24. Chapter 24
Mermaid Motel
Smuggler’s Hideaway
My dearest Sadie,
It feels silly to write this letter when I’ll be seeing you live and in person in just a few minutes.
But I want you to have one more letter. The most important letter I’ll ever write to you.
My hand is shaking as I write this. I never thought I’d say these words or I guess write these words.
I never thought I’d find a woman who gets me. Not me, the soldier. But me, the man.
What I’m trying to say is – I love you, too, Sadie. I’m a bit pissed you said it first. I wanted to be the first one to say those words. But I’m not really pissed. I’m honored a woman as wonderful as you would open your heart to me.
I can’t wait to spend my life with you. And give you those five kids you want. You were serious about five? If they’re girls who look like you, I’m going to have serious problems.
Of course, if they’re boys, we’ll probably spend half our lives in the principal’s office. Correction. Whether they’re girls or boys, we’re spending half our lives in the principal’s office.
Never mind. Whatever you want, you can have.
Including the Mermaid Motel. By now, you must know the owners sold it to someone else before you could get the money for the deposit together.
What you don’t know is I bought it for you – for us – for our future together.
I don’t know anything about running a motel and it's possible I’ll scare the guests with my ‘resting soldier face’ as you call it, but you can teach me everything.
And I do know how to clean toilets. Ask me about the time my buddy Tate and I had to clean the latrines with a toothbrush.
It was his fault. I was only the lookout but our drill sergeant didn’t care about my innocence.
Your car is pulling up to the motel now. I didn’t imagine you. You’re just as beautiful now as the night we first met in person at the hospital. I thought I was dreaming then. I hope I’m not now. How did I get so damn lucky?
I need to sign off before you notice me. Your brow is already wrinkling as you stare at my truck. I probably should have told you I used up all my extra leave to get an early discharge, but I wanted to surprise you. I plan to surprise you as often as I can for the rest of our lives.
The rest of our lives starts now.
I love you, Sadie.
Thanks for giving me a home. I will spend the rest of my life showing you how much I appreciate it.
Your Ben