Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Phoebe
I take the letter from her. “I usually read it aloud,” I say, not sure of the rules here.
“That’s fine.”
Out of habit, I check the date and the signature. “May 11, 1966. Yours forever, Dear Heart,” I tell Jay. “It’s a short one.”
He nods, but we both smile when we realize he doesn’t need to write it down because Smitten Kitten is right in front of us.
Dear Smitten Kitten,
I always thought compromise was a dirty word, but it sounds better if you call it problem-solving instead.
I should have known my sweetheart would find a way to get what she wanted. It’s why I love you. And I can’t wait for you to move back to Boston next month so I can tell you myself every day.
I keep wanting to ask you if you’re sure about skipping a big wedding and honeymoon, but I know you are. And if you’re wondering if I’m all right waiting another entire year to get married, don’t. I’m more than all right.
I know you would have given up the idea of finishing your degree if I’d pushed it, but I couldn’t. Not when it matters to you so much.
So here we are. You’ll be in school again this fall. I’ll be doing my best to prove to Aerospace that I’m the best hire they ever made. And a year from now, we’ll be married, and you’ll be halfway to a degree that will say “Catherine McCormick Crawford, Master of Fine Arts in Art History” when you earn it. And I couldn’t be prouder to see the Crawford name on it if it were my own degree.
My grandmother used to say, “Love always finds a way.” Once again, she was right.
Yours forever,
Dear Hear t
I look at Jay, trying to fill in a few gaps. He looks puzzled too.
“You got the degree?” he asks.
Catherine nods. “I did. We talked to our parents, and together, we came up with a plan that some people thought was odd, but it worked for us. My parents would pay for the first year of my master’s while Buck worked and saved. Then instead of giving us a big wedding and honeymoon, our parents agreed to give us the money for me to finish school. Buck and I were married in my parish church with only our parents, our siblings, and the priest present.”
“But you didn’t end up putting your degree to work. Isn’t that why you were frustrated with me at the Sutton?” I ask.
“I didn’t for a long time. But eventually, when our youngest was in school all day, I began to volunteer at the Sutton as a docent. And when the last kid was grown and flown, I made sure I got a seat on the board.”
“So then you did get to live both versions of your life,” I say.
Catherine considers that, then smiles. “I guess I did.”
She gathers the letters back into a stack and returns them to the folder, keeping it nestled in her arm when she stands. “Thank you again for this. You two make a fearsome team.”
Jay and I smile at each other.
“I agree,” he says.
“Wonderful,” Catherine replies. “But do not kiss the director again until you’ve taken her out on a proper date.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says.
We stand to walk her out, but she won’t let us go as far as walking her to her car, shooing us back in with an order to try the scones.
We stand on the porch and wave as she leaves, but as soon as her car is out of sight, I turn to Jay wearing my serious business face .
“I should probably disclose something to you as a board member,” I tell him.
“What’s that?”
“I’m not always great at taking orders.” And with that, I pull him down for a long overdue second kiss.