The letter was written in flowery script on pale pink stationery.
Dear Larson,
I can’t tell you how upset your father and I are at the recent turn of events between us. As your mother, I am heartbroken that you could say the things you said to us when you were here.
We have loved you and raised you since the joyous time you were born to us, working hard to nurture you and afford you every possible opportunity. For you to turn on us like this hurts us beyond anything that words can describe.
You said that we would be dead to you if we didn’t give you more to bolster your business. I can’t believe that it’s come to this, especially since we have already helped you so much financially. Obviously you care more about your business than you do about our comfort. That’s a painful realization for us.
We will not be threatened, Larson. If you feel that you must cut yourself off from us, so be it. But I pray that you will think about all this and come to your senses. Dad and
I love you very much and would be willing to forgive and forget what you said in anger.
I want you to know that everything we have will eventually be yours anyway, Larson. No matter whether you cut us off or not.
Love,
Mother
Augie looked at the date at the top of the paper; folded up the letter and stuck it in his pocket. A trip to the public library was in order. If a back issue of the Record confirmed what he suspected, Mrs. Richards had written this letter to her son just before she and her husband died.