Dear Rita,
You are right about the busy, busy new world. Don’t get me wrong, I’d never wish those long days of waiting and worrying back again, but time did seem to stand still—almost suspended—before Robert came home.
Now, between raising two children, taking care of Robert (though he’s gotten so good at taking care of himself), the housework and my Women to Work meetings, I can’t get a moment to myself.
It’s bittersweet, really. No more long teas in the sunflower room pouring over your letters. No more time to write pages and pages to you.
Which is why we need to plan our meeting. I go to bed at night counting the pies I’ll make. Three blueberry, four peach. It’s fun. I can’t wait to see your face. Hear your voice. Hold your hand. You’ve gotten me through some of the roughest times in my life, Rita. I hope I’ve been a help for you, as well. Sometimes I worry that I’ve just been one more thing for you to take care of. I’d like to give something back to you. Something that time will withstand. A friendship that won’t end.
Our friendship won’t end, will it? Please not that. I won’t let it.
Anyway, I do have NEWS!
I was speaking at a (freezing cold) outdoor rally the other day. We are trying to work with factories all across Massachusetts. You see, as the men come home...the women are losing their jobs. There has to be a way for all of the workers to keep their jobs. How can we expect women to return back to the lives they lived before? It isn’t possible.
So there I was, flyers shaking in my gloved hands. Speaking about positive and professional protest. And I looked all the way to the back of my small, brave crowd...and guess who was there?
Robert. Somehow, Robert had convinced Marie to help him into town so he could watch me speak. Can you imagine?
After, we went into town and I bought hot chocolate from the local soda jerk. Then we went down to the pier where we used to go as kids to play pirates. We sat close together on a bench to keep warm. Oh, Rita. If you could have seen the sparkle in his eyes. It was like he was falling in love all over again. I know I was.
“You were wonderful!” he said.
“Thank you. I was worried you wouldn’t like me sticking my nose in all this,” I said.
“Nonsense. It’s the part of you I love the most.”
I kissed him then, tasting the cold on his mouth. Letting his kiss warm my own. And then I pulled away....
“I’m so, so sor—” I began. He held his fingers up to my lips; our faces were so close that my nose pressed up against those strong fingers. He leaned his forehead against mine and closed his eyes.
“Don’t say it, Ladygirl. You were lost. I was lost. We’ve found our way back now. And people who survive, they don’t look back. It’s a rule of war. Keep moving ahead.”
Oh, Rita. He called me Ladygirl.
Love,
Glory
P.S. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, LITTLE SAL!
I am so happy he is such a big, brave boy. I’ve sent a basket for that bike. Let him ride like the devil, but tell him that sometimes he must stop and pick some flowers for his grandma.