Betrayal
Lies
Deception
And fear
I’m losing my mind
Yet, the Captain is right here
~ Hannah Gunner ~
Cash took off his ball cap, pitched it across the room, and watched it land on Hannah’s bed before settling in, opposite Hannah, on her bedroom floor. The only thing separating them was the infamous box filled with letters. They’d agreed to set it aside and go through it together, and finally Saturday had rolled around. He could sense her nervousness, as if scared to death of something she may or may not find, written in between the lines of the letters that she was about to read. Noticing how naturally beautiful she looked without a stitch of makeup, in her oversized shirt and sweats, he couldn’t help but stare at her; she never noticed. Absorbed in the handwritten words on the faded yellow paper, she had no idea he was taking in every detail at that moment about her. To say he was head-over-heels about her would be an understatement. Resisting the urge to say something stupid, Cash hesitantly dipped his hand into the box; she still never raised her head.
The first letter Cash pulled out happened to be a handwritten birthday note. It was short and to the point, but he could tell a lot of thought had gone into it. Guessing they didn’t have access to Hallmark cards in prison, he thought, not bad for improvising. The man had even drawn a picture of a cake, a pirate sword, and signed off with a heart! He set it aside and pulled out another envelope. Hannah was tearing through them faster than Cash. Pulling letters out of envelopes, scanning them, pulling out another, going back and reading the previous letter as if she’d missed a clue of some sort in the prior letter. The scent of musty, aging paper filled the room. Kathy popped her head in the door.
“I’m shocked that your mom hid those from you for all of those years, but I’m certain she must have had her reasons.” Taking a deep breath, as if not knowing what else to say, Kathy stared at the box in the center of the floor. “I’m going to head over to the hospital just in case they’ll let me see your mom. She’s coming out of ICU today, and I want to be there to greet her.” Unable to resist the urge, she bent down and picked up a letter. Reading it, she smiled, and put it back in the envelope. “I can hear your dad’s voice when I read these.”
“Why don’t you just call?” Cash suggested. “To see if she’s coming out of ICU today for sure, and if so, if they’ll let you see her.”
Kathy shook her head. “I can’t sit still. I feel helpless and need to kill time; running up there does just that.”
“Do you think I should be there as well?” Hannah asked. “Just in case she does get out of ICU?”
Kathy thought about it for a second, then assured her waiting would be fine. “I’ll call you as soon as she’s settled if they put her in a regular room. She might want you to bring her something from home when you do visit her.” Eyes wide open, daring not to jinx her sister, she added, “Wouldn’t it be something if they let her come home?!”
“Right! That would be something,” Cash grinned. “Wishful thinking maybe, but it would be great.”
Kathy left the two teens sifting through the scattered letters all over Hannah’s floor. They stacked letters and cards in piles, which they set aside, and put them in the best chronological order that they possibly could using the stamp dates. They poured through every detail that they thought was important or relevant to establishing a timeline. Suddenly, startling Cash, Hannah squealed out loud and frantically grabbed his arm and started to read a letter out loud.
Sweet Hannah,
I’m assuming by now you’re too old to be my First Matey, but in my head, you’re still a little pirate to me! When I close my eyes, all I can see is a mass of dark blond hair, running around her bed in the middle of her bedroom, pretending to swim to the beach. Do you remember the beach we used to visit, the real one? You were so little, I’m not sure that you do; but it’s crystal clear to me.
I remember that you used to love the water, the beach, and when I’d take you to work with me, kinda, to the docks to see the freighters come in. I miss you so much, but I’m betting by now you do not even remember me.
I think I write these letters now more for me than you. I can’t believe today is the day you become a teen!!!!!! Thirteen. Oh how I wish I were there to see. If by chance you can find it in you to drop me a line, a quick hello, please do.
Love always, Dad
One look at Hannah’s face and Cash thought she must have figured out what he’d already realized as well… THE DATES… they didn’t add up to what she’d been told. None of it was making any sense. Cash was right! He knew precisely what was running through her mind; he could see her wheels turning, and his eyes darted to the stack of letters that he had neatly placed in a pile beside him. Praying she’d say it first, he waited; he didn’t have to wait long.
“What the hell?! None of this shit adds up. Someone LIED!”