Interstitial
Dear Becky,
Thank you for your letter. I have my own apology to make. Your letter to Max ended up in the wrong pigeonhole. A neighbor passed it to me the day after you and Leila left and I hid it. I know I shouldn’t have; that was wrong of me.
I think I always suspected that Max still had some sort of romantic attachment to you and I chose to ignore it. So when he broke up with me because he still had feelings for you, I can’t say I was entirely surprised.
He tried to get back together with me, so I assume things didn’t work out between you. I said no. You’re right that I deserve better and, frankly, so do you. I know in my next relationship I will find someone who is fully present, and I wish the same for you.
I’m not writing to “absolve your guilt” as you put it, or forgive you, but I just wanted to let you know I’m glad you wrote to me.
Yours,
Fran
P.S. I hope things are going well with the London Fire Brigade.