wall, and flipped through the rest of the mail as she walked to the kitchen.

She’d been out driving with Ashley, and her nerves were still on edge. Not because of anything Ashley did, but just from the stress of driving. Truth be told, not knowing why she had the accident bothered her as much as it did Oliver. The more she thought about it, the faster her imagination began to run. What if I had a seizure? A mini-stroke? Something that could happen again?

She dropped the mail onto the kitchen island and climbed up onto one of the stools. She picked up the grey envelope and looked at the back. There was a small return address printed on the flap. Annapolis. So not from her mother. Probably junk mail. She rubbed the paper between her finger and thumb. Expensive junk mail. She slipped her thumb beneath the edge of the flap and tore it open. The sheet of paper inside matched the envelope. She unfolded it.

It was written in longhand, a neat but quirky mix of printing and cursive. According to Mason’s teacher, the schools didn’t bother teaching cursive anymore.

That’s a real shame.

Her thoughts exactly.

The letter was short. For junk mail, it was very well done. Very convincing. Her eyes dropped down to the signature, expecting to see the name of some washed-up celebrity or minor CEO. Instead, her breath caught in her throat.

With love, Ben.

Then she took a deep breath. For a split second there, she’d thought the letter was signed by Ben Wardman. But that couldn’t be. Ben had died. It was probably someone like Ben Affleck or Ben Stiller or Ben Folds or … well, those were the only famous “Bens” she could remember. Someone endorsing some product or other.

It was short and she had a few minutes before Oliver was due back from his workout at the gym, so she began to read it.

Dearest Serena …

Well, the personalization was good.

If you’re reading this, then my prayers were answered and you recovered from the accident.

Really … good?

I am sorry that we did not get the chance to properly say “goodbye” to each other. We all leave this life with things undone. I have run out of time on my own.

She leaned against the kitchen island to steady her suddenly wobbly legs.

I’m writing to ask you a favor.

She sunk to the kitchen floor, her legs too weak to stand.

Mine and Ashley’s wedding anniversary is March 4th. Obviously, this will be a difficult day for her. It would have been our sixth anniversary. I don’t want her spending the day sitting at home and grieving.

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