Rough Edge: Elliot Security Series by Evie Mitchell

Author:Evie Mitchell [Mitchell, Evie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thunder Thighs Publishing
Published: 2021-01-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

Jetta

I waited in Pax’s office. At first I paced, leaving all his stuff alone. Then I sat and stared at the pictures on the wall, analysing why he’d chosen them. Finally, I gave in to curiosity and started shuffling through his papers.

Pax, I was learning, did not leave much just laying around. His desk was neat and tidy, more, I assumed, Addie’s doing than his. He had a fountain pen, a neat stack of Post-it notes, including one with a reminder to pick up milk, and other general office supplies. I found his new day-by-day calendar and started writing silly things on different days.

Finally, I gave in to curiosity and shuffled through his drawers. The first one held another stationary collection. I pulled out highlighters and swapped lids on colours because I could and knew it would make him laugh. The second drawer was locked, so I left it. The third one was where I hit the jackpot. Inside were his personal things. A bottle of strong whiskey and a few glasses, his war medals. These I took out and gently laid on the desk. They deserved pride of place, not locked in a drawer for no one to see. Their placement spoke loudly, shouting at me this was a tender point we needed to deal with.

Under a small wooden box, I found them. The letters. The pictures.

My letters.

My pictures.

I sat back on his chair, slowly flicking through the many memories.

May. I’m sorry. Please write back.

June. Courtney hates everything about me. I don’t know if I can make this right.

September. I miss you. I miss you so goddamn much. Every day I want you here.

December. Merry Christmas, Paxton Elliot. Come home safe.

February. It’s so hot. All I want to do is sit in a pool and drink ice water.

August. I can’t afford a new car. I can’t even afford the electricity bill. I’m sinking and I don’t know how to swim.

November. We’re okay. Money is still tight but I’m working it out. I miss you. Be safe.

So many letters. All of them. He’d kept every single one. They weren’t all clean. Some had dust and grit. Some were torn, the folded creases worn through. Some of them had been handled so much words were missing.

I looked through the photos, feeling my heart clench. Some were ones we’d taken together. God, we were so young. So innocent, with no idea of how much happiness had to be earned. Some were pictures Kathy had sent him. Picture’s I’d never even seen before. Clandestine pictures of me at parties or with Courtney. At school functions or musical things. I couldn’t believe it. There were a few I’d sent him. I assumed he’d have torn them up. Or lost them. But no, they were there. Me smiling.

I opened the wooden box and felt my heart stop.

Inside were all my CDs. All the CDs I’d ever sent to him, made for him. Me singing for him. Reminding him of why he went and why I wanted him to make it home.

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