6. Shelby
Dear Jessica,
Remember when you wanted to be a veterinarian, and I wanted to be a rock star? And we said I’d get famous and live on a ranch with a bunch of horses and llamas and swans, and you’d make sure they were all healthy?
I didn’t become a rock star. Turns out you need to be able to sing to do that. I guess you didn’t become a vet either. But I did get a new job. For a little while, anyway. It’s what I was doing before, but without the parts that made me miserable.
I won’t bore you with any of the details, but let me just say the job is going to be super fun and only part time, so I can spend the rest of the time finding Grandma. Because I’m going to find her, no matter what. I promise you. Even if she’s not alive anymore, because I’ve been thinking about it, and Mom could be wrong. She lies about Grandma. I didn’t ask her about how long it had been since the last time they spoke, because she’d just lie again.
I’m not even going to think about Mom while I’m here. Every time she comes to mind, I’m going to remember what she kept from us.
Grandma. The one we always called the fairy grandmother, remember? We imagined she was like the good grandmother who lived in a castle somewhere and sent knights out to try to find her granddaughters.
I don’t think she’s dead, Jess. I think she’s alive, and here, in Redbeard Cove. Or somewhere nearby.
Okay, so I saved the best part for last. The guy I’m going to be working with is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. I’m only telling you because I can’t even really admit it to myself or things will get really weird. So I’ll just tell you, like I told you about all the other ones. You’re the only person I can trust with a secret like this. Ridiculous, right? Although, ironically, I feel like I could trust Mac with a secret like this. If only it wasn’t about him.
LOL.
I love you.
—Shelby
P.S. Finally, everyone else can call me Shelby too.