When Fate Steps In
-By Robert Faulkender ©
Dear
Sergeant Skillman,
I
am Leitha’s Aunt Angela and business partner. I feel like I have known you for
years, since Leitha first mentioned your name when she moved to St. Louis.
These last few months have been the happiest I have ever seen her—even in the
knowledge that war has delayed your union. I wish this letter could be my
congratulations on your marriage. Alas…
On
29 August, influenza stole our Leitha from us. What started as a headache and
runny nose, steadily assailed her body.
In three short days, she died. This horrid flu is approaching epidemic
levels.
Her
last concerns were for you. She knows how much you love her and she feared that
her death might destroy you, too. Her last conscious words were, “Tell him I
know he always loved me. And, we had our time. We must be thankful for that. I
am in his heart forever.”
You
will recall that Leitha recently sold her father’s store. She placed the
proceeds of the sale in a joint account with your name. It was to be her dowry.
As the executor of her estate, I have enclosed the proper documentation for you
to claim the entire proceeds; this is what she intended. You are loved.
May
God bless you, Edward Skillman, and help you through this time of grief.
Most
Sincerely,
Angela Samuelson,
Executor to the Estate of Leitha Samuelson
He
wasn’t sure how long he sat there. Mechanically, he folded and returned the
letters to the envelope. He rolled over
on his cot, laid there, still in uniform, eyes closed, in time tears, then
sleep.
Two days later Skillman introduced First
Sergeant Krantz to Bill Hicks and relayed the news that Hicks was about to be a
civilian. Bill irrupted with excitement, and talked all the way back to Camp Furlong
about the things they would do in Cincinnati.
He barely noticed Ted’s
quietness. Ted was always quiet.
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