The Letter - Chapter 26

“Hey Liz.”  I put my tray of food on the table and sat down across from my friend in the crowded school cafeteria. 

“Hi Jen!  Happy Groundhog’s Day!”

“Oh yeah.  I almost forgot.  Did he see his shadow?”  I opened a packet of mustard and spread it over my hot dog and made a pool of ketchup for dipping my fries.

“Yep.  Six more weeks of winter.”  Liz sat with a water bottle and brown bag in front of her.

“So what did Frau Henderson prepare für deine Mittagessen?”

“Sounds like you’re really working on that German, Jennifer.  I’ve got a peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat, a small salad and an apple.”

“I just came from German class, so it’s sort of stuck in my head.  Anyway, what you’re having sounds healthier than what they’re serving here.  I should start packing my lunch.  Dad would do it, but I hate to burden him.  And I’m too lazy to do it myself.”

“My mother is convinced that I will O.D. on junk food if she lets me buy a school lunch,” Liz said, eyeing my fries.  “Anyway, is everything all right with you?  You seem a bit down in the dumps.  I figured you’d be on cloud nine after we cracked the case of the mystery letter writer.”  Liz took a bite of her apple and smiled.

I swallowed the fries that I was chewing and took a sip of apple juice.  “Well, I was thrilled that we were able to learn so much at the TJ game.  And I told you that Jeff texted me his aunt’s address and phone number later that evening.”

“Right.  You sure looked happy after the game to discover that her nephew was such a hunk,” Liz giggled.

“Please, Liz.  I’ll probably never hear from him again.  I gave the information to my dad, but I don’t know if he’ll try to contact her.”

“Really?  I mean, if nothing else, it might be nice to have a pen pal in Seattle.”  Liz thought for a second.  “Maybe she’ll write your dad again. Maybe Jeff will tell her about you trying to solve the mystery of her letter for your father.”

“It’s funny you would say that, Liz.  Last Saturday my mom showed up on our doorstep asking to see dad.  While I was getting him to come to the door, the mailman came and handed her our mail, which she eventually handed to my dad.  I stood behind him listening to their conversation.  At one point, I thought I noticed something lavender in her purse.”

“Seriously?  Do you think she intercepted a letter from the mystery lady?” Liz asked breathlessly.  She glanced at my tray.  “By the way, are you going to finish those fries?”  Liz picked up two, dipped them in ketchup and ate them hungrily.  “Don’t tell my mom.”

“Go ahead.  I’m not very hungry.”

“Are you sick?”

“Sick at heart,” I said, taking another sip of apple juice.  “I don’t know.  I can’t really believe she stole my dad’s mail.  The reason she was there was because she has decided to try to get custody of me.  She delivered legal papers to my dad.  If she succeeds, I’ll have to move to her place – way out in Sewickley, which will mean going to some other school.  I mean, I love my mom – sort of.  It’s so complicated.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “After being out of my life for so many years, now she wants me?  And it would mean not graduating from Bethel or being with my friends, especially you Lizzie Henderson!”  Tears welled up in my eyes.

Liz looked aghast.  “Wouldn’t you stay with your Dad at least part of the time?

“Not if my mom has her way.  I’d be imprisoned in her Sewickley Heights mansion – sentenced to stay there at least until my eighteenth birthday.”

“I can think of worse fates, but I’d miss you horribly.  Will you be gone before the sweetheart dance?”

“Uh, I don’t think so, but I’m probably not going.  Nobody’s asked me, and I’m too depressed to go by myself.”  The bell sounded, signaling that it was time to go to our next class.  I picked up my tray to carry it to the clean-up station.  Liz followed close behind me.

“You should ask Jeff,” Liz whispered.

“What?”  I turned around.  “Liz, now you’re talking crazy talk.”

“I’m serious, Jennifer. I saw the way he was looking at you.  He’d go in a heartbeat.”

“I’ve got to get to English class,” I said as I hustled ahead of Liz.

“In a heartbeat, Jennifer!” Liz called after me.

“Forget it, Elizabeth!” I called back as I hurried to my locker to get my books for the afternoon.